Initial Washroom Hygiene took swab samples from smartphones and found
the average device is nearly seven times dirtier than a loo seat.
Those clad in leather cases harboured the most bacteria
Initial Washroom Hygiene took swabs using a handheld device which highlights live microbes on the surface.
While loo swabs showed bacteria on around 220 areas around the seat, the
average mobile phone boasted a disgusting 1,479 such spots.
Experts have warned that mobiles become filthy because people take them into the bathroom.
Professor Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at the
University of Aberdeen told the Mail: “Swabbing a smartphone is almost
like checking your handkerchief for germs.
“You are likely to find them because of the close physical contact you have with this device several times a day.”
He said that the bugs on mobiles will “probably be people’s own bacteria so the likelihood of passing on disease is low”.
However, Prof Penning added, “it might be ill-advised to pass smartphones around between people.”
Earlier this year, disgusting pictures were released showing smartphones covered in bacteria.
Swabs were taken from an iPhone 6, Samsung Galaxy 8 and Google Pixel to
test for the levels of aerobic bacteria, yeast and mould present.
The phones’ screens had the highest levels of bacteria, with 100 colony
forming units (CFU) per cm2 for the Samsung Galaxy, 40 CFU for the
iPhone, and 12 CFU for the Google Pixel.
The study, carried out for Insurance2go, said this compared to 24 CFU on a toilet seat and flush.
According to The SUN, other heavily affected areas for the phones
include the back of the handset, the lock button and the home button.
Meanwhile, a beauty blender was found to have 24 CFU per cm2, while a
make-up brush had 0.4 CFU, with high levels of mould, the MailOnline
reported.
The study found 5 CFU per cm2 of yeast and bacteria on an office keyboard and mouse.
A third of people in the UK admit to never cleaning their phone, with
one in 20 cleaning their phones less than once every six months.
Dr Shirin Lakhani, from Elite Aesthetics, said: “Our smartphones are a
really big source of skin contamination and skin problems, namely acne.
“High concentrations of microscopic bacteria from your phone’s screen
mixed with oil and makeup from the skin, along with heat from the phone,
breeds more bacteria.
“This can clog pores and often result in inflammation and acne.
lengthy period of time and regularly wipe your smartphone with an
alcohol wipe to remove as much bacteria as possible before using it.”
