Viruses, Bacteria
In times of Corona, some people have to think carefully about what you want to take in the hands. The Smartphone is part of it for sure. The keep, even to the face. But isn’t that kind of unsanitary?
The good news in advance: “The mobile phone is not a Germ spreader,” says Markus Egert, Professor for Microbiology and Hygiene at the University of Furtwangen. In comparison to the number of germs on the human hands, the bacterial load on mobile phones is negligible.
“The modern Smartphones are super dry and smooth, this can hold only a few germs,” says Egert.
You would have to also eat little and multiply so hardly. In the case of old button phones, the bacterial load was higher.
Condition and use can affect number of bacteria
Users have influence on how many germs are on the phone. “The surface of the smartphone is a mirror image of the user,” says Sebastian Klöß from the industry Association Bitkom.
Who wash rarely hands his Smartphone while eating and on the toilet use, transfer, significantly more germs on his device as the one who would not do all of this.
Also, the state of the smartphone has an influence on the bacterial load. “Bacteria, viruses, and fungi can be particularly good at scratches,” adds Klöß.
The Smartphone properly clean
Smartphone providers such as Apple or Samsung give on their websites often for cleaning tips. The experts advise, before cleaning, turn the unit off and remove all connections.
Then the device is best cleaned with a soft, lint-free, slightly damp micro-fiber cloth, the rates of the manufacturer. In case of heavy dirt, users can also use a little soap and water.
It is important that no moisture device in the Openings on the phone. Although many Smartphones are waterproof. Klöß advises nevertheless to be on the safe side and wipe immediately with a cloth after.
Do not use cleaning agents
Disinfection of the phones in the home is not necessary. No special infection’m in danger, says Egert. The Coronavirus could with soap and water inactivate.
Disinfection is therefore hardly possible, because the required amount and the exposure time to the risk that the disinfectant will enter the device in-between spaces, explains Bernd Glassl from the industrial Association for body care and detergents.
Other detergent cleaners can your Smartphone harm – such as glass. Most touch displays have an oleophobic coating.
It ensures that fingerprints can not be fixed. Who will clean the screen with cleaning agents based on alcohol, remove the oleophobic coating gradually, warns Klöß.
Clean connectors carefully
The ports on a phone are very sensitive. Users should clean and therefore especially gently and without moisture. Klöß advises to use cotton swabs or a soft toothbrush.
Who has his SLR camera, a small bellows can also use the to clean. “Compressed air should cleaner be used, however, by no means,” warns Klöß.
How often you should clean the Smartphone ultimately depends on the use, says Glassl. Anyone who travels a lot, a lot of different people, the phone also in the kitchen is using, should clean it more often.
For all, the fear still germs on it, Egert a reassuring message. “For healthy people in the household context from the mobile phone-from germs no danger.”
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)
*The contribution of “viruses, bacteria, & co.: So often you should published his Smartphone clean” is of FitForFun. Contact with the executives here.