Did you know that your cellphone has more bacteria on it than a toilet seat? Find out how to take care of it. 

Compared with the typical things we consider dirty, like toilet seats and pet food dishes, your cellphone is by far the dirtiest. Yes, really.  

According to a study-backed video by Mashable, your cellphone is covered in germs. Like roughly 25,000 germs per square inch. That’s 20 times dirtier than a toilet seat (which has roughly 1,200 bacteria per square inch) and over 3 times dirtier than a doorknob (with roughly 8,600 bacteria per square inch)!

It gets even worse if you’re like most of us who take our phones into the bathroom. When toilets flush, they spread germs like E. coli everywhere.

Clearly, we need to take phone hygiene more seriously. Here are five ways to get started.

1. Keep your phone out of the bathroom

This should probably be obvious but most of us might not realize just how unhygienic this practice is.

“Taking a cellphone into the bathroom and then leaving with it is kind of like going in, not washing your hands and then coming back out,” says Emily Martin, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. 

Next time, reconsider the urge for screen time in the loo, or at least make sure it’s put away before flushing with the lid down.

2. Clean your phone

Again, this might make total sense, but when was the last time you actually cleaned your phone?

You can clean your phone with a gentle cloth (paper towels might make scratches) soaked in a solution of 60% water and 40% isopropyl alcohol. Just mix the ingredients, soak the cloth, and wipe it over your phone at least once a day.

Of course, if you’re one of those people who can’t resist taking your phone to the bathroom, you should do this more often!

3. Wash your hands multiple times a day

This piece of advice is definitely worth a reminder. Researchers have found that a significant amount of bacteria travels back and forth between your hands and your cellphone every day.

Bacteria like E. coli, H. influenzae, and MRSA can be resistant to antibiotics. An easy remedy to this situation would be to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds several times a day.

4. UV ray emitting gadget

Tech-savvy phone owners can go for devices that emit UV rays which can destroy bacteria that live and thrive on your phone surface. These devices can vary in price and practicality. 

5. ScreenKlean nanotech pad that cleans screens in seconds

ScreenKlean is one of the easiest and most effective ways to eliminate stubborn dirt, grime, bacteria, and fingerprints without scratching your phone.

It’s one thing to just clean your phone, but it’s another to clean it so good that it’s like it just came out of the box, brand-new. ScreenKlean leaves your screen HD clear which is easier on your eyes and your immune system.

Cleaning your cellphone regularly is great for your health and the health of those around you. It also keeps the screen easier to see so you don’t have to strain your eyes. Stop touching a toilet bowl and clean your screen!