It may seem like a practical way to pass the time, but taking your phone with you to the toilet is a habit that seriously risks your health, scientists warn.
🦠 A haven for dangerous bacteria
According to Professor of Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester, Dr. Primrose Freestone, using your phone in the toilet can turn it into a perfect breeding ground for dangerous bacteria, such as:
E. coli – causes severe diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Pseudomonas – can cause infections in the blood and lungs.
Even if you wash your hands, as soon as you touch the phone that was contaminated in the toilet again, the bacteria return to your skin.
🚽 Toilet powder – “Toilet plume”
When you press the button to flush the toilet, a microscopic dust of bacteria and feces particles is forcefully released into the air.
This bacterial cloud can travel up to 1.5 meters in just 8 seconds, according to researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Even with the lid closed, some of this dust manages to escape.
Any object within a 5-meter radius, including the phone, is at risk of contamination – whether it's the floor, the window, or the sink.
📱 Phone and germs: a bad combination
According to Dr. Freestone, the phone is a frequently touched object and gets dirty just as much as light switches, doorknobs, or faucets.
Phones should be cleaned regularly with 70% alcohol wipes or a mild soapy solution – but never immerse it in water, especially if it is not moisture-resistant.
She herself cleans her phone twice a week with disinfectant.
❌ The biggest mistakes we make in the toilet:
Holding the phone in your hand while defecating
Placing it on the floor next to the toilet
According to her, the floor around the toilet, if not cleaned frequently, retains traces of feces and bacteria for days.
Placing the phone on nearby surfaces, such as a sink, window, or shelves – they also get dirty from toilet splashes.
Touching the phone after washing your hands, without cleaning it first.
😷 Risk of inhaling particles
A 2021 study showed that after each flush of the toilet, tens of thousands of small particles rise into the air and remain at the height of the mouth for up to 20 seconds, increasing the risk of inhaling viruses.
The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus has been found alive in the feces of infected people.
These particles can act as carriers of diseases.
📌 Important tips:
Don't take your phone to the toilet. If necessary, keep it in your pocket.
Never place it on the floor or surface near the toilet.
Wash your hands often and disinfect your phone regularly.
Clean bathroom surfaces regularly and use the toilet lid before flushing.
🧻 How to put toilet paper?
Even the position of the letter has been discussed:
"Over" (with the part that comes from above) – more hygienic and easy to reach.
"Under" (with the part coming from below) – closer to the wall and more risk of contamination.
Conclusion: Using the phone in the bathroom is not only a bad habit, but a serious health risk. It's time to change this routine! /GazetaExpress/
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