Hygiene for Smartphones and Tablets

Since most users use the Tensana app on a smartphone or tablet, the hygiene of these devices is worth considering. Especially at times when colds, influenza, or SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) are widespread, more reports are also being published about mobile phone hygiene.

They are our constant companions. We pick them up dozens of times a day to type messages, open apps, use search engines, scroll, play games and so on. All of this is done via the display, without first washing hands that had just been in contact with various things. So how hygienic is it? How often and how should the display or the entire smartphone be cleaned?

Phone screens are often described as veritable germ factories. It is true that various bacteria can be found on touchscreens. Most of these, however, are bacteria that everyone naturally carries and that usually cannot harm healthy people. Opinions differ as to how heavily the devices are colonized with bacteria. A 2015 study found only one bacterium per square centimeter. Other websites mention more than 100 bacteria, but without specifying the area.

Unfortunately, there are no studies on virus transmission via the screen or the smartphone as a whole. In general, it is assumed that viral contamination is similar to bacterial contamination.

Because a smartphone reflects personal hygiene, it is 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 such as a glasses-cleaning cloth. This already removes most microorganisms and greasy residues in which bacteria can multiply. Even wiping it on your trousers or T-shirt, which is usually done rather unconsciously, already helps.

However, if you use your phone in a clinical setting or in public, you should also disinfect it. But be careful: the screen is made of a special grease-repellent material that can be damaged by aggressive cleaners, such as most disinfectants, alcohol, dish soap, and soapy water, which may impair usability or cause streaking. For that reason, it is a good idea to protect the screen from the start with a screen protector. This can then be wiped with a cloth moistened with disinfectant. There are also special screen cleaners that are safe for the material and suitable for cleaning smartphones. However, it is advisable to make sure they are labeled "virucidal" or "limited virucidal." For cleaning the ports, you can find many online guides showing how to clean them using 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 own smartphone or tablet regularly with a microfiber cloth is sufficient. If the devices are used in a clinical setting or in public, they should be cleaned with appropriate cleaning products. Harsh cleaners such as disinfectant solution, alcohol, soapy water, etc. can damage the screen. A screen protector is recommended because it can also be wiped with a disinfectant. To do this, spray the product onto a cloth and use it to clean the smartphone. The screen protector also reduces the risk of mechanically damaging the screen if, for example, crumbs that could cause scratches are present on it during cleaning.

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

Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.

Hygiene for Smartphones and Tablets

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