For many of us germaphobes and clean freaks, keeping a handle on the cleanliness and sanitation of our surroundings is a top priority. We make sure the kitchen is sterilized after cooking, we make sure the bathroom remains spotless, and we see to it that our house is as germ free as possible. However, there is one surface that we are more likely to overlook: our cell phones.

Cell Phones

Cell phones are devices that many do not even think about cleaning, after all we are typically the only ones who regularly use our individual phones, so how dirty could they really be right? Wrong! Cell phone surfaces can actually be dirtier than the bottom of your shoes or even germier than that of a toilet seat surface. Recent tests have revealed that cell phone surfaces can contain strep, E. Coli, salmonella, and staff!

If we step back and think, it all makes since. Most of us take our cell phones with us everywhere. It’s in the kitchen while we are cooking, it travels to work with us, it is stored in our purses and pockets with other items, and it even ventures into public and private restrooms with us. Any contaminated surface we lay our phones on can transfer germs to it and its surface, and germs can live up to 48 hours on any contaminated surface. That is a lot of germs and contaminates that can make their way onto our hands and faces!

Oven pan

Here are some tips on how to sterilize your phone and Limit the amount of germs you are exposed to via this little device:

  • Unplug the cell phone from any cords
  • Turn the phone all the way off
  • Dampen a microfiber cloth with some alcohol and give it a good clean
  • Remove any protective case
  • Blow out some of the debris with aerosol blowers
    that you also use on keyboards