Did you know that your phone carries 10 times more bacteria than your toilet seat?

A recent study found more than 17,000 bacterial gene copies on the phones of high school students. Bacteria types found on your phone range from influenza, all the way to fecal matter. Gross.  

With the recent coronavirus scare, it’s important that we take precautions to keep our devices germ free, so we can stay happy and healthy. Today, we’re sharing tips to help you reduce the germs on your phone, to keep you corona free.  

1. Wash your hands.

Stating the obvious right? Well, apparently not. According to a recent study, only 66% of people wash their hands after they use the bathroom, and only 5% of that wash their hands correctly. In order to keep your phone germ free, we recommend that you wash your hands often and PROPERLY. Here are some steps from the CDC on how to wash correctly.

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

2. Avoid sharing your phones with others

Keep your germs to yourself, people. If you share your phone frequently with others, the chances of acquiring more viruses and bacteria on that phone are higher. Avoid sharing your phone with other individuals. This is easier said than done, but you’ll have a cleaner phone if you keep your device to yourself.

3. Be cautious of where you take/use your phone.

Most of us take our phones everywhere we go...but there are some places your phone doesn’t need to go. Avoid using your phone at places like the gym and gas stations. However, if you do need to use your phone in one of these places, be sure to wipe your phone down afterwards. Some other healthy habits are to avoid using your phone during mealtimes, and to stop taking your phone into the bathroom with you. This prevents those nasty germs from spreading around. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

4. Use disinfectant spray/wipes

These are great tools to keep your phone germ free, but be careful on how you use them on your device. Gently spray or wipe your device with the disinfectant, avoid the speakers, and charging port on your phone.  After you are finished, gently wipe your phone down with a microfiber cloth, to ensure your phone is dry.

5. Clean your phone regularly.

You could get away with cleaning your once a week. However, the more often you clean your phone the better. We recommend cleaning your phone every night before bed. This ensures that you get rid of all the germs it accumulated throughout the day.