Sanitize Your Mobile Phone With These Helpful Tips

It’s been estimated that the average American is on their mobile phone for more than five hours a day. Not surprising given these devices have become our lifelines — connecting us to family, friends and the world around us. But after all of the phone calls, cat videos, likes, shares and occasional mythical creature captures, have you ever thought about just how grimy your mobile phone gets throughout the day? The answer may surprise you.

In a recent study, more than 17,000 copies of bacterial genes were discovered on 27 phones that happened to belong to a group of high school students. Eeek! Considering how many places we go in a day, and how many times we set our phones down, there’s no doubt that they’re most likely covered in — yuck. In fact, cell phones have been reported to have more germs than a toilet seat. Seven times more to be exact.

Some of the bacteria that can be found on mobile phones include:

• MRSA.
• E. coli.
• Strep.
• Mold.
• C. diff.

If you haven’t been cleaning your mobile phone on a regular basis, we’re pretty sure you’ll want to start doing so now. According to family medical physician Dan Allan, MD, bacteria can remain on surfaces for hours, days or even weeks. To give you a better idea of what could be lingering on your phone, Dr. Allan says E. coli can survive hours or even an entire day, while salmonella and campylobacter can survive for about four hours. Hepatitis A and C. diff bacteria can survive for months, and MRSA, or staph, can last for weeks. As for coronavirus, Dr. Allan says the virus can live on surfaces for a few days.

“E. coli, salmonella, campylobacter and C. diff can cause diarrhea and can occur if you’re handling your phone after NOT washing your hands properly when you’re in the bathroom. Or in the case of many teens, using the phone in the bathroom,” explains Dr. Allan.

Cleaning your phone regularly is one of the smartest things you can do to prevent the spread of germs. Think about it. You wash your hands a lot. But what good will that do if you’re using a bacteria-covered phone? By routinely cleaning your phone, you can lessen the chances of passing those germs on to your friends, family or even your coworkers.

Now that we’ve gone over the why, we’re going to cover the how. Here are some helpful tips for cleaning your phone.

How to clean your phone the right way

To start, don’t spray your phone down with disinfectant. That is a no-no. You could damage the screen and the phone’s protective shell, ports and coatings that were designed to protect the screen and internal components. To be on the safe side, always refer to the owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website before you start to prevent any cleaning mishaps.

Turn off your phone and remove the case

When you’re ready to start cleaning, grab a non-abrasive cleaning cloth or wipe that can be used to clean your phone (these wipes tend to have 70% isopropyl alcohol). If you don’t have phone-friendly cleaning wipes, you can make a cleaning solution of ½ cup distilled water and ½ cup of isopropyl alcohol, 70%. Put the solution in a spray bottle and shake the bottle before use.

Mist and go

After mixing the cleaning solution, do not spray your phone with it. Instead, lightly mist your towel with the solution. Remember, the towel (or cleaning wipe) should not be soaking wet or you’ll destroy your phone. Take the towel and gently wipe down the front and back of your phone. Let your phone dry for about 15 minutes and then put it back in the case.

Clean your case

A clean phone deserves a clean home. So, while your phone is drying, you can deep clean your case. How you do so will depend on the material.

Hard plastic phone cases

You can clean a hard plastic phone case with a wipe or the alcohol-water solution that was mentioned earlier. Use a cotton swab with the solution on it to get into any openings for the camera and buttons (again, make sure the swab isn’t soaked). When you’re finished, allow the case to dry completely and reinsert your phone.

Silicone phone cases

Silicone cases are durable and can stand up to being submerged in water. To clean your silicone phone case, mix a little dishwashing detergent with warm water and use a soft towel to clean the interior, exterior and any textured edges. Rinse the case thoroughly and allow it to dry completely before you put your phone back in it. In between cleanings, you can wipe the case down with a cleaning wipe or the alcohol-water solution mentioned above.

Luxury phone cases

If you have a case that is made with leather or another high-quality material, you’ll want to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when cleaning. These materials may require cleaners that were formulated specifically for them.

Don’t forget to clean your phone accessories

Your earbuds, charger and phone stand get a workout every day, so don’t leave them out of your phone cleaning routine. You can use a wipe or towel that’s been lightly misted with your alcohol-water solution to wipe them down. Just make sure they’re completely dry before you use them again.

How often should you clean your phone?

Dr. Allan recommends that you should wipe down your phone daily or more if you believe that it may have been exposed to contamination. In addition to this, he recommends routinely cleaning all surfaces and objects that you come into contact with throughout the day — counters, doorknobs, refrigerator handles, remote controls, your computer keyboard and even your keys.

And again, preventing the spread of germs starts with proper hand hygiene. While hand sanitizer is in demand right now, soap and water are still more effective. “Handwashing is always better than hand sanitizer – certain infections (like norovirus) are not killed by hand sanitizer and must be washed off,” Dr. Allan says.