Smartwatches have now become more than just a device. They are an essential part of your life, helping to track your activity levels, monitor your heart rate and even your sleep. Chances are you wear your smartwatch every day, even during sleep. But when was the last time you cleaned it?
Wearable devices such as smartwatches and smart watchbands are considered high-touch surfaces because they are handled and manipulated frequently throughout the day. Just like any other high-touch surface, these devices can act as reservoirs for microbial contamination and transmit potentially harmful viruses and bacteria from device to person, said Alexandra Seguin, lead infection preventionist at Rush University Medical Center.
With constant use, smartwatches often collect dirt, sweat, oil and germs. Over time, this can make your smartwatch and its band a breeding ground for germs that may lead to infections. So, how often should you clean your smartwatch? Also, if you’re not cleaning this everyday item, what other items might you be neglecting?
How dirty is your smartwatch’s wristband?
Smartwatches have become one of today’s most-used accessories, tracking sleep, heart rate, fitness activities and steps. Your smartwatch band often collects a significant amount of germs, oil and dirt because of daily wear. A 2023 study found that watchbands often may be contaminated with bacteria. According to the study, 85% of watchbands were contaminated with Staphylococcus, 60% with E.coli and 30% with Pseudomonas.
Keeping your smartwatch bands clean is essential. “A dirty wristband could accumulate sweat, bacteria and dead skin cells. The germs from the band could transfer to your hands or face and increase the risk of getting sick,” said Grace Barajas, program director of Epidemiology and Infection Prevention at Northwestern Medicine.
Cleaning the watchband depends on its material. Apple recommends the following:
- Leather: Wipe the band with a gentle, lint-free cloth and, if needed, dampen it with water. Do not soak leather bands directly in water.
- Silicone, braided or sports band: Wipe the band with a soft, lint-free cloth. If needed, you can also use soap and water then wipe with another dry cloth before using it.
- Fine woven band: Wipe the band with a cloth dipped in soap solution, followed by a damp and dry cloth.
The frequency of cleaning wristbands varies on use and lifestyle. For regular wearers with an active lifestyle, it might make sense to clean the wristband once a week. “Occasional wearers may only need to clean every couple of weeks,” Barajas said.
9 other everyday items that may be dirty
You may be using countless everyday items without realizing how dirty they are. “Everyday items that require routine cleaning and disinfection include any item or environmental surface that you interact with on a regular basis,” Seguin stated.
Items such as phones, reusable water bottles, door knobs and kitchen towels collect dirt and germs from your hands and surfaces, which often go unnoticed. Regular cleaning of these items can make them free of germs and prevent you from getting sick.
Kitchen towels
Kitchen towels are used for drying, wiping and cleaning surfaces, as well as holding hot things. Research suggests that family size, diet type and kitchen hygienic practices affect the bacterial load on kitchen towels. According to a study, out of 100 kitchen towels (collected after one month of use), 49 showed the presence of bacterial growth. S. aureus was more common in families of lower socio-economic status and those with children, while coliform and S. aureus were detected in families with non-vegetarian diets.
It is best to clean your kitchen towels frequently — even daily — depending on their use and purpose. The USDA recommends washing kitchen towels in the hot cycle and drying them completely before use.
Cellphones
Research suggests your cellphones may be dirtier than a toilet seat. A study found about 17,000 bacterial gene copies on a single phone. Your phone constantly comes in contact with your hands, face, different surfaces and even bathrooms, collecting dirt and germs. Cleaning and disinfection of cellphones are not quite common, making them a hotspot for microbial contamination. Dirty cellphones can increase your risk of infections and affect your phone’s performance over time.
Cleaning your phone daily reduces germs and the risk of infection. The CDC suggests using alcohol wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol. Avoid directly spraying on the phone because it can damage the protective layer of the screen.
Cutting boards
Cutting boards may contain 200 times more bacteria than toilet seats. If not cleaned properly, your cutting board can become a germ hotspot that may lead to food poisoning. Consider cleaning your cutting boards after each use with soapy water and patting them dry with a paper towel or air drying. Take extra care after cutting raw meat or seafood by cleaning the board with hot, soapy water, disinfecting with chlorine bleach or other sanitizing solution and rinsing with water.
Doorknobs
Think about how many times you touch a doorknob at home or a public place and all the germs that get transferred each time. A study on public toilet doorknobs suggested almost all the knobs were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, mostly from people’s hands. Along with this, your home doorknobs may also collect dirt and bacteria over time. Consider cleaning your doorknobs regularly, once or twice a week, using hot water and soap. You can also consider using chlorine bleach sometimes to sanitize them.
Remote control
Remote controls are among the most touched and least cleaned household items. Eating while watching TV can leave food residue on the remote control. Moreover, germs can pass through sneezes and coughs if you are sick. When not in use, remote controls may come in contact with dirty surfaces, picking up germs. You must clean remote controls at least once a month. For cleaning, you can use alcohol wipes or a microfibre cloth sprayed with a disinfectant.
Reusable water bottles
Reusable water bottles may be harboring more germs than you realize. The moist environment inside the bottles makes it suitable for bacteria and mold to thrive. Even though it looks clean to you, these germs can lead to symptoms similar to food poisoning. Whether your bottles are plastic, glass or stainless steel, they need to be cleaned regularly to avoid the buildup of bacteria and mold. You can wash the water bottles with soap and water every day. For intense cleaning, you can try cleaning them with baking soda or vinegar.
Toothbrush holder
Your toothbrush holder may be collecting germs that can be transferred to your toothbrush, adversely impacting oral health. The moist environment of your washrooms may be an important contributing factor to the growth of bacteria. Consider cleaning your toothbrush holders regularly, at least once a week, to prevent bacterial contamination. Depending on your holder, you can clean it using soap and water, sanitizing wipes or simply putting it in the dishwasher.
Sponges
Your kitchen sponges may be a hidden hotspot of germs without you realizing it. A study by researchers from Furtwangen University found 362 types of bacteria in 14 kitchen sponges taken from private households. Moreover, bacteria from sponges can get cross-contaminated into your hands and food, thereby increasing the risk of infections. Cleaning methods such as microwaving kill only 60% of the bacteria; some resistant bacteria may multiply even after cleaning. It is better to replace sponges weekly to prevent the risk of infections.
Handbags
The handbag you carry every day may contain more bacteria than your toilet seat. About one in five handbags contains enough germs that can cross-contaminate from the bag to your hand, increasing the risk of diseases. Consider cleaning your handbags once every month to reduce the risk of infections. You can clean leather bags with a soft cloth dipped in warm soap water; use antibacterial wipes for non-leather bags.
What are the health problems caused by a lack of cleanliness?
If you don’t regularly clean everyday items, they may collect dirt, dust and oil and become a breeding spot for germs. Here’s what may happen if you don’t clean everyday items regularly:
- Items such as sponges, kitchen towels and cutting boards can harbor germs if not cleaned properly, which increases your risk of diseases and infections
- Unclean surfaces such as handbags, doorknobs and remote controls can increase the risk of cross-contamination
- The buildup of food particles on sponges, remote control and kitchen towels may cause an odor in the house
- Dirt on cellphones and remote controls can reduce their lifespan
- Lack of cleaning of watchbands and handbags can cause them to wear out early
- Collection of dust and mold over surfaces can trigger allergies
The bottom line
Your smartwatch band may be collecting dirt, dust and germs without you recognizing it. If not cleaned regularly, items we wear daily can harbor several bacteria. Just like smartwatch bands, several everyday items go unnoticed. Understanding how and when to clean them can ensure clean surroundings and reduce the risk of infections.
