Cell Phones: Your Toilet May Have Less Bacteria

According to a recent Fox News broadcast, your cell phone could be harboring some deadly bacteria. The news report even discovered that some cell phones have more bacteria on them than a toilet seat does.

Fox News stated that 9 phones were tested at the University of Tulsa's biology lab. All 9 phones tested positive for staph infection. Two of the phones tested positive for E. coli. One of the cell phones belonged to a school teacher. Lab tests discovered over 3 thousand bacteria on her phone.

Is Your Toilet Cleaner Than Your Cell Phone?

Sound gross? Sound impossible? Let's think about it for just a minute. Cell phones are something most people are not able to live without these days. We carry them everywhere we go. We carry them into public restrooms, we lay them on counter tops, desktops and tables.

Some people carry them in a purse, their pocket, or just tossed into their car. Have you ever dropped your phone on the ground? Have you ever answered your phone while sitting on a toilet? While doing sweaty dirty yard work? Have you ever answered your phone while preparing food, or changing a child's diaper?

Every time you put your cell phone to your ear and mouth, you could be adding contaminants and germs to its surface. Sweat, ear wax, make up, lotions and a whole host of other things could be lurking on your cell phone's surface breeding all kinds of nasty bacteria.

Kill Cell Phone Bacteria Just Like Your Toilet!

Of course this does not mean that you should get out the scrub brushes and the toilet cleaner to clean the bacteria from your cell phone. But, you should disinfect your cell phone just as often as you clean your toilet!

There are a couple of simple ways you can wage war on your cell phone's bacteria. Wipe it down with a disinfectant wipe on a daily basis, especially if you use it a lot and carry it around in public places. You may even want to carry a small packet of wipes with you to keep your hands clean after touching public surfaces.

Anything your hands pick up is quickly transferred to your cell phone when you answer it or make a call. When a cashier hands you money in a check out lane, you are potentially touching many germs and bacteria from the money. When you answer your cell phone in that same check out line, you just transferred the money germs to your cell phone.

If you are really intent on cleaning that phone, you can dip a cotton swab into some alcohol and give it a good cleaning. Make sure the cotton swab is only slightly damp. Rub the surface of the phone with the swab and then wipe it with a clean soft cloth.

A good way to avoid potential bacteria is to keep your cell phone in a case and to avoid laying it down on public surfaces. Move your cell phone totally away from your face if you have to cough or sneeze. If you do cough or sneeze while on the phone, wipe it down with a disinfectant wipe as soon as your call ends!

Sources:
http://www.fox23.com/mostpopular/story/Cell-Phone-Germs/QBlSbG3nskiKtFyCmJFWog.cspx

http://businessknowledgesource.com/technology/how_to_clean_a_cell_phone_026543.html