Your mobile phone is a true nest of bacteria, so a good cleaning from time to time is good for your health
According to a study carried out by the University of Barcelona, we touch our mobile phone an average of 150 times a day . We take it everywhere, even to the bathroom, which, added to the fact that it is usually a bit hot, becomes the perfect habitat for thousands of bacteria.
Smartphone screens can contain up to 600 bacteria , 30 times more than the 20 found in a toilet bowl. As Maite Muniesa, a researcher at the Department of Microbiology at the University of Barcelona (UB), explained when she presented the results of the study in 2015, “Having a clean surface is not the same as having a decontaminated surface ” because the bacteria that found on smartphone and tablet screens are the same type as those found on kitchen cloths and sponges.
“This is because we handle many objects at once,” he explained, “and we don’t disinfect our hands properly.”
How to clean the mobile outside
As a general rule, mobile manufacturers have always recommended cleaning the devices with a little soap and water. However, with the arrival of the coronavirus and the fear of infections, some brands have chosen to update their recommendations and are a little more specific, focusing above all on the disinfection of germs when cleaning the screen.
In the case of Apple , the company gives the following guidelines:
- Use only a soft , lint-free cloth. Avoid abrasive cloths, towels, paper or other similar cleaning items.
- Avoid cleaning the product too much, since excessive cleaning could damage it.
- Do not spray cleaners directly on the product.
- It is possible to use wipes soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol or 75% ethyl alcohol. Apple recommends the Clorox brand.
What products you should not use for cleaning
Most of the smart mobile phones sold on the market have an oleophobic cover , that is, it repels oils. This coating allows the screen of our device not to get dirty as often, preventing fingerprints from being marked, for example.
In order not to damage this protective layer, we should not use abrasive cleaning products , such as window cleaners, bleach or aerosols. Also avoid using compressed air to remove dust from the slots, as the power can damage the phone inside.