How CLEAN is your Android phone?

[Roze]

I have a thing for perceived germs. I'm not fully a germ-a-phobe but when I know that something is germy, I will take out my sanitizer wipe or gel to clean what I perceived is dirty. I carry a pack of sanitizer wipe, a bottle of sanitizer gel, a can of sanitizer spray and sanitizer foam in my bag.

I started thinking about my phone and really how germy and dirty it is. I mean I carry it on my body 24/7. I leave it on the table, in my bag, in my jeans' pockets, basically anywhere and everywhere. I'll eat something and will use the sanitizer after I finished eating and before I touch my phone. I don't think most people do this though. For the times I forget, like eating chips and getting a phone call, I usually just wipe my hands on a tissue/napkin quickly before I pick up the call. Now I'm thinking my germy phone is placed on my face as I talk to my friend. Not a pleasent thought.
There are people that take their phones to the bathroom, take this thread here: http://androidforums.com/lounge/252848-what-do-you-do-while-pooping.html

I try to sanitize my phone and the case as often as possible. I turn it off and dab some sanitizer gel on a tissue and wipe the phone with it. I'm not sure if there's any harm done to the phone, but at least I know my phone is clean.

Another thing is the earbuds that you use with your phone, how often do you clean them? I realized that they are quite dirty after my first ear infection >_>;;; I think I have another right now :< Has anyone gotten ear infections because of the earbuds? When I sanitize my phone, I'll use the gel on the fabric covers of the earbuds but I don't know how effective that is. I've been trying to make it a habit to wash the fabric cover every night before I go to sleep.

This is just a curiosity of mine, if there's others like me or do people really don't give a shit about this. I mean, getting ear infections not something to take lightly about. You carry your phone everywhere you go, it most likely is picking up all sort of germs and bacterias.

 

[AndroidSPCS]

Like you I'm pretty anal about keeping my phone clean. I use Phantom Skinz on all my devices, and it's pretty easy to keep the skin clean, with a wipe from a napkin, or the anti-bacterial wipes occasionally. I also wash my hands often to keep my hands clean as well.

 

[NYCHitman1]

OCD much? Lol. I'm sure my phone is somewhat dirty but I don't really care.

You remind me of that lady from the show Glee. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Pillsbury

 

[RiverOfIce]

Honestly, you are probably doing more damage then you are helping. There are beneficial germs that you need. A lot of time, beneficial germs, breakdown and destroy harmful germs. Killing off both will only leave you exposed more to the harmful germs then the helpful germs. Which means you should take care and keep your area clean but like with anything, to much of a good thing is just like too much of a bad thing.

YouTube - &#x202a;Toothbrush Surprise - Flushing with the lid up&#x202c;&rlm;

 

[BabyBlues]

I see both sides of this one. I try to wipe off my phone from visible dust, dirt and fingerprints but as for the rest of the germs - I'm sick less often than 95% of my friends so I think that the germs help keep everything in fighting order.

I thought of Monk as soon as I read the original post - made me laugh at least. Thanks!

 

[jamor]

I have never sterilized/sanitized my android phone and I haven't been sick in over a year.

I think living an active lifestyle and having a very good diet is a lot more important than cleaning off germs.

 

[gallandof]

i dont sanitize my phone, but i do hate smudges so im always wiping the screen down with a microfiber cloth.

 

[BabyBlues]

i dont sanitize my phone, but i do hate smudges so im always wiping the screen down with a microfiber cloth.

I have found that a piece of old jeans works even better to clean screens!

 

[cds0699]

Mines pretty clean, I'm super anal about it though.

 

[Vihzel]

I just use a soft cloth (or shirt if it's soft enough) and use the traditional hot breath then wipe.

 

[Roze]

OCD much? Lol. I'm sure my phone is somewhat dirty but I don't really care.

You remind me of that lady from the show Glee. Emma Pillsbury - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Honestly, you are probably doing more damage then you are helping. There are beneficial germs that you need. A lot of time, beneficial germs, breakdown and destroy harmful germs. Killing off both will only leave you exposed more to the harmful germs then the helpful germs. Which means you should take care and keep your area clean but like with anything, to much of a good thing is just like too much of a bad thing.

Yeah...I know that...I TRIED to not wash my hands as often and use sanitizing gel but simply can't, lol. The germs....

I have never sterilized/sanitized my android phone and I haven't been sick in over a year.

I think living an active lifestyle and having a very good diet is a lot more important than cleaning off germs.

I haven't been sick in over a year too

Seems like AndroidSPCS is the only one like me-ish.

This article is interesting: http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-hospital-cellphones-20110531,0,7189588.story

According to a new study, cellphones used by patients and visitors are twice as likely to contain potentially dangerous bacteria compared with the mobile phones used by healthcare workers. Previous studies have focused on the threat of germs on the phones of healthcare workers but not others who visit hospitals.

The authors of the study, conducted in Turkey, took swabs from 200 cellphones. About one-third of the phones belonged to healthcare workers and the rest belonged to patients and visitors. They found almost 40% of the patients' and visitors' phones tested positive for germs that can lead to hospital-acquired infections, including the bacteria that cause MRSA -- methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

 

[_mw_]

The real question isn't whether or not you keep your phone clean. It's whether or not your phone has been vaccinated. A single unvaccinated phone can infect hundreds to thousands of nearby vaccinated phones, because apparently.... anywho, make sure your phone is vaccinated.

 

[Dark Jedi]

I use alcohol wipe pads you use for like cleaning glasses and so on. Not that I am a gemaphobe but more as the alcohol evaporates quickly and does a great job living dirt and stuff off. Plus the pads are not drenched so no worries of it going inside the phone. This reminds me to clean my phone.

 

[jamor]

I haven't been sick in over a year too

Seems like AndroidSPCS is the only one like me-ish.

This article is interesting: Cellphones used in hospitals may spread nasty germs - latimes.com

But to be fair, for the first 3 months I was really OCD with my phone and always wiping it super clean. Once the novelty wore off I stopped.

I also get grossed out about using someone else's phone.

 

[Joe Dirt]

I only wipe it down when I get something sticky on it.

 

[BabyBlues]

I only wipe it down when I get something sticky on it.

Uuummmm - I hesitate to ask but why would your phone be sticky?

 

[Roze]

But to be fair, for the first 3 months I was really OCD with my phone and always wiping it super clean. Once the novelty wore off I stopped.

I also get grossed out about using someone else's phone.

lol hmm...depends on how lazy I get and how I perceived germs. I've been a germaphob before. Right now, I'll continue disinfecting my phone. lol

 

[_mw_]

But to be fair, for the first 3 months I was really OCD with my phone and always wiping it super clean. Once the novelty wore off I stopped.

Day One: Wipe screen after every use.
Day Two: Wiping screen every half an hour, trying to use the phone a little less to preserve the screen.
Day Three: Using the bottom of your shirt to wipe it down before you put it in your pocket, so when it comes out it's only a little linty but mostly show-offable.
Day Four: Protector arrives. Cleaning only 50% of the time.
Day Five: Realized that you're overcleaning your phone. Hiding the act from family and friends.
...
Day Fifteen: Phone is a forensic scientists wet dream.

 

[AndroidSPCS]

Based on what I see when I visit public restrooms, I believe a lot of people take and use their phones in the bathrooms (also based on the amount of posts on phones dropped in toilets - ick). To not clean the phones at all is really disgusting, imho.

I still can't believe how many people go potty, and leave the restroom without washing their hands. Yea I might be a germaphob...

 

[Vihzel]

Men's public toilets are NASTY. I can't wait til I get out of there. I'm definitely not going to stay in there longer than it takes.

 

[NYCHitman1]

Men's public toilets are NASTY. I can't wait til I get out of there. I'm definitely not going to stay in there longer than it takes.

Think it's bad in LA, wait until you get to NYC. Lmfao! You're in for quite a treat!

 

[Steven58]

Wipe the smudges off, that's about it. The root mods and Roms? That's a different story, I'm anal about keeping them up to date and stuff, but that has nothing to do with clean.

I think Roze thinks I'm sceeevy now.

 

[cds0699]

Wipe the smudges off, that's about it. The root mods and Roms? That's a different story, I'm anal about keeping them up to date and stuff, but that has nothing to do with clean.

I think Roze thinks I'm sceeevy now.

Thats snap done by me too I am all around anal about all of it.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Uuummmm - I hesitate to ask but why would your phone be sticky?

Anytime I go to the bar I always end up getting something on it.

 

[chrisinsocalif]

A study from The Journal of Health and Allied Sciences has determined that frequent use of earphones increases bacterial growth in the ear, so those earbuds are practically petri dishes filled with with yucky micro organisms!
If that wasn't bad enough, other researchers in India have determined that people who share their earbuds share their filth, as well: Harmful bacteria is present on 92 percent of ear swabs taken from people who shared their earphones, compared with only eight percent of those who shared less frequently. People who share earbuds are gross.

Read more:G4tv

Men's public toilets are NASTY. I can't wait til I get out of there. I'm definitely not going to stay in there longer than it takes.

The sinks are cleaner though(cause we don't wash our hands after peeing..we dont pee on our hands!).