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 lives. More faithful than a doggie, it follows us wherever we go, even to the toilet. For many users, it has almost become unthinkable to go to the toilet without having it in their hands. Apart from its usefulness for responding to urgent messages or for communicating 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 toilet?
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. Your own health is at stake. And the reasons are enough to convince you.
Use phone in the toilet – Source: spm
Why avoid using the mobile phone in the toilet?
At first glance, it may seem harmless to take your smartphone with you to the bathroom. Except, 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 can very easily imbibe on your device screen. Two professors from the University of Arizona, Gerba (microbiology) and Kelly Reynolds (environmental health), have alerted to the presence of pathogens and enteric bacteria from the intestinal tract, which come mainly from feces. Following 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 faeces.
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Therefore, and insofar as the toilets are never perfectly hygienic since they get dirty very quickly, it is important to be very careful about the surfaces on which you leave your mobile phone lying around. You don’t pay attention to it, but by simply flushing your device, you risk being contaminated. This is because small water particles containing urine and feces can splash onto toilets and furniture near the toilet bowl. It is almost impossible for your mobile not to be affected.
How to avoid this problem? You need to take appropriate steps to take better care of your health. To prevent the proliferation of bacteria, rely on systematic and adequate hand washing: take your time to properly disinfect them. 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, it goes without saying, it is important to clean the bathroom very carefully and frequently, and particularly the toilet area, in order to minimize the pathogens that develop there daily.
Hemorrhoids – Source: spm
Telephone in the toilet: A real health hazard?
But that’s not all. Staying surfing the Net, mobile phone in hand, certainly passes the 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 sitting for a long time in the toilet. It is therefore 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 correct body position when using the toilet. They recommend lifting your knees, as if you were sitting in a squatting position.
Therefore, to preserve your own health, it is time to take the resolution not to take your smartphone to the toilet anymore. It is also essential to learn to disconnect to give yourself a moment of cerebral respite and to 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 in a swimming pool, at the beach, in the toilet or in the bathroom. If your phone accidentally falls into the 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 water. Otherwise, turn it off immediately. It is also important not to move or shake the phone if it is floating, as this could spread the water to non-waterproof parts of the device. If the phone has fallen in the toilet, you need to act quickly to retrieve it, even if it can be messy. By following these steps, you can minimize water damage and save your phone.
Disassemble the phone
It is important to take appropriate action when your cell phone has been dropped in water to avoid permanent damage. It is not recommended to attempt to relight it immediately after taking it out of the water. It is best to turn it off immediately and remove removable items like battery, SD card, and SIM card. Carefully wipe the locations of these elements with an absorbent paper and check whether water has remained in any corners of the appliance. It is also important not to use a screwdriver to disassemble the phone as this may cause additional damage and invalidate the warranty.
Wipe phone components
Once the components of your mobile phone are disassembled, it is important to wipe them thoroughly to remove as much water as possible. Use paper towels or a cloth to wipe down 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 water and dry the phone easily. Once the device is dry, test each component to make sure they are working properly. Insert the SD card and SIM card into another device to test them and test the battery after the phone is completely dry.
Read also: The common mistake that slowly destroys the phone: stop it to keep your phone longer
Put the phone in rice
After cleaning the removable components of your cell phone like the battery, SIM card and SD card, it is important to remove all remaining liquid inside the device. It is not recommended to use drying methods such as a hair dryer, oven or microwave oven as the heat may damage the internal components. It is also not recommended to expose the phone to direct sunlight.
To effectively dry the device, it is best to use an industrial dehumidifier or silica gel sachets. Place the phone in a box with these bags to remove moisture. If you don’t have access to these products, you can use an airtight bag filled with raw rice to absorb the moisture. Place the phone in the bag, cover it with rice, seal the bag tightly and let it sit in a dry place for at least 48 hours. The longer you leave the phone in the bag, the better the rice will be at absorbing moisture. After this time, check if there is water left in the device, reinsert the components and restart the phone.
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Via SPM
