Why Using Your Phone in the Restroom Is Dangerous: "Handwashing May Be Useless"

Droplets from Flushing Can Contaminate Your Phone
"It Is Best Not to Bring It and to Disinfect Regularly"

Experts have pointed out that the habit of using mobile phones in the restroom can be a major cause of exposure to infectious bacteria.

Primrose Freestone, a professor of clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, recently warned in an interview with the local media outlet Daily Mail that "using a smartphone in the restroom can nullify the effects of handwashing." She explained, "No matter how thoroughly you wash your hands, if you touch a contaminated device again, it is only a matter of time before bacteria are transferred to your hands."

The habit of using mobile phones in the restroom has been pointed out as a major cause of exposure to infectious bacteria (photo provided for article understanding and unrelated to the content). Pixabay

The restroom is a place where various pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are highly likely to spread. Escherichia coli can cause severe diarrhea and abdominal pain, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa can lead to fatal complications such as lung or bloodstream infections. These bacteria can also easily spread to surrounding surfaces through the air.

In particular, the dispersal of droplets that occurs when flushing the toilet has been identified as a major route for bacterial spread. According to research from the University of Colorado Boulder in the United States, droplets that are sprayed into the air when the toilet is flushed rapidly spread throughout the bathroom, dispersing bacteria as well. The smaller the particles, the longer they can remain suspended in the air, and surfaces such as sinks, towels, and door handles can also be easily contaminated.

Some analyses have found that even flushing with the lid closed does not make a significant difference. Related experiments at the University of Arizona in the United States showed that the lid does not completely block the spread of bacteria or viruses.

Professor Freestone emphasized, "All surfaces in the bathroom have a high potential for bacterial exposure, and particular attention should be paid to mobile phones, which come into close contact with the face and hands." She added, "The best practice is not to bring your mobile phone into the restroom at all."

However, if you must take your phone into the restroom, you should minimize its use and avoid placing it on the floor or on top of the water tank. After leaving the restroom, you must disinfect the device with an alcohol-based wipe or similar product. Professor Freestone herself stated that she disinfects her phone more than twice a week.

Experts advise that "restrooms are among the spaces with the highest concentrations of pathogenic bacteria," and that "even small hygiene habits in daily life can significantly reduce the risk of infection."