Your cellphone can be a carrier of microbial life forms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. According to a study your cell phone has about 10 times the amount of bacteria found on a toilet seat, wow! With the average person touching their cell phone 2,617 times daily it should be part of our routine to sanitize our devices.
The COVID-19 virus can live on the plastic and stainless steel surfaces for up to three days, which means your phone has the potential to make you sick. It’s often said that your phone is like a third hand because you’re constantly touching it. While many people know, stress, and practice washing your hands, it should also be common knowledge and practice to sanitize and disinfect your phones, but it's not.
Let's discuss some of the best options to sanitize your phone. Spray a mixture of isopropyl and distilled water, or a disinfectant, onto a cloth or microfiber wipe, and wipe your phone and case. You can also use Clorox, Lysol, or other disinfecting wipes but the chemicals that are used in those disinfectant wipes are not meant to be used on electronics as they can wear on the screens touch capabilities. If you do choose to use a disinfectant wipe make sure you wipe gently and avoid getting any liquid in charging ports.
For a more high-tech option invest in a UV Sterilizer. A UV Sterilizer kills 99.9% of bacteria and germs and disinfects in a consistent manner. While using a solution or disinfectant wipes can be effective if you don’t allow the cleaning solution to sit for a while some bacteria might survive. A UV Sterilizer not only kills bacteria but encompasses your entire device.
With all the usage your phone gets daily, the number of times you’ve dropped it in, less than clean surfaces, and amount of bacteria that is generally on it. You should sanitize your phone at least daily. Remember if you wash your hands multiple times throughout the day why would you not at least sanitize your phone, which is often called your third hand, at least once.