Help! My Phone is 10 Times Dirtier Than My Toilet! What Do I Do?
When it comes to staying healthy, there's only so much you can do. Get your shots, stay hydrated, get plenty of rest, eat right, exercise regularly, and stay completely away from animals, people, and plants. If you can somehow do all of that (you can't), you are still gonna get sick from time to time. It's inevitable, despite all of the anti-bacterial wipes, gels, and sprays - the little bugs that get inside of our bodies and wreck shop still find a way to do their dirty work. Some studies suggest that our fight against these bugs may even be making them stronger.
One of the best things you can do is to keep your hands clean. The key to not washing your hands every five minutes is knowing what is filthy and what is not. If you wash your hands after taking out the trash, it's wise to scrub up. If you wash your hands after putting on a clean shirt, you are paranoid. Washing your hands after using the bathroom is a good idea, but what about after you use your phone?
Americans put their hands on their phones an average of 47 time per day, according to a recent survey from Deloitte. That means every time you check your Facebook, take a selfie, or text your friends - you are transferring germs picked up by your hands to the surface of your phone. Your electronic Siamese twin becomes a type of germ-bank, collecting these disease causing microbes. Guess what happens next. That's right, you rub that expensive petri-dish all over your face! You've basically been running a mass transportation system for germs, and the last stop is your head! Recent studies have found evidence of Streptococcus, MRSA and even E. coli living on the surface of mobile devices - these bad boys definitely have the potential to make you sick.
What can you do? Essentially, this news means you can either have a either a healthy social life, or real life. Relax - just a few steps will grant you a great measure of protection. Time recommends that you don't take your phone into the bathroom (even for Candy Crush), clean your phone with a half and half solution of water and alcohol 2-3 times a month, and wash your hands regularly (not obsessively).