It is often thought of as one of the dirtiest areas in the house.
But a new study warns that toilets pale in comparison to some of the equipment we touch all day long without thinking twice.
According to research from CloudZero, your headphones, laptop, computer mouse, keyboard, and phone can harbor thousands of bacterial colonies.
The dirtiest of all devices are headphones. An average of 1,073 bacterial colonies thrive in the warm, moist environment around your ears.
Meanwhile, some laptops have twice as many bacteria as public trash cans and more mold than any other technology product.
Experts say if you forget to clean these common devices, you could be exposing yourself to potentially harmful pathogens.
Dr Maria Nobel, medical director at Medical Cert UK, said: “Technology devices like smartphones are frequently touched and placed on a variety of surfaces including desks, counters, public transport and bathrooms, and they are You’re collecting germs that can easily be transferred to your hands and face.’
According to researchers, the average pair of headphones has four times more bacteria than a toilet seat, and particularly dirty headphones have seven times more bacteria (photo image)
As the items we handle most frequently throughout the day, personal devices tend to get dirty easily.
To see just how dirty our technology really is, researchers swabbed 38 devices, trash cans, bus handles, and toilet seats to get a sense of the situation.
The samples were then sent to the lab and grown on Petri dishes.
By counting the number of individual bacterial colonies that emerged, scientists were able to estimate how many types of bacteria were living in the original device.
The dirtiest of all devices were headphones, which had an average of 1,073 bacterial colonies.
For comparison, the average pair of headphones is twice as dirty as a toilet seat, which had 425 colonies, and only cleaner than the average public trash can, which had 1,100 colonies.
But some of the headphones tested produced more than 3,000 bacterial colonies, seven times more than a toilet.
This is probably because the sweat and heat produced by our heads creates a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
A typical device was found to contain as many as 3,000 bacterial colonies. On the right you can see a colony of mold that was growing on your laptop, and on the left you can see different types of bacteria sampled from your phone.
Laptops came in second place, with an average of 645 bacterial colonies.
That means the laptop you use to work, watch TV, and play games is more than three times as likely to be dirty as the steering wheel of a bus that only produced 190 colonies.
Laptops were closely followed by computer mice, which took third place with 408 colonies, and keyboards came in fourth with 237 colonies.
Researchers found that mobile phones, the cleanest of all personal devices, harbored only 187 bacterial colonies on average.
However, there’s no guarantee that your device is clean, as the dirtiest phone tested in the study was covered in 1,130 different bacterial colonies.
This is especially concerning because mobile phones are the devices we come in most close contact with, increasing the risk of transmitting dangerous germs.
Dr. Knobel says, “For example, if you use your phone while eating, or if you leave your phone on the gym floor and then hold it against your face, you’re going to build up bacteria, dirt, and oil.” Masu.
However, it’s not just the number of bugs that live on your device that matters, but also the specific types.
Cell phones harbor Staphylococcus and Micrococcus bacteria, which can cause infections and pose a risk to people with weakened immune systems (file photo)
For example, the bacteria Staphylococcus and Micrococcus were found on almost all devices.
These common bacteria are usually present on our skin and in the environment and can be transferred to devices by humans.
Neither is particularly dangerous to healthy people, but staphylococci can cause infections, and micrococci can pose a risk to people with weakened immune systems.
Even more worryingly, researchers have found the presence of Pseudomonas bacteria growing on some headphones and computer mice.
This bacteria is commonly found in cockroach droppings and can cause eye infections, skin rashes, pus-filled pimples, diarrhea, headaches, and other symptoms.
In people with weakened immune systems, Pseudomonas can also cause pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and sepsis.
To make matters worse, this bacterium is also known to have high levels of antimicrobial resistance, making infections extremely difficult to treat.
In hospital settings, this cockroach-borne bacterium is known to be a major cause of infection in patients in poor health.
Samples taken from the headphones were found to contain Pseudomonas bacteria, which is commonly found in cockroach feces and can cause sepsis.
Additionally, keyboards, phones, and laptop trackpads have been found to be particularly prone to mold.
It is a type of fungus that grows in moist environments rich in food sources and reproduces by releasing spores into the air.
For people with asthma or a weakened immune system, the presence of mold can cause respiratory problems, allergic reactions, and inflammation.
Therefore, it’s important for people to take steps to keep their devices clean, Dr. Knobel said.
She advises: “Especially people with active lifestyles who regularly expose their phones to a variety of environments, they should clean their devices daily to minimize the risk of infections such as colds, flu, and acne.”
“During cold and flu season, viruses can remain dormant on high-tech devices for up to 24 hours, increasing the risk of infection.”
To thoroughly clean your device, use an electronics-safe cleaning solution or disinfectant and a soft microfiber cloth.
For keyboards, start by turning the device upside down and shaking it gently to remove any debris that can be a perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria.
Previous studies have shown that technology like computer and TV remotes can be just as dirty as places like shower heads and pet bowls.
Similarly, when cleaning your phone, always remove the case first and shake off any visible dirt or debris.
The FCC’s official advice is to use a cloth lightly dampened with soapy water, but be careful not to get any liquid into the device.
To avoid risk of damage, unplug and turn off electronic devices before cleaning and avoid using harsh chemicals such as bleach or abrasives.
After cleaning, allow sufficient time to dry completely before turning on the power.
