Your cell phone could be the reason for your next doctor visit. The item that you more than likely come in contact with the most has the most germs per square inch than your toilet bowl. Just think about the places we put our cell phones: in the bathroom, cleavage, your gym bag under sweaty clothes and on the counter while you’re cooking raw food to name a few. Your phone is at the mercy of whomever you let touch it.
When you’re looking up that recipe, you also have food particles on it while you’re swiping away. Your little niece who's so adorable, but picks her nose when you’re not looking, plays with your phone. Your phone is nasty, plain and simple. If you’re wondering why your face is breaking out or you’re randomly sick, look no further than your phone.
Here are some bacteria to watch out for:
Moraxella
Moraxella isn’t as common as strep, but can be found on many phones. People with sinus issues such as sinusitis or post-nasal drip frequently have this bacteria on their phones.
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Bacillus
This environmental bacteria means that the phone has a lot of literal dirt on it. If you’ve been outside for long periods of time and have had your hands in a lot of dirt or earthy material then it’ll most likely show up on your phone.
Streptococcus viridians
Strep viridians comes from the mouth and throat. If you have a vulnerable immune system it can cause infections. You get strep viridians from touching your mouth after coughing or talking on the phone.
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Most people have a certain amount of staph on their skin by nature of their normal skin flora. This type of staph can get on your phone through talking on it or touching it.
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Staphylococcus aureus
Typically found in the nose, staphylococcus aureus is typically harmless, but it can become a staph infection if you have a compromised immune system. Beware of wiping your nose for the sniffles or outright digging in your nose as this may spread this type of staph bacteria to your phone.
Micrococcus
Everybody has a different type of skin bacteria. You either have staph or micrococcus. You can get micrococcus by talking on your phone a lot or touching your face.
How to Keep Your Phone Germ Free
1. Check the warranty on your device (you know that little paper you throw away because you don’t think it’s important) for recommendations on how to clean your device. Soap and water might not be a good solution for cleaning your screen. Check the warranty on the best practices for your device and proceed.
2. Invest in a screen protector. These things will save you an insurance fee when you crack your screen and also save it from dust, germs and other blemishes. Be sure to grab a few of these because the screen will get dirty and have the same nasty effect as an unprotected phone screen if you don’t change it out regularly. The store “Five Below” sells packs of screen protectors for $5, so don’t waste a lot money by going to your phone carriers store.
3. Buy a few microfiber cloths to wipe your screen off with. Using a paper towel or a rag aren't the most effective because they leave behind smudges and lint at times. Microfiber cloths are often lint-free and effective for cleaning fingerprints, dirt and other things that can stick to your phone.
4. Stop cooking with your phone in the vicinity. A University of Arizona study found that even when you wipe your hands off with paper towels you aren’t safe from germs. The study found that 89 percent of kitchen towels had coliform bacteria present on it and 25 percent had E.coli present. Factor in dealing with raw meats and vegetables and a quick text or two in between, and you have a sea of bacteria floating between your next meal and your home screen.
5. The bathroom is probably the worst place you can bring your phone. The faucet, the lever on the toilet, toilet seat, the knob on the bathroom door and every other place is teeming with bacteria. Texting and talking on your phone in the bathroom is asking for germs to invade your system. A UK study found that 1/6 phones had fecal matter present on them.
