Did you know that smartphones are the biggest germs and bacteria havens of all? Here's how you can disinfect your phone!
You've probably heard many times that your cell phone is a real virus hive. Haven't you? No wonder. We always have it with us.
While eating, while surfing on the sofa, after shaking hands, after we've been on the public transportation system, and after we've attacked doorknobs. We can't even go to the bathroom without a smartphone.
So it's really not surprising that germs, viruses and bacteria collect on it. Many of them are pathogenic. They cause diarrhea, conjunctivitis or pimples.
On average, there are 3,895 bacteria per square centimeter on the cell phone!
Especially in times of coronaviruses we should try to keep everything as clean as possible. We wash our hands regularly. Most people forget about their smartphones.
But that's over now. Let's disinfect the cell phone.
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There are studies. Frightening studies. One, by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicin, shows that 82 percent of all smartphones are highly contaminated with bacteria. Fecal bacteria were even found on 16 percent of the devices examined.
At normal room temperature, fungi, viruses, germs and bacteria can easily survive on the display for several days.
Certain fungal spores even survive for several months.
Disgusting or?
Disinfect your hands in 5 steps!
Especially in times of coronavirus, flu wave and colds, we should regularly clean our smartphone.
And also whenever you let the phone out of your hands. That is, when you ask someone to take a photo. Or someone shows you something on your smartphone.
Disinfect your cell phone regularly if you have a weak immune system!
Strengthen your weak immune system with these tips!
By the way, you can also operate your smartphone with gloves to avoid transferring germs. However, you need special touchscreen gloves for this. They contain a fine silver yarn that enables operation despite gloves.
When to disinfect your cell phone
Get into the habit of disinfecting your smartphone regularly. Everyone should clean their phone regularly. This is the only way to prevent dirt, debris and germs.
Experts recommend: 1x per week disinfect cell phone.
But even 2x a week can't hurt. This is the case when you have a lot of contact with other people, such as when shaking hands, when you often hand over your cell phone or when you use public transport.
And at typical times when many bacteria, germs and viruses are circulating.
From pasta sauce to hand cream and the odd sneeze to makeup and a load of germs when you leave the toilet - our smartphone is already getting up to quite a bit.
Are you one of those who like to play a game or answer messages on the toilet? Or are you one of the 18 percent of people who even use the toilet to make phone calls? Well, then you should clean even more often, just to be on the safe side.
This is how you can make disinfectant yourself!
What you should not do when disinfecting your cell phone
Every display has a grease-repellent protective layer on the touchscreen. You must not destroy this, because then the display will no longer work.
Bitkom (German Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media) strongly advises against cleaners, dishwashing liquids, lyes and soaps containing alcohol.
Glass cleaner is also taboo. Unless you have a screen protector on your smartphone.
Very popular is the Cleaning agent from Camkix. In the set you will find microfiber cloths and cleaning sprays. You can also use the cleaning kit for cameras, tablets and laptops.
Never wipe your phone too wet. Slightly damp is fine, but no more.
How to disinfect your cell phone
Now you already know what not to do. :)
There are two options. You can do a big complete cleaning or you can decide to do a quick small cleaning.
We recommend: 1x per month a big cleaning and 1x per week a small cleaning.
But very important: Your smartphone is a sensitive electrical device. Proceed very carefully. Never press too hard and be very careful.
Beware of cleaning agents containing alcohol and acetone! They destroy the display!
Before we go:
- Turn off the cell phone
- Disconnect it from power and remove all cables and headphones
- Let the phone cool down
Sew your own mouthguard (pattern included)!
The fast smartphone disinfection
Little time? Then this is perfectly sufficient for now.
This method makes sense whenever you want to quickly polish your phone and remove germs.
- Moisten a microfiber cloth. Wipe the display and case with it.
- Caution: Apply little pressure, only wipe loosely.
- Alternatively, you can use an eyeglass cleaning cloth.
The best way not to destroy the sensitive display is to attach a Cell phone display foil. It is much less sensitive and can withstand a small charge of window cleaner when cleaning. And if it does not, you can simply replace it.
Your smartphone should now be slightly damp. Step 1 is now complete. Now it's time for the second step in disinfecting your phone.
- Now the germs have to be fought. And there are a lot of them lurking around the cell phone.
- Take a little Cell phone cleaning agent to help. Do not spray it directly onto the phone, but onto the microfiber cloth.
- Ideally, you have one to spray. Otherwise, be careful not to get too much.
- Spray the agent onto the microfiber cloth and wipe your smartphone with it.
- Wipe the phone dry with a second cloth.
By the way: You are less afraid of scratches and co. if you use a Display protection foil on the wall. Then you don't have to be so careful when cleaning.
If you forego wet wiping and only use a cloth to clean your glasses, you remove 80 percent of all pathogens.
That's what really matters when washing your hands!
Very thoroughly disinfect the cell phone
You have a little more time and want to give your smartphone an all-around cleaning?
Good decision!
This is especially worthwhile if your phone is also visibly dirty.
This cleaning happens in four steps:
- Remove dirt in the connectors (headphones and battery)
- Clean back
- Apply polish
- Disinfect cell phone
When doing this cleaning, you should turn off your phone first. Better safe than sorry. If it is in a protective case - remove it.
Take a close look at the openings for the battery charging cable and the headphones. Do you see dirt in them? Then we are already at the first point.
What you need now: cotton swabs, toothpicks, possibly a soft toothbrush, a microfiber cloth
- Clean the connectors for the headphones and the charging cable with a cotton swab first.
- If they are still dirty, take a toothpick to help. But be careful! Wrap a piece of tissue around the toothpick and run the openings.
- Very thin tweezers can also be helpful.
- What you should not do: Blow into the connection openings. This will cause the ports to become damp and sooner or later they will no longer work.
Now you have to clean the back and the display. You should clean both thoroughly.
Wipe the back and the display with a slightly damp microfiber cloth.
You see dirt? Then it's best to make loose circular movements. Doesn't work? You can help yourself out with an adhesive strip on the back.
Stick the tape on the affected area and carefully pull it off. Attention: This is not suitable for the display!
Once you're done with that, continue as you did with the quick clean with disinfectant.
By the way: If you don't feel like disinfecting your cell phone yourself, you can have it done in a cell phone store. Many stores offer this service at a reasonable price.
What tools you should use to disinfect your cell phone
You can use cleaning agents that you already have at home. Or you can use special cleaning kits back.
You can clean the display with a damp cloth, glass cleaner or disinfectant. Be careful not to use a disinfectant that is too aggressive. It can damage the sensitive display.
There are additionally special smartphone cleaning wipes. But microfiber cloths or eyeglass cleaning cloths also serve their purpose.
Have you ever heard of Cleaning compound heard? This works wonderfully when your phone is really dirty. You can imagine it a bit like plasticine.
Press the Cleaning compound on the cell phone. Carefully pull it off again. And tada: All the dirt remains stuck. It's dry, so nothing can happen to your phone.
Especially now, at the height of the corona virus epidemic, you can also use disinfectant on your smartphone. However, it is very important that it does not contain bleach.
How to disinfect your smartphone on the go
If you're on the road or have let your cell phone out of your hand, you need to do it fast.
After all, you don't want to transfer the germs to your hands and then into your body.
Then a cleaning cloth for glasses comes in handy. However, if the phone is visibly dirty, then it needs more.
You should have disinfectant wipes in your pocket for such a case. Simply wipe over it quickly and then clean the phone at home in peace.
How the germs get onto the smartphone
Quite simply: via our hands. On average, we reach for our cell phone about 90 times a day. Sometimes unconsciously, to check the time or Whatsapp.
If you have been to the toilet before and have not cleaned your hands thoroughly, fecal bacteria will load on the display.
With these 7 tips you can prevent the gastrointestinal virus!
How you can prevent germs
If you prevent, you have to clean less often. Sounds good, doesn't it? :) You can not prevent completely, dirt and germs never.
But you can make it so you have to disinfect your phone much less often.
- Do not take the cell phone to the toilet
- Don't use your smartphone while eating - germs love food scraps and then multiply even more
- Wash your hands regularly with soap
- Change the display foil regularly
If you want to protect the ports, you can buy dust covers. You simply insert them into the ports like dummies. This prevents dirt and dust from getting into the ports.
Our conclusion
3895 germs, bacteria and viruses per square centimeter of smartphone - that speaks for a regular cleaning or? Disinfecting your phone should be a regular item on your to-do list from now on.
So you can avert many diseases in advance. :)
Stay healthy!
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