We clean our hands, wipe down surfaces, and wash our groceries; but what about the one thing we touch constantly, often without thinking? Our phones go everywhere with us like bathrooms, restaurants, gyms, public transport, and even to our beds. Yet for most people, phone hygiene is not even on the radar.
Recent studies show this could be a serious public health blind spot.
A 2022 review article published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that mobile phones are reservoirs of pathogenic bacteria such as S. aureus, E. coli, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas. These organisms are known to cause skin infections, urinary tract infections, and even respiratory illnesses.
Another study published in BMC Infectious Diseases in 2021 revealed that over 90% of tested phones used in both community and healthcare settings were found to be contaminated with microorganisms, some of them resistant to antibiotics.
Even more concerning, a 2023 article in the journal “Scientific Reports” demonstrated that viruses and bacteria can survive on smartphone screens for up to 28 days, especially under cool and low-light conditions.
So, how should we disinfect our phones properly? According to CDC guidelines and recent scientific recommendations, the safest and most effective method is using 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes or a microfiber cloth lightly dampened with a 70% alcohol solution. It is crucial not to spray disinfectants directly onto the device or submerge it in any liquid. We can focus on cleaning high-touch areas like the screen, sides, and the buttons. Disinfection should be done at least once daily, particularly after returning home from public spaces.
It’s time we should be more careful while using our phones during meals, in bathrooms, or before touching our faces. Most people are unaware of the invisible load our tech devices carry, and yet nearly everyone can benefit by incorporating simple and consistent cleaning habits.
How often do you clean your phone?
Will you support phone-sanitizing stations in places like airports, hospitals, gyms, or workplaces?
Should mobile phone hygiene be included in basic public health campaigns?
Definitely worth reading! I absolutely agree with you about there should be sanitization stations for mobile phones in places like airports, hospitals, etc. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, it’s important to wipe our phones often. I used to regularly clean mine with a tissue soaked in sanitizer, but after a while, it started affecting my screen guard. So now, I just use a tissue lightly soaked in water instead.
Yes mobile phone hygienic should be included in the basic public health campaigns.and cleaning our mobile phone with disinfectant will be safe for us and for our health. Nice information and new information i learned today thanks for sharing.
I used to clean my phone but not often and after duty i used to clean my phone once in two days because it will be with me in all sides of hospital. People should be aware of this hygiene techniques and need to use of it.
Most people rarely clean their phones, despite the fact that phones can carry more bacteria than a toilet seat. Ideally, phones should be cleaned.
Absolutely, phone-sanitizing stations make sense.
Yes, Phones are extensions of our hands we touch them constantly, then touch our face, food, or eyes.
Most people rarely clean their phones, even though they touch them constantly and carry them everywhere. Given how many germs phones can harbor, I’d definitely support sanitizing stations in public places like airports, gyms, and hospitals. Including mobile phone hygiene in public health campaigns makes sense—it’s a simple way to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses in our daily lives.
Maybe this explains why countries like China and Korea have set up phone cleaning stations right next to handwashing facilities. It’s a clever way to keep our devices as clean as our hands!
Phone hygiene is something we mostly overlook even though, we are using it almost the whole time. Yes, I definitely agree with you in implementing phone-sanitizing stations in public places like airports, gyms, hospitals or work places just like they provide phone charging units.
Since it is a matter of rising concern, proper awareness and education on phone hygiene should be provided to the public through campaigns or mass media or through other mediums.
I sanitize it when I come back from outside. I support that there should be sanitizing station for phone and this should be included in public health campaign.
@Dr.Nikhitha Yes. That’s indeed a smart move to keep these santization stations nearby to handwashing, as that’s how one will remember to go for the phone hygiene as well.