Clean Your Cellphone Today! 50Plus-today Online Magazine

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Your cellphone is disgusting.

Your cell phone rarely leaves your side. At least mine doesn’t. It goes with me to restaurants, stores, the bathroom, everywhere. I play with it all day long, so it touches my hands and then my face. In other words, it’s is a breeding ground for germs.

Did you know the average person touches their phone 2617 times a day? That’s almost one million touches per year. And, according to a 2017 study, cellphones carry more than 17,000 bacterial gene copies each which are thought to play a role in the spread of infection. For years I’ve watched my husband sanitize his phone and glasses at the same time with a disinfecting eyeglass wipe many times throughout the day, but did not think about cleaning mine.

It’s always been a good idea to clean our smartphones daily to eliminate bacteria and germs, but it is now even more important to disinfect them for all germs to ward off the coronavirus infection.

How often do you clean your phone?

Some people obsessively wipe their phones down regularly, while others never think to do so. I admit, I am one of those who,before the coronavirus scare, I didn’t often think to clean my cellphone. My awareness is heightened now, as hopefully is the case for most people.

Think about it – even if you clean your hands all day long, you are still not safe from germs because after you wash, you touch your phone. Many of us are vigilant about cleaning things such as the television remote in a hotel before channel surfing because of all the people who potentially touched it before we arrived, but our phones seem not to be on the radar for alot of people. Why is it we think to clean the remote, but not our phones? Is it because we own them and are generally the sole users? Yes, our phones belong to us, but that doesn’t mean they do not spread germs.

How should I clean my cell phone?

The chemicals used in regular disinfectant wipes are not meant for electronics as they may strip the coating of your phone over time. Cleaning wipes and other items specifically made for electronic devices are better for your cellphone and available on Amazon right now.

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Microfiber cloths work well too. A damp microfiber cloth won’t damage your cellphone and can be easily laundered after using. Pair microfiber cloths with a homemade solution made from equal parts water and rubbing alcohol for an effective disinfectant. This type of cloth has the added bonus of being able to pick up bacteria. Do not use bleach and be careful not to allow liquid to get into openings on the phone.

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The Bottom Line

If you are not in the habit of disinfecting your cell phone, start today. Whatever your phone touches can be transferred to your hands or face, making it a mobile pertri dish. It makes sense to do everything you can to stay safe as the coronavirus continues to spread worldwide.