Our phones are often the first thing we touch in the morning and the last before going to sleep at night. With that in mind, many of the viruses, bacteria and fungi we encounter daily — millions of microbes — are on our phones.
Find out what this means for your health and what you can do about it with advice from our infection control practitioner, Britiany Murphy, BSN, RN.
What Kinds of Germs Are on My Phone?
Some of the most common germs found on phones are:
- Acinetobacter
- Bacillus
- Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci
- Escherichia Coli
- Staphylococcus aureus
According to our expert, Britiany, “Though not all these germs are harmful, many like E. coli, streptococcus and antibiotic-resistant bacteria can make you sick.”
How to Clean Your Phone
You can remove most of the harmful germs on your phone by taking these five simple precautions:
- Avoid sharing your phone if you’re sick — and don’t use others’ phones if they’re sick.
- Deep-clean your smartphone with a rubbing alcohol and water solution weekly (but don’t use bleach, sprays or abrasive cleaners that can damage your phone).
- Disinfect your phone with a microfiber cloth at least once each day.
- Don’t take your phone into the bathroom.
- Use a UV disinfection tool to clean your phone regularly.
“The most important thing you can do to keep your phone free of harmful germs is to keep your hands and your home clean,” says Britiany.
Wash your hands regularly, including:
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
- After touching animals or cleaning up animal waste
- After touching or removing garbage
- After using the bathroom
- Before and after eating
- While preparing food and after
“Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and clean, running water. If you don’t have soap and water available, use hand sanitizer,” advises Britiany.
Don’t Let Sickness Hold You Back
Keeping your phone clean won’t protect you from every illness. Fortunately, we’re here to help whenever you need us. If you or someone you love is impacted by an infectious disease or another medical emergency, don’t hesitate to head to our conveniently located ER where we’re on standby 24/7.
Visit us here to learn more.
