Now that a novel virus is sweeping the globe, killing vulnerable people in numbers that are looking more and more concerning, people are realizing (among other things) how well we don’t regularly clean our stuff.
You know, stuff like that thing we put right next to our face about 100 times a day.
Now that you are thinking about how dirty the items in your hands might be, you’re probably also wondering what the best ways might be to go about making sure they’re not holding onto viruses and other ickiness. Look no further! Below are the best ways to make sure your phone is as clean as your hands (and face!).
You have two options when it comes to the kind of touchscreen phones most of us carry: liquid, like sprays and wipes, and UV light.
An NIH study found that both methods are effective at reducing aerobic bacterial colony count, but UV light is slightly more so.
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The UV light rays that are used in cleaning and sanitizing are UV-C rays, short-wavelength, ultraviolet light that breaks apart germ DNA and leaving it unable to reproduce. UV-C light kills germs, and can even neutralize superbugs that are resistant to antibiotic treatment.
Liquid methods have their upsides, like being more portable and not needing to be charged, but you will need to research your particular device to make sure wipes aren’t going to damage your screen’s protective film.
The UV light device that performed best in the study is called the Flashbox Mini, “an easily transportable, small chamber designed for use in any healthcare, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, laboratory, or research setting.”
Read: it’s not cheap.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2wORfLnk93/
There are other devices that aren’t quite as fancy and effective, but that are aimed at consumers. Check out the PhoneSoap and the Verilux Cleanwave Portable Sanitizing Wand, and others like them.
Even if the hullabaloo over this latest virus ends up dying down and out (fingers crossed!), it would be nice to know you’re not sliding your fingers over a petri dish a hundred times a day, wouldn’t it?
I, for one, am totally in. How about you?
