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Smartphones are 10 times dirtier than a toilet, a study found

Smartphones are 10 times dirtier than a toilet. Are you even surprised?

That’s according to a study by the University of Arizona. Researchers found over 17,000 bacterial gene copies on the surface of smartphones of American high school students.

However, that doesn’t mean they are enough to make someone sick, but there is a risk that it could if it manages to enter our bodies (say you touched your phone and then used your hands to eat food, for example).

Studies have also shown that dangerous pathogens such as MRSA, Streptococcus, and even E. coli, and viruses that cause influenza can survive on a phone’s surface.

This is especially worrying considering how much we use our devices. According to one study, the average user touches their phones an average of 2,617 times a day. For heavy users, that average goes up to 5,417 times a day. That equates to about 2.42 hours of screen time for the average user, and 3.75 hours for the heavy user.

Meanwhile, Filipinos are a different breed, leading the world in time spent on phones to close to six hours a day (5 hours 47 mins to be exact) in 2021. This means we’re more at risk of contamination or sickness.

Clean your smartphones

So, how can we minimize the risk of infection? First off, wash your hands properly and regularly, doing so for twenty seconds. This should be the norm with COVID is still lingering about.

You can also disinfect your device. Most manufacturers recommend using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe, 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipe, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes.

A mixture of 40 percent rubbing alcohol and 60 percent water also works. Spray on a soft lint-free cloth and gently wipe your phone. To be safe, make sure the phone is unplugged and powered off, and avoid any opening. And then air dry.

If you have a UV sanitizer, you can use that together with the wipes. It’s proven to work on the coronavirus, as well as germs, viruses, and bacteria.

Remember to avoid excessive wiping as these cleaning methods can wear out the oil repelant oleophobic coating of your devices, so keep that in mind

And don’t forget to wash your silicone or plastic case with soap and water, if you have one. Make sure it is completely dry before putting it on your phone.

Minimize exposure

Apart from regularly cleaning, you can also minimize the exposure of your devices from germs. Here are some things you can do.

  • When outside, minimize the times you touch your phones. Keep your devices in your pockets, bags, etc.
  • If you do have to touch your phone, make sure your hands are clean. Wash your hands with soap and water or sanitiz with alcohol or a hand sanitizer.
  • Use TWS earphones or a hands-free device to answer calls.

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Bryan is a geek at heart and a tech enthusiast by choice. He has a strong background in corporate communications, marketing services, and customer relations having worked in the telecommunications and banking sectors for over two decades. In his spare time, he enjoys watching clips on YouTube and binge watching shows on Netflix.

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