Cell phone addicts will tell you: there is no longer an unusual place where this device would not have its place. This electronic companion is now an integral part of our daily life. More faithful than a puppy, he follows us wherever we go, even to the bathroom. For many users it has become almost unthinkable to go to the bathroom without having it in their hands. Apart from its usefulness to respond to urgent messages or to communicate with loved ones, it is so entertaining that boredom does not exist. Like a magazine or your bedside book, why not take your Smartphone to the bathroom?
Beyond this unhealthy addiction, which prevents you from disconnecting even in the most intimate moments, experts strongly advise against establishing this bad habit of systematically taking your mobile to the toilet. His own health is at stake. And the reasons are enough to convince you.
Using a phone in the bathroom – Source: spm
Why avoid using the mobile phone in the bathroom?
At first glance, it may seem harmless to take your smartphone into the bathroom. Except that what many people don’t know is that this practice can be harmful and affect your health, due to the germs and bacteria that accumulate in this area, especially around the toilet, and that can very easily get soaked on the screen of your device. . Two professors from the University of Arizona, Gerba (microbiology) and Kelly Reynolds (environmental health), have warned about the presence of pathogens and enteric bacteria in the intestinal tract, which come mainly from feces. After various studies, within this University, it has been shown that 9 out of 10 mobile phones are contaminated by pathogenic microbes: 16% of them contain feces.
For this reason, and to the extent that toilets are never perfectly hygienic since they get dirty very quickly, it is important to be very careful with the surfaces on which you leave your mobile phone. You pay no attention to it, but by simply rinsing your device, you risk contaminating yourself. This is because small water particles containing urine and feces can splash onto toilet bowls and furniture near the toilet bowl. It is almost impossible that your mobile is not affected.
How to avoid this problem? You should take appropriate steps to take better care of your health. To avoid the proliferation of bacteria, rely on a systematic and adequate hand washing: take your time to disinfect them properly. Then it is necessary to clean the mobile phone with a solution of water and alcohol. Also be sure to lower the toilet seat when flushing.
to prevent the spread of germs. Finally, of course, it is important to clean the bathroom very carefully and frequently, and in particular the toilet area, in order to minimize the pathogens that thrive there on a daily basis.
Hemorrhoids – Source: spm
Telephone in the bathroom: a real health hazard?
But that is not all. Staying surfing the Web, mobile in hand, certainly passes time, but paradoxically you also lengthen it. However, according to the Mayo Clinic (American University Hospital and Research Federation), one of the main causes of hemorrhoids is spending a lot of time sitting on the toilet. Therefore, it is not advisable to dwell on it so as not to provoke this condition and develop painful symptoms such as inflammation, bleeding or unpleasant itching.
In addition, doctors emphasize the importance of the correct position of the body when using the toilet. They recommend raising your knees, as if you were sitting in a squat.
Therefore, in order to preserve your own health, it is time to make the decision not to take your smartphone into the bathroom anymore. It is also essential to learn to disconnect to give yourself a moment of brain break and take time for yourself!
What to do when the phone falls in the toilet?
It is important to be careful when using your mobile phone near water, whether it is in a swimming pool, on the beach, in the bathroom or in the bathroom. If your phone accidentally falls into water, it’s essential to know what to do to minimize the damage. If your phone is waterproof, you can use it immediately after taking it out of the water. If not, turn it off immediately. It is also important not to move or shake the phone if it is floating, as this could spread water to the non-waterproof parts of the device. If your phone has fallen down the toilet, you need to act quickly to get it back, even if it may be messy. By following these steps, you can minimize water damage and save your phone.
disassemble the phone
It is important to take the appropriate measures when your cell phone has been dropped in water to prevent permanent damage. It is not recommended to try to turn it back on immediately after removing it from the water. It is best to turn it off immediately and remove removable items like the battery, SD card, and SIM card. Carefully clean the location of these elements with an absorbent paper and check if any water has remained in any corner of the appliance. It is also important not to use a screwdriver to disassemble the phone, as this can cause additional damage and void the warranty.
Clean phone components
Once the components of your mobile phone have been disassembled, it is important to clean them thoroughly to remove as much water as possible. Use paper towels or a cloth to clean the components and the device itself. It is not recommended to use a hair dryer or place it in the sun to dry the phone. Instead, use a vacuum from a reasonable distance to suck up the water for about 30 minutes. It helps to drain the water and dry the phone easily. Once the device is dry, test each component to make sure they are working properly. Please insert the SD card and SIM card into another device to test them, and test the battery after the phone is completely dry.
put the phone in rice
After cleaning your mobile phone’s removable components such as the battery, SIM card, and SD card, it is important to remove any remaining liquid inside the device. It is not recommended to use drying methods such as a hair dryer, oven or microwave, as the heat may damage the internal components. It is also not recommended to expose the phone to direct sunlight.
To dry the device effectively, it is best to use an industrial dehumidifier or silica gel sachets. Put the phone in a box with these bags to remove moisture. If you don’t have access to these items, you can use an airtight bag filled with uncooked rice to absorb moisture. Put the phone in the bag, cover it with rice, close the bag tightly, and let it sit in a dry place for at least 48 hours. The longer you leave your phone in the bag, the better the rice will absorb moisture. After this time, check if there is any water left in the device, reintroduce the components and restart the phone.
Also read: Leaving a phone charging for a long time can have serious consequences: these are some of them
