Your smartwatch could be 30 times dirtier than a toilet seat
You get home after a run or supermarket shop, wipe down your phone, keys, any cards you've used, and, erm, smartwatch? I don't know about you, but despite the fact that I touch it at least every hour to check my step count, the last time I cleaned my Fitbit was, well, never?
A new survey suggests you should be doing just that, especially given we are all trying to improve our hygiene standards at the moment.
Comparison site comparemymobile took swabs from various pieces of every day tech, including smartphones, keyboards, smartwatches and video game controllers, to see what nasties could be lurking on them.
It tested for total aerobic bacteria; coliforms, a type of bacteria typically found in the digestive system or waste; staphylococci, a bacteria that can cause skin infections, as well as food poisoning, and in rare cases, toxic shock syndrome; and enterobacteriaceae, a bacteria family that includes E.Coli and salmonella.
Smartwatches were found to be the most bacteria-ridden pieces of kit, harbouring more than 250 bacteria colonies per cm2, which is potentially equivalent to 3,746% more bacteria than a toilet seat. Pretty revolting.
The smartwatch showed low levels of coliforms and enterobacteriaceae, but large levels of aerobic bacteria and staphylococci.
Meanwhile, perhaps unsurprisingly, the smartphone was the next biggest culprit, with approximately 100 bacteria colonies per cm2, which is potentially 15 times more contaminated than a toilet seat, this was followed by keyboards and then controllers.
Dan Clifford from comparemymobile said: "While it’s pretty shocking to see all the nasty surprises your gadgets could be harbouring up close, it’s important to remember that we come into contact with these things on a daily basis without incident.
"That being said, it’s still a good idea to give things a good clean every so often, especially your phone as it’s the only most likely to come into contact with your face. While many retailers sell phone cleaning wipes, some manufacturers, such as Apple and Samsung, suggest that the harsh chemicals may damage the protective coating on your phone's screen.
"Instead, try turning off your device and cleaning it with a slightly damp lint-free cloth and warm soapy water - but be careful to not get water in the charging port."
Probably worth doing the same with your smartwatch...
