Hygiene for Smartphones and Tablets

Since most people use the BloodPressureDB app on a smartphone or tablet, how clean these devices are is worth considering. Especially when colds, the flu, or SARSCoV2 (coronavirus) are circulating, youll see more reports about phone hygiene.

They are our constant companions. We pick them up dozens of times a day to type messages, open apps, search the web, scroll, play, and so on all through the screen, often without washing our hands first, even though those hands just touched lots of different things. So what does that mean for hygiene? How often should the screen or the whole phone be cleaned, and how should you do it?

Phone screens are often called real germ hotspots. Its true that various bacteria are found on touchscreens. Most of these are the kinds of bacteria people naturally carry and that usually dont harm healthy people. How heavily devices are colonized with bacteria is debated. A 2015 study found only one bacterium per square centimeter. Other sources mention more than 100 bacteria, but without stating the area.

Unfortunately, there are no studies on virus transmission via the screen or the phone overall. In general its assumed that virus contamination is similar to bacterial contamination.

Because a smartphone reflects personal hygiene, its important to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap. According to microbiologist Prof. Markus Egert, the phone itself should be wiped now and then with a lightly damp cloth or a microfiber cloth like a glasses cleaning cloth. That already removes most microbes and greasy residues where bacteria can multiply. Even the common, often unconscious wiping on your pants or Tshirt helps.

If you use your phone in a clinical setting or in public, you should disinfect it. But be careful: the screen has a special greaserepellent coating that aggressive cleaners including many disinfectants, alcohol, dish soap, and soapy water can damage, which may affect touch sensitivity or cause streaking. For that reason, its a good idea to protect the screen from the start with a screen protector. That can be wiped with a cloth moistened with disinfectant. There are also special screen cleaners that are safe for the material and suitable for cleaning phones. Make sure they are labeled "virucidal" or "limited virucidal." For cleaning the ports, you can find many online guides showing how to clean them with cotton swabs, toothpicks, and similar tools.

In summary, a smartphone mainly reflects your personal hand hygiene. If you wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, wiping your phone or tablet regularly with a microfiber cloth is sufficient. If the devices are used in clinical settings or public areas, they should be cleaned with appropriate cleaning products. Harsh cleaners like disinfectant solutions, alcohol, soapy water, etc., can damage the screen. A screen protector is recommended because it can be wiped with disinfectant spray the product onto a cloth and clean the phone with it. The protector also reduces the risk of mechanically damaging the screen, for example if crumbs on the screen could cause scratches during cleaning.

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This article comes from BloodPressureDB – the leading app since 2011 that helps hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day. Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based information and is continuously updated (as of 02/2026).

Author Sabine Croci is a certified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care. Since 2015 she has led the editorial team at BloodPressureDB. With additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder, and training in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably reviewed information.

Hygiene for Smartphones and Tablets

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