If you’re like most people, you probably take your smartphone everywhere, even if it’s in your pocket. Phones have become our main connection to the rest of the world, whether it’s through text messages, phone calls, or social media. We take them to work, school, restaurants, and anywhere else we happen to visit. However, there’s one place smartphones shouldn’t be: the kitchen.
It might sound strange at first, but there are plenty of reasons to keep your phone out of the kitchen. It’s not just about the safety of your phone – it’s for your health as well.
1. Phones spread bacteria easily
Your phone gets around, and considering how often you touch your phone after it’s been in so many different places, you’re basically touching bacteria nonstop. However, the situation is a little more concerning when you consider how many restrooms your phone sees.
How many restrooms has your phone been in without being disinfected? Probably more than you think. It’s likely been in at least one restroom at home, but also at work, school, your friends’ houses, and maybe even public places like restaurants and movie theaters. It may not be a big deal if you always keep your phone in your pocket and wash your hands before you touch your phone, but not everyone has adopted that habit.
When you bring an unsanitized phone into the kitchen, say for the purpose of following a recipe, you’re introducing a host of bacteria into your meal. Each time you swipe or tap the screen, you’re potentially collecting bacteria on your fingertips that will end up in the food you touch.
Always sanitize your phone first
If you must use your phone to access a recipe or watch a video for some type of cooking technique, sanitize the entire phone, screen, and case beforehand. For example, if you have a durable case with a plastic screen protector, you can probably just use a sanitizer wipe to clean everything. However, make sure you verify that your particular screen protector can handle chemicals. It might be made of a special material. If you don’t use a screen protector, it’s recommended to use disinfectant wipes that contain no higher than 70% isopropyl alcohol.
There’s also a product called PhoneSoap that uses UV light to safely clean device screens while killing 99.99% of germs and bacteria. These are good to use on a regular basis, even every day. However, you don’t want UV light to get into your eyes so these devices need to be used carefully.
2. Phones can collect bacteria while you cook
The problem of cross-contamination goes both ways in the kitchen. In addition to spreading bacteria into your food, you can also spread foodborne illness by touching your phone after handling raw meat. For example, E. Coli and salmonella are easily spread through contact with surfaces. If either happens to be present, and you transfer it to your phone, it can end up getting you or someone else sick.
If you wash your hands after touching your phone and before you handle food, you’re far less likely to create cross-contamination that can lead to foodborne illness.
3. It can fall into the trash can
Have you ever had to fish your phone out of a trash can? This might not be the worst thing in the world for some people, but it depends on what’s in your trash can. If your kitchen trash can doesn’t have a lid on it and your phone falls in, you’re going to have to pull it out. Even with gloves, your phone will be covered in whatever scraps have been tossed into the garbage, and you’ll have to clean it. It only takes one unlucky experience to know this is not how you want to spend your afternoon.
4. Your kid might drop it on the floor
Anytime you leave your smartphone lying around, there’s a chance your kid might start playing with it and accidentally drop it on the floor. Your phone is more likely to survive a fall from a plane than being dropped off the kitchen counter. You could end up with a cracked screen or camera lens.
Prevention is ideal
Whether you’re more concerned about accidents or cross-contamination, you can prevent these situations by leaving your phone in another room while you cook. If you need to reference a recipe, print it out or copy it onto a piece of paper. If you must watch a video, then sterilize your phone first and always wash your hands before and after you touch it – even if you’re wearing gloves.