Recent studies (and basic common sense) have found that scrolling and tinkering with your smartphone in the bathroom can lead to some pretty gross results. If you thought the oil marks on your screen were a problem, just wait until you hear what germ expert Jason Tetro has to say about it. And with the increased use of smartphones in everyday life, the problem is only getting worse. With more than 6.8 billion cell phone subscriptions out in the world and a pressing need for all of them to go to the bathroom at some point, the odds of containing this gross truth seem more and more difficult. In fact, another study shows that 61 percent of smartphone users have used their phone in the bathroom. To make matters worse, 43 percent say they’ve done it more than once a month. Fortunately, there is a way to combat this issue. Maintaining regular hygiene can keep the cumulative bacteria effect at bay. This doesn’t simply mean washing your hands. You must disinfect your hands, your face and your devices to keep pathogens at a manageable level. Or, we could all commit to leaving our smartphones behind when nature calls. But the last thing any of us want to do is start buying magazine subscriptions again.
