Altoona, Wis. – Americans look at their cell phones more than 14 million times a day, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, making them potential carriers of thousands of germs and allergens.

A 2022 study from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, found elevated cat and dog allergens on cell phones, even those belonging to non-pet owners.

Also, cell phones have been found to be 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat; sometimes carrying E. coli, the bacteria that can cause diarrhea and stomach cramps. E. coli can live for hours on a warm surface like a cell phone.

Dr. Dylan Timberlake, Allergist and Immunologist with Prevea Health, says sanitizing your phone regularly with antibacterial wipes or UV-C light can be beneficial, but the best sanitization method is soap and water.

“Washing your hands often with soap and warm water, or using hand sanitizer if water isn’t available, is a tried-and-true way to reduce germs and allergens, especially after using the restroom, eating, coughing or sneezing and being around someone who is sick. Also, knowing what triggers your allergies can help you avoid symptoms.”

There are dozens of other germs and allergens found on common household items you may not think about:

• Remote control – it’s touched many times each day, often by multiple people. It can also pick up germs when it’s dropped on the floor or stuck between couch cushions, which can be a cozy, dark home for mold and bacteria.
• Toothbrush holder – Although toothpaste kills germs, and you only put the toothbrush in the holder after brushing your teeth, germs can stick to the bristles and drop onto the holder. A helpful solution is to put the holder in the dishwasher every now and then.
• Kitchen towel and dish sponge – A sponge of any kind is the dirtiest thing in your house because it’s wet, absorbent and you clean dirty dishes and counters with it. The kitchen towel also harbors germs and allergens because it’s exposed to all things carried through the air. The best solution is to wash towels and replace sponges regularly.
• Computer keyboard and mouse – It’s likely used daily, multiple times a day and sometimes by multiple people. It’s also often used around food, pets, kids’ dirty hands and more. Regularly shake the keyboard to release crumbs and use rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad to clean around each key.
• Your purse and wallet – These items are touched often and exposed to germs and allergens everywhere you go. And some materials are more susceptible to absorbing allergens which then spread in the car and home. Not only is the outside dirty, but the inside is just as exposed to bacteria each time you reach inside. Antibacterial wipes, used regularly, can help reduce the germs and allergens that may affect you.

Dr. Timberlake says other common items in your home that carry allergens include stuffed toys, bedding, wall-to-wall carpet and dog toys. He recommends vacuuming once or twice a week, washing bedding and pillows in hot water regularly and using a humidity controller to prevent mold spores.

Dr. Timberlake sees patients at the Prevea Altoona Medical Office Building, 3119 Woodman Dr. and the Prevea Ladysmith Health Center, 1101 Lake Ave. West. To make an appointment, call (715) 717-6275 or schedule online. 

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About Prevea Health

Founded in Green Bay, Wis. in 1996, Prevea Health is a health care organization that provides high-quality, primary and specialty health care in 80+ locations across Northern, Eastern and Western Wisconsin in clinic and hospital settings. It is partnered with six Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) hospitals across Wisconsin to provide patients a system of highly-coordinated care, close to home: HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay; HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan; HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls; HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire; and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls. For more information, visit www.prevea.com.