Your phone is much dirtier than you thought
Our phone accompanies us almost everywhere – it is in our hands almost all day, on the desk, in bed, in the bag, and even in the bathroom, including public ones. Throughout the day we touch dozens of different surfaces and then return to touch the screen, so it is not surprising that it becomes a place where bacteria and microorganisms from our environment accumulate. The question is just how many are really there, how their presence affects us and our lives, and should it worry us? Maintaining a few simple hygiene rules can reduce their transfer and decrease unnecessary exposure.
Our phone accompanies us almost everywhere – it is in our hands almost all day, on the desk, in bed, in the bag, and even in the bathroom, including public ones. Throughout the day we touch dozens of different surfaces and then return to touch the screen, so it is not surprising that it becomes a place where bacteria and microorganisms from our environment accumulate. The question is just how many are really there, how their presence affects us and our lives, and should it worry us? Maintaining a few simple hygiene rules can reduce their transfer and decrease unnecessary exposure.
How many bacteria really live on the phone?
Throughout the day we touch dozens of surfaces and then return to the phone, and sometimes even press it to our face. A review of 56 studies from 24 countries found bacteria on phones in 54 of them, including Staphylococcus and E. coli. The researchers note that the phone may serve as a "transfer station" for bacteria – from the hands to the device and back.
However, it is important to emphasize – the mere presence of bacteria on the phone does not mean that the device is dangerous or that we will necessarily get sick because of them. Studies have indeed found a wide range of bacteria and microorganisms on phones, but the direct link between the contamination on the device and illness in users has not yet been proven.
So why should we care? For the exact same reason that we do not sit directly on toilet seats in public restrooms, or wash our hands before we eat – not because all bacteria are dangerous, but because we are trying to reduce unnecessary exposure and transfer of them. The phone is an object that we touch again and again throughout the day.
We can touch a railing, a handle, a table or any other surface, take the phone into our hands – and then use it before we have eaten, touch our face or press it to our ear. Thus, it becomes a kind of intermediate station that can transfer microorganisms between our hands, the environment and the body. Studies have found a wide range of bacteria on phones, including bacteria originating from the digestive system, especially in people who tend to use the phone in the bathroom.
Hygiene rules
So how do you keep the phone clean without turning it into an obsession? First of all, wash your hands regularly, especially before eating and after using the bathroom, and it is also worth avoiding placing the phone on dirty surfaces. In addition, it is recommended to clean the device periodically according to the manufacturer's instructions, and do not forget that the cover also accumulates dirt and bacteria, so it must also be cleaned.
And most importantly: there is no need to be afraid of every bacterium found on the phone. Good hygiene is not intended to make our environment sterile, but to reduce unnecessary exposure and transfer of contaminants.
