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How often do you clean your cell phone?
I’ve heard our cell phones are 18x dirtier than a public toilet. Yuck.
Did you know the average person touches their phone 2617 times a day? That’s almost one million touches per year. I think most of us are conscientious these days about hand washing due to Covid-19, but still, not everyone thinks about washing their cell phones. We need to think about it – our phones breed germs. And we store them in warm places which helps the germs to.grow.
Do phone sanitizers actually work?
Companies like PhoneSoap and Casetify that make phone sanitizing devices claim to wipe out 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria in just a few minutes. They are easy to use – you just pop your phone into the compartment and let it work it’s UV (ultraviolet) magic. The UV light, in wavelengths between 200-280 nanometers, penetrates and kills the tiny viruses and bacteria floating in the air or reside on surfaces. A 2018 research study published by Scientific Reports demonstrated that “continuous, low-dose” UVC light safely wipes out airborne viruses in indoor public spaces. It’s important to note, however, that to date no studies specifically look at the effect of these devices on Covid-19. However, we know they work on other viruses. Until I hear otherwise, I plan to give them the benefit of the doubt that they also work on coronavirus. It gives me peace of mind to use a phone sanitizer, and it certainly can’t hurt. Love that most of these devices charge the phone too, so you may as well clean it at the same time.
These phone sanitizers make great gifts for anyone who wants their smart phones kept clean and disinfected. Your loved one may not think to buy this type of gadget for themselves, but will appreciate your thoughtfulness if you buy one for them!
Our top 5 recommended cell phone sanitizers
Cell phone sanitizers come in a variety of shapes, sizes and prices. Here are a few options (in no particular order):
PhoneSoap 3 UV Smartphone Sanitizer & Universal Charger
AS SEEN ON SHARK TANK, DISCOVERY CHANNEL, GOOD MORNING AMERICA, AND QVC: PhoneSoap’s bacteria-zapping technology was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank, tested and proven effective on the Discovery Channel, and sold to hundreds of thousands of happy customers on Good Morning America and QVC. This model was the first cell phone sanitizer. It was created with smart phones in mind, but sanitizes anything that fits inside, such as pacifiers, headphones and keys. Charges any phone while it cleans! READ MORE
Homedics UV-Clean Phone Sanitizer
$59.99
Sanitize and disinfect your phone or other items in just one minute with rechargeable LED’s. With 2 UV-C Germicidal LED’s at 70 cycles per charge, your phone receives optimal sanitizing in just 30 seconds per side. Extremely portable, this model conveniently collapses to flat to transport in your purse or backpack. The position of the lighting ensures maximum coverage and effectiveness. Uses patented pop-up technology and UV-C LED sanitizing.Rechargeable. Note: This model does not charge your phone while it cleans. READ MORE
$35.95
The bottom line
Cell phone sanitizers make unique and useful gifts for loved ones, especially now during the Covid-19 pandemic. They are helpful tools that knock out most germs and grime and some also charge your cell phone while it cleans! Keep in mind, however, these devices can only clean where the UV light directly reaches the microbes, which means viruses trapped in small crevices are not destroyed in the process. If you want to be absolutely convinced your cell phone is as clean as possible, follow these steps upon removal from the device:
- Polish with a microfiber cloth
- Wipe thoroughly with a Lysol disinfecting wipe
- Let your phone air dry for a minimum of 5 minutes
- Wipe down the entire outside of the phone, both sides, with a paper towel or microfiber cloth
Do you know of other cell phone sanitizers you love? Please share your recommendations in the comment section below.
