Despite being glued to our hands daily, new research has revealed that Brits are turning a blind eye to their tech devices when it comes to hygiene - with worrying consequences.

The findings, by household cleaning brand Astonish, showed that 11% of people have never cleaned their mobile phone, sparking cause for concern, considering most people take their phone everywhere with them – on public transport, to the gym, even to the bathroom!

Laptops and tablets aren’t safe either, with almost 15% admitting they are cleaning their laptops less than once a year and nearly 17% stating the same for their tablet.
But it doesn’t stop there. Shockingly, more than half of Brits admit they have never cleaned some of the most frequently touched tech items in their household including:

Keyboards - 54%
Remote controls - 55%
Laptop/desktop mice - 56%

These items are hotspots for germs and bacteria due to their constant use, often by multiple people, yet they are consistently being missed off cleaning checklists across the UK. Anything that sits on a desk is a particular germ concern zone caused by people often eating their lunch over keyboards and mouses being high-touch areas.
When it comes to remote controls, which are often passed between hands, dropped on the floor and left in communal areas - the data shows a gender divide too. More women (52%) have cleaned theirs compared to just 39% of men.

Tech items like phones, laptops and remote controls are high-contact surfaces that we touch constantly throughout the day - so it’s quite concerning to see that they are rarely getting cleaned. If you think about how often your phone touches your hands, your face, a communal table or your pocket, it is literally collecting bacteria from every single thing it comes into contact with.

Because of this, not cleaning these items is a significant hygiene risk. In some cases, it could even contribute to skin issues or the spread of viruses and germs around the home and from person to person, so it’s really important you clean them regularly to eliminate this.

We’d recommend you do this once a week, which may seem like a lot - but it’s absolutely essential to keep bacteria at bay and can make your devices last longer too, so it’s a win-win!

How to clean technology properly:

Mobile phones & tablets:

Start by removing any cases or accessories as these will need cleaning too.

Use a microfiber cloth with a small amount of antibacterial spray. Just make sure that you spray the cloth, not the device as moisture can damage internal components!

Avoid using things like abrasive wipes or bleach - they can wear away the screen’s protective coating.

Let your phone air-dry before replacing the case (which should be cleaned separately using soapy water or disinfectant wipes, depending on the material).

Laptops & keyboards:

Make sure your device is turned off and unplugged before you start cleaning.

To get rid of any dust and crumbs from between keys, you can use compressed air or a hairdryer on a cold heat should do the trick
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Lightly dampen a lint-free cloth with a disinfectant solution and wipe down the keyboard, trackpad and surrounding areas.

For any stubborn dirt between keys, you can use a cotton bud or a soft brush to gently scrub.

Make sure that you don’t forget the screen - wipe it with a dry or slightly damp microfiber cloth. Just check the solution you use is safe for screens!

Mice & remote controls:

Before you start cleaning make sure you remove batteries or disconnect from power.
Take a cotton bud dipped in disinfectant to get into tiny crevices - especially around buttons, scroll wheels or ridges where gunk builds up. Just make sure you wring out the cotton bud before use so it’s damp, not wet.

Wipe the exterior with a microfiber cloth or disinfectant wipe. For any sticky or stubborn residue, a tiny bit of diluted soap on a cloth can help.

Make sure you allow it to air-dry fully before replacing the batteries or plugging it back in.

For more cleaning tips and product advice, visit: https://astonish.co.uk/blogs/tips-hacks