Did you know that a cellphone can have 10 times more bacteria than a toilet lid? Or that one person on average can touch their phone up to 2,600 times-per-day? Smart Phones are considered the “third hand” of some people, since they have become an essential part of our daily lives and therefore we must contemplate the cleanliness of these devices.
Nowadays and with the current COVID-19 situation and the preventive measures to avoid infections, such as washing our hands with water and soap for at least 20 seconds, to avoid touching our faces, using 70% hand sanitizer, social distancing and the cleaning of frequently touched surfaces, have we ever considered our phone?
The World Health Organization mentions that it is still not known how long the COVID-19 virus can survive on a surface, but if it were to behave similarly to other coronavirus and based on several studies, it is indicated that these types of viruses may survive on a surface from a few hours up to several days. This depends on conditions such as the type of surface, temperature and humidity. This is why it is recommended to clean and disinfect surfaces that are more exposed and those visibly dirty.
Cleaning and Disinfecting, are they the same thing?
Even though they may seem similar, they are not the same thing. They are two whole different processes which must be done one after the other. The use of cleaning an object or surface is to remove dirt and reduce the number of germs existing on it. On the other hand, whenever we disinfect we are killing or inactivating many of the germs that remain after cleaning. This is why it is important to do both of these activities frequently and be constantly reducing the risk of becoming infected with some virus or bacteria.
How Do I Clean and Disinfect My Phone?
To clean and disinfect your phone in the best way, we recommend following these steps:
- First review the specifications on your phone to prevent any kind of damage.
- Wash your hands before and after touching the device.
- Turn off the phone.
- Dilute 200 ml of distilled water and 200 ml of isopropyl alcohol.
- If you do not have distilled water, just use an alcohol-based sanitizer (more than 70%)
- Dampen a microfiber towel (the ones used to clean glasses) or a cotton and delicately clean the screen and back of the device.
- Make sure that the liquid does not go into the inlets such as the one for headphones, charger, speakers, etc.
- Carry out these steps regularly and repeat on any other frequently touched devices that often get close to mouth and nose, such as tablets or laptops.
- Wash your hands after using the device.
We Recommend Avoiding:
- Undiluted alcohol.
- Antibacterial gel, make-up wipes, window cleaners or any other type of liquid.
- Applying too much pressure on the device screen
- Soaking the microfiber towel or cotton, as it may damage the device.
- Spraying liquid directly over the device.
It is important to take care today and every day, taking into consideration all the preventive measures recommended by health authorities. Remember that with simple and small actions you may help yourself and your loved ones to stay healthy.
Let us all take care of each other.
Ref: https://www.hsj.com.mx/articulos/covid-19-la-importancia-de-desinfectar-tu-celular.aspx
