By Shelley Swenson, Extension Agent III,
Family and Consumer Sciences UF-IFAS
Wakulla County Extension

Have you ever considered what your cell phone would look like under a “germ microscope”?

You use your cell phone every day. It goes from your pocket or purse to your face. Imagine, while your child is eating a peanut butter sandwich your child asks for your phone to play a game. Do you take your phone into the bathroom with you and rest it on the floor at bedtime? Everywhere your phone goes, so do the germs. According to the American Cleaning Institute, 82% of cell phones tested had bacteria contamination and 16%, that’s 1 in 6, had E. coli (fecal in origin). Are you sickened yet?

You can reduce the number of germs on your cell phone. The Cleaning Institute, an Extension educational partner offers these simple tips:

• Before you begin, check the owner’s manual for any cleaning instructions specific to your device.
• Dirt, oil or germs from hands can markup cell phones so wipe the screen at least daily with a microfiber cloth. This is the cloth you are given to wipe your eye glasses.
• The case you added to your phone can trap dirt and grime along the edges. Take the cover off weekly. Use a disinfecting wipe on the case, both inside and out. Let it dry completely before putting the case back on.
• Extend the life of your electronics by keeping your cell phone away from food and drinks.
• If given the opportunity, wash your hands before using your phone to lesson germ contamination and to minimize grime.

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