Germans rarely clean smartphones, notebooks and the like
12.2.2024
Translation: machine translated
Germans don't seem to be such real cleaners. At least not when it comes to smartphones or computers. In a survey, a fifth of respondents stated that they never clean the surface of their mobile phones. Never!
We hold our smartphones in our hands dozens of times a day. In the same hand that previously touched door handles, lift buttons or bus handles. All places that are teeming with germs. If we then swipe and tap again, we spread the germs on the display. Or we let viruses and bacteria jump from our fingertips to the letters on our keyboard.
However, few Germans seem to think about this. The industry association Bitkom conducted a survey to find out how many people clean their mobile phones, keyboards, mice or displays and how often. The short version: only very, very few users clean every day. Most are only on the road occasionally on behalf of hygiene.
Or in figures:
- Only 6 per cent of all smartphone owners in Germany clean the surface every day.
- 18 per cent clean the display at least once a week.
- 39 per cent say they clean it once a month.
- At least 9 per cent clean it once a year.
- 2 per cent of respondents said they clean "every few years"
- 21 per cent, i.e. more than one in five, said they never clean their mobile phones.
The figures are even lower when people are asked how often they clean other technical gadgets, such as keyboards or notebook displays. Most respondents (39 per cent) clean these surfaces at least once a month. 37 per cent say they do this at least once a year. Only two per cent of participants in the representative survey clean their devices once a week.
What is the best way to clean your smartphone?
Thanks to their smooth surfaces, modern smartphones generally harbour few germs. Nevertheless, iPhones and the like can transmit pathogens. If you also use your smartphone while eating or going to the toilet, you increase the risk of transporting intestinal bacteria. Tiny droplets of saliva can also transfer bacteria and viruses to the smartphone when using the phone - this is particularly dangerous during the cold season.
The viral load is significantly reduced if you wash your hands frequently. Additional cleaning of surfaces that you touch frequently is also recommended. For Bitkom expert Sebastian Klöß, a soft, lint-free and slightly moistened microfibre cloth is suitable. For heavy dirt, he advises using a little soapy water or a glasses cleaning cloth. Alcohol-based cleaning agents, glass cleaners or disinfectants are not recommended. They could damage the devices because they attack the grease-repellent coating of touchscreens, for example.
However, Apple and Samsung have given the all-clear when it comes to disinfectants. The surfaces may be "carefully" wiped with a cleaning cloth moistened with 70 per cent isopropyl alcohol or 75 per cent ethyl alcohol. A Clorox disinfectant wipe is also permitted. Bleaching agents or those containing hydrogen peroxide must not be used.
A combination of microfibre cloth and special screen cleaner is currently the top seller in our shop. Followed by two compressed air cleaners that effectively blow dirt out of gaps or cracks in keyboards.
PC cleaning products
Quantity discount
CHF6.05 per piece for 3 units CHF16.75/1l
Fellowes Compressed air cleaner
1 x
PC cleaning products
Quantity discount
CHF7.20 per piece for 3 units CHF40.–/1l
Durable Powerclean Standard
1 x
My colleague Raphael Knecht provides further cleaning tips for keyboard and mouse in this article:
And what about you? How often do you clean your smartphone and co. Do you have any cleaning tips? Let the Community know with a comment.
Header image: Martin Jungfer
Martin Jungfer
Head of Content
Martin.Jungfer@digitecgalaxus.chJournalist since 1997. Stopovers in Franconia (or the Franken region), Lake Constance, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zurich. Father since 2014. Expert in editorial organisation and motivation. Focus on sustainability, home office tools, beautiful things for the home, creative toys and sports equipment.
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