Photo by Edward Jenner from Pexels
The situation in the world today has people going in an all-out war on bacteria. Rubbing alcohol, surface disinfectants- literally everything is being sprayed down with cleaning liquids to avoid the influx of diseases. Markets from all over are trying to cope up with the high demand, while some others have resorted to creating their homemade concoction. Hygiene has indeed become the trend of the time!
But for all the foot baths and other crazy methodologies people have now resorted to, there is an important thing that people always forget to clean. Yes, the dirtiest surface in our homes today is not the doorknob nor the front door rug. It is actually our beloved selfie machines, also known as cellphones. Considering that almost all phones are now touch screen, it is no surprise that our greasy, grimy hands contribute to the dirt buildup on its surface.
According to a 2017 study, smartphones are thriving ecosystems for bacteria. Phones owned by health care workers or HCWs are rife with the bacteria called Acinetobacter baumannii. This bacteria can infect open wounds and cause infections. It is reputed to be difficult to cure, owing to increasing resistance to antibiotics. Meanwhile, those owned by non-HCWs are also as dangerous, with 6 different types of human pathogens (aka viruses) crawling on their smartphones.
This is no surprise, considering that people bring their phones everywhere. And as we all know, no place in the world is safe from these unseen organisms. It is then important to learn how to remove them- without causing any kind of damage to your smartphone itself.
What You Should Do
The United States Federal Communications Commission has released guidelines on how to clean smartphones effectively. Basically, you should not douse your device in any kind of solution, as the liquid may leak and damage the sensitive electronics inside. To clean you phone, use a lint-free fabric (preferably microfibre ones) and dampen it with a soap and water mixture. Ideally, bleach and alcohol-based products should not be used. This is because they are corrosive, and might break down the protective layer on the smartphone’s screen.
Yet, extraordinary times need extraordinary measures. To prevent COVID-19 infection, experts are advising on using 70% alcohol- even on smartphones. Now you might be thinking: wait, but you just said that it might damage my phone?
(Well, folks, this might be the best time to remind you that you should use screen protectors. They protect your screen from cracking like a piñata, and guarantees that your screen won’t erode from the chemicals you use on your phone.)
Anyway, avoid spraying or pouring the alcohol directly on your device. Use disinfecting wipes, or apply the liquid on the microfibre cloth before giving it a good rubdown. Be sure to clean the phone itself first, then its protective casing to ensure that everything is clean and sanitized.
There is no limit on how many times you should clean your phone. Clean it after you have used it outside your house, texted while cooking, or even when you’re bored and you have nothing better to do. Remember: it’s better safe than sorry!
But What About Disinfecting Clothes?
We all use clothes every day, and these days, we have to continually change them to avoid catching the bacteria stuck on its surface. All the heavy workload stresses and exhausts us that we could no longer find the time or motivation even to wash our stuff. Do not worry! If you are in Singapore, we at Eazihome Laundry & Dry Cleaning are more than happy to help! We offer pick up and delivery, as well as one of the best laundry services around the island. We observe strict protocols during the cleaning and delivery process, ensuring that your clothes are not only clean but also safe to wear.
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