TMCnet News
iChoo: How to safely sanitize computer touchscreens during cold and flu season [Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn.](Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jan. 17--When it comes to sickness being passed around the office, the offending party may be in a pocket, not a neighboring cubicle. In the last several years, touch screen-equipped smartphones and tablets have become an indispensable part of modern life. Because they are constantly being touched, held close to mouths and stored in warm pockets, however, bacteria love these devices as much as the people who use them. Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department spokesperson Abena Williams recommends that those who are concerned about spreading germs abide by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. In an article about preventing the spread of the flu, the CDC recommends routinely cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that are touched often, including electronic items such as smartphones, tablets and keyboards. According to an October survey by the Pew Research Center, half of adult Americans own cellphones, and although smartphones have become one of the most-handled devices in daily life, they are rarely cleaned. Research by Dr. Chuck Gerba, a virology specialist and University of Arizona professor of microbiology, has shown that mobile phones can carry up to 10 times as many bacteria as the average toilet. As a result, these devices, which often are shared between people, pose a significant transmission risk. Clearly, a good cleaning is in order, but many ammonia- and alcohol-based household cleaning products can damage a screen and remove its anti-glare coating. So what's a gadget-loving germaphobe to do Regularly washing your hands is always the best line of defense, Williams says, but there are a range of products available that have been designed to sanitize smart tech without damaging it. ___ (c)2013 the Chattanooga Times/Free Press (Chattanooga, Tenn.) Visit the Chattanooga Times/Free Press (Chattanooga, Tenn.) at www.timesfreepress.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |