Not just favorite gadgets, but breeding grounds for bacteria: why you need to thoroughly clean your devices

Gadgets that we often use we use give shelter to colonies of bacteria

People use their gadgets everywhere throughout the day. Even in bed, it is impossible to give up scrolling through a smartphone or listening to music through headphones. And how often are you used to cleaning your devices, because you should do it regularly and not with your shirt sleeve.

Devices constantly accumulate dust, dirt and germs.  CloudZero conducted a study and found that headphones, laptops, keyboards and phones accumulate thousands of bacteria colonies.

To determine how much bacteria accumulates on our devices, they took swabs from mobile phones, laptops, headphones, keyboards and computer mice. These samples were sent to a laboratory for analysis to determine the number of microbes present on our everyday tech gadgets. These results were then compared with the level of bacteria on toilet seats, garbage cans and public transport surfaces.

Where are the most colonies of microbes

1. 1073 – headphones

2. 645 – laptop

3. 425 – toilet

4. 408 – computer mouse

5. 237 – keyboard

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6. 190 – handrails in the bus

7. 187 – telephone

For comparison, the number of bacteria in a garbage can is close to 1100, and the handle of a public bus has 190, which is 5 times less than in headphones.

How to reduce the number of bacteria on your devices

< p class="l-narrow text-left">Experts recommend cleaning gadgets regularly and disinfecting them with soft microfiber cloths and electronics-safe cleaning products. When cleaning the phone, it is necessary to turn it off and remove the case to reach hard-to-reach places. The keyboard should be turned over and tapped, and a slightly damp cloth should be used for the mouse, avoiding liquid getting inside the devices to prevent damage to the electronics.

Dr. Maria Knobel, Medical Director  Medical Cert UK, shares the importance of cleaning your tech devices:

Tech devices such as smartphones are often touched and placed on various surfaces — tables, counters, public transport and bathrooms — picking up germs that are easily transferred to our hands and faces. Devices should be cleaned daily to minimize the risk of infections such as colds, flu or acne, especially for those who lead an active lifestyle and regularly expose their phones to different environments. During cold and flu seasons, technical devices can hold viruses for up to 24 hours, increasing the risk of transmission. Regular cleaning is crucial, especially if the devices are shared with others, to prevent the spread of germs at home or at work,

Maria Knobel emphasizes.