Ew! Turns out your headphones are twice as dirty as the toilet seat
There are certain things we forget to clean, such as light switches, remote controls and the mattress. But some items we actively avoid cleaning – and tech tends to be one of them. We worry about cleaning tech thoroughly in case we break it; after all, water and electricity don’t mix, so better to leave the germs where they are right? You might change your mind after reading this…
It’s essential that you clean your tech, otherwise it can end up harbouring more bacteria than you realise. In fact, according to a recent study conducted in the US by CloudZero, your headphones carry twice as much bacteria as the toilet seat. And your laptop, mouse, keyboard and phone aren’t exactly spotless either. Here’s a breakdown of what’s hidden on your tech and how to clean it safely.
How dirty are your headphones?
According to the study, the average pair of in-ear headphones harbour 1,073 bacteria colonies. For reference, a bacterial colony is a collection of microorganisms that has been produced from one mother cell. A toilet seat, by comparison, carries 425 colonies, which means there’s twice as much bacteria present on average – although some headphones were much dirtier than others, carrying more than 3,000 bacterial counts (too many for the lab to even count!).
Your laptop’s not much better either. This carries 645 colonies on average (still more than the toilet seat!). And again, some were recorded as harbouring more than 3,000, with there being too much bacteria to count (this was also the case for computer mice).
The computer mouse takes third place, holding 408 groups of bacteria. As the average toilet seat carries 425 colonies, there’s not much in it here. Following this is the keyboard with 237 counts, and lastly the smartphone, with just 187. It might seem surprising to find the smartphone sitting in last place, but since Covid there’s been a greater awareness of keeping phones clean. Plus, they’re quick and easy to clean compared to some of the other items listed here, so it seems we make more of an effort to clean this type of tech.
What types of bacteria are on my headphones?
The study found several types of bacteria across most of these items. One of the most common was staphylococcus, which lives on human skin and tends to be harmless, but if it gets under the skin it can lead to staph infections.
Pseudomonas was also found on some of the computer mice and headphones that were tested. This type of bacteria can lead to lung infections, including pneumonia – although it predominantly affects those with existing lung conditions or a weakened immune system.
Mould was also found on some of the devices, laptops most of all. Mould releases spores and allergens into the air, which can lead to respiratory issues. You don’t want traces of any of these bacterium (or fungus) on your tech, so you need to regularly clean them. But how should you do this?
How to clean your headphones
For in-ear headphones, if they have silicone ear tips, these should be removed and cleaned with warm, soapy water. A cotton bud can help you reach into any crevices. For foam buds, just use a damp microfibre cloth (no soap) and gently wipe them. Leave buds and ear tips to dry thoroughly before replacing.
Next, check the metal grilles in the earpieces. If they need a clean, you can use a soft, dry toothbrush to loosen any dirt. After this, you can wipe over the exterior of the earphone with a microfibre cloth, lightly dampened with plain water (no soap). Leave to dry fully before using them again or packing them back into the case. If your case has seen better days, a dry cotton bud can help you reach into the crevices.
How to clean your laptop
To give your laptop the deep clean it needs, start by checking and following the manufacturer’s instructions. Some brands will only recommend certain methods and products and you don’t want to invalidate your warranty.
As a general rule, you can dust the case and lid with a clean microfibre cloth, potentially dampening it if needed. There are also specialised wipes you can buy to run over the screen, such as EOTW Screen Wipes (again, check with the manufacturer first).
How to clean your mouse and keyboard
Firstly, you should switch off and remove any batteries from your mouse and keyboard before cleaning.
If you need to get rid of crumbs between the keys of your keyboard, a can of compressed air can come to the rescue, such as AF Sprayduster. You can also run the sticky end of a sticky note between tight gaps to pick up any crumbs. Otherwise, use specialised wipes as mentioned above.
Your mouse is quick to clean. Rotate the trackball to manually dislodge any dirt, then an antibacterial wipe is all you need to clean the body (don’t get excess moisture in any openings). Alternatively, just spray a disinfectant on to a microfibre cloth and use that.
How to clean your smartphone
Your smartphone is straightforward to clean. Start by removing the plastic case and washing it in warm, soapy water. Leave to dry thoroughly before replacing.
Check with the manufacturer before you clean the body of your phone – some will only allow specific cleaners. For general guidance, switch off your phone and gently rub the display and camera lens in a circular motion with a microfibre cloth. You can very lightly dampen the cloth if you need to. Antibacterial wipes can be used to disinfect, but you should generally avoid using these on the screen unless the brand recommends it.
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