Your Smartphone Has Way More Bacteria Than a Toilet Seat, Revolting Study Shows

by Karly WoodMarch 1, 2019

If you’re like most Americans, your cell phone is your constant companion. You use it while lounging on the couch, at the office, maybe even stopped at red lights and yes, even in the bathroom (c’mon, we all do it!).

According to a University of Arizona study, all that action means your smartphone has hundreds of times more bacteria per square inch than that toilet seat you’ve been sitting on—and why it’s imperative you should know how to clean your smartphone.

So why exactly are our phones such a cesspool for germs and bacteria? Modern society has us touching everything: doorknobs, light switches, self-checkout machines and ATMs—not to mention changing dirty diapers and the general shenanigans that motherhood has us handling. Every time you come into contact with an unclean item and then going back to answer that text, you’re transferring germs right onto your phone and then back to your hands, face and ears. Can you say gross!?

A 2011 study by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that fecal matter can be found on 1 out of every 6 smartphones and even more studies have found that MRSA, E. coli and Streptococcus––serious pathogens––have also been linked to cell phones. Okay, so now that we’ve established how nasty our smartphones really are, here’s how you should clean yours.

photo: Aniket Bhattacharya via Unsplash

First, you’ll want to check your phone manufacturer because each maker has different recommendations when it comes to cleaning and coming into contact with moisture. You can find some suggestions for Apple, Motorola and the Google Pixel by visiting their websites.

Then, keep this list of the following products on hand to keep your smartphone germ-free:

Microfiber cloth
Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
Water
Cotton rounds
Cleaning gloves

If you have a waterproof or water-resistant phone, you can make your own cleaning solution with rubbing alcohol and distilled water inside a spray bottle. While wearing gloves or using just-washed hands, lightly spray the outside of your phone, wipe with a cotton round and allow to dry.

For non-waterproof phones, you can use disinfecting wipes and carefully use them to wipe down both the screen and back of your phone.

When it comes to how many times per day you should be cleaning your phone, we’ll leave that up to you. After all, only you know how many trips to the ATM (and the restroom) you’re making on the daily.

If You’re Not Cleaning Your Travel Mug Lids, You Should Really Start

How to Clean Your Kid’s Backpack (Because, Ew!)

12 Cleaning Mistakes You’re Probably Making

by Kaitlyn KirbyMarch 1, 2019

It might be time to rethink your house cleaning strategy. After all, there’s nothing worse than being in the mood to power clean—ready to put those Marie Kondo tips to good use—and realizing you’ve been committing cleaning mistakes that are actually leaving your home dirtier than before. Guilty as charged (we’ve all done it)? Don’t worry, because you’ll also find the best solutions to these cleaning faux pas below!

Cleaning Mistake: Thawing raw chicken in the sink

Solution: Allow chicken to thaw in the refrigerator for up to two days before cooking instead. You should never thaw chicken on the counter at room temperature or in the sink as bacteria will begin to grow when the meat reaches 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cleaning Mistake: Reusing your dish towels

Solution: Use a new paper towel each time you clean a surface or your hands. If you’re on a more eco-friendly cleaning spree, consider designating a towel for each task. For instance, a hand-drying towel, a dish-drying towel, a cleaning towel used to wipe down counters.

Cleaning Mistake: Not emptying your vacuum

Solution: When you notice that your vacuum receptacle is full of dust and dirt, empty it! You don’t want to risk the particles blowing back into your home or onto your floors. You’ll also want to remember to change or clean the filter as suggested to ensure your vacuum can still pick up dirt like it should.

Cleaning Mistake: Putting your wet toilet brush back into its holder

Solution: Many of us are guilty of this bathroom cleaning faux pas! You scrub the toilet and then place the brush back into its holder while it’s still wet. Oops! Without letting the brush dry completely before storing it, you allow for germs to stick to the holder and brush where they can then multiply.

Cleaning Mistake: Spraying cleaner directly onto a surface

Solution: Spray onto a cleaning cloth before wiping down surfaces. Not only will your cleaner last longer this way, but you will avoid leaving any residue behind that comes with a build-up of cleaning product.

Cleaning Mistake: Not cleaning the sink

Solution: Think about it—you wash food particles off your dishes in the sink, but not every last bit makes it down the drain. Your sink is a moisture haven where food particles can easily stick, leading to germ and bacteria growth. So don’t call it a day yet, just remember to wipe out the sink after you’re finished!

Cleaning Mistake: Thinking rinsed sponges are clean

Solution: Sponges can hold oodles of germs and bacteria and rinsing them is simply not enough. Even cleaning a dirty sponge can give bacteria a boost, according to a recent study! It is recommended that you use a new sponge every week, but since that isn't always practical, consider running your sponge through the washing machine and then transferring it to another place in the house. Or instead of a using a sponge at all, switch to a dishcloth that can be washed.

Cleaning Mistake: Washing cutting boards with dish soap

Solution: Did you know that the cuts and grooves made in cutting boards can hold food particles? If not cleaned properly, they can become a cozy home for bacteria! Instead of using dish soap, which will only clean superficial residue from the board, soak them in hydrogen peroxide before rinsing and drying.

Cleaning Mistake: Vacuuming pet fur without a wand

Solution: If your vacuum has a pet hair attachment, don’t be afraid to use it! Regular vacuuming will blow as much pet hair as it collects which will only make more work for you. If your vacuum has an attachment, this can be just as efficient to eliminate rogue hair and fur balls.

Cleaning Mistake: Not soaking dishes

Solution: Get yourself into the habit of rinsing food out of pots and pans right after you use them—or at least after you’re finished eating. If you leave them to sit with food inside, it will only make it harder to remove the remnants later. Soak dishes in warm, soapy water for easier dish-doing!

Cleaning Mistake: Putting dryer sheets in your HVAC vent

Solution: It may seem like a fresh scent would happily disperse throughout your house when dryer sheets are in your HVAC vents, but instead of clean aromas, you'll end up spreading chemicals. You're better off lighting your favorite clean-smelling candle or diffusing an essential oil to give your home's scent a refresh.

Cleaning Mistake: Using wood polish on your furniture

Solution: Unless you're cleaning antique furniture without a finish, wood polish could actually make that coffee table more dull in appearance. There are dozens of non-polish formulas you can mix up right in your kitchen—with magic ingredients like vinegar and lemon oil—to clean effectively without ruining the finish.

6 Pediatrician-Approved Tips to Keep Germs at Bay During the Winter

By Tony Yuan

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

January 9, 2019

Photo: Huy Doan via Doctor On Demand

For many parents, all they want for Christmas is the gift of health. Or to put it another way, parents are trying to find ways to prevent their family from getting the cold or flu over the holidays. That really would make it ‘the most wonderful time of the year, wouldn’t it?

After all, who wants to spend the holidays in a doctor’s office? For example, did you know that the clipboard pen at a doctor’s office has 46,000 more germs than the inside of a toilet bowl? Not only that, but according to a 2017 survey by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, waiting room surfaces aren’t cleaned 94.2 percent of the time. Do you really want to take a 6.8 percent chance with your health?

If you’re a parent and you want to protect your family from the cold and flu, going to a doctor’s office is the last place you want to go. Even though it might sound counter-intuitive, you run the risk of exposing your children and those with compromised immune systems to more germs and making mild cold symptoms go from from bad to worse.

So as a doctor treating thousands of patients during cold and flu season: what’s my advice? Don’t fret—there is a solution to the threat of the waiting room.

Avoid the waiting room (if you can).

Given all the germs lurking in the furniture, toys and doorknobs of the doctor’s waiting room, the best option for germ prevention this cold and flu season is to avoid the waiting room. Instead, opt for a virtual care visit with a telemedicine provider. Within five minutes, you and your children can be seen by a board-certified physician without even having to leave the comfort of your own home.

Wash your hands and sanitize often.

When it comes to washing your hands, you can never have too much of a good thing. Whether it’s in a waiting room, or at any time when you or your child are sick, it’s a best practice to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after sneezing, touching your face, or after touching surfaces in communal areas like playgrounds. Parents should also be sure to sanitize their hands after holding their child to prevent the spread of germs from skin on skin contact.

What to do if you STILL get sick?

So let’s say that even after you take all of the proper precautions to keep your kids and your family healthy, you still get sick. What can you do to prevent your family from getting even sicker?

Wear a mask.

It might sound like overkill, but wearing a surgical mask can help prevent the spread of germs, especially when you’re surrounded by other patients who are contagious. If you have to visit a doctor’s office, I recommend bringing your own mask or asking for a mask at the reception desk to help cover your mouth and nose. Without it, it’s easy to inhale the germ droplets around you from other people’s coughs and sneezes.

Keep your kids off the floor.

Even with regular vacuuming and spot cleaning, commercial carpeting in healthcare settings can easily trap allergens, dust, and even germs from the staff, patients, and visitors. If your medical reception area contains carpeting, rugs, or floor mats, be sure that your children are waiting on the chairs or in their stroller versus sitting on the floor with their toys to avoid the germs trapped in the carpet.

Bring your own reading material and toys.

Hard surfaces like tables and chairs in the waiting room are usually wiped down on a regular basis but the magazines, books and toys on those tables tend to be lifted up and not wiped down in the cleaning process. To avoid the dog-eared magazine pages and used toys, we suggest bringing your own reading material and toys for your children to help make the wait go by faster.

This year, the healthcare industry has seen 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 people hospitalized because of the flu. But preventing the cold and flu is totally manageable. Remember that it’s best to avoid waiting rooms, sanitize your hands and surfaces you come into contact with regularly, wear a mask if you can, and avoid touching surfaces and items in communal areas. Thankfully with the advent of health technology and the ability to see your family from home through a virtual care visit, you don’t have to risk picking up germs in the waiting room, and you’re empowered to take your health in your hands.

Tony Yuan

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

My name is Dr. Tony Yuan and I am a physician at Doctor On Demand, the nation’s leading virtual care provider. Over the course of my career, I've treated tens of thousands of patients as an emergency physician and have been practicing emergency medicine in California for over 17 years.

All the Packing Hacks You Need for Your Family Vacation

By Sara Mercer

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

May 18, 2018

Whether you are headed to visit grandparents, to the beach or to the mountains you have to pack. And let’s be honest, packing for yourself and your kids isn’t usually easy nor fun. With multiple people’s needs to manage I find myself overwhelmed in the weeks leading up to a trip trying to make sure we have everything we need. Here are a few packing hacks I figured out along the way that can help make things easier.

Kids Carry On

Preschool-aged children and upwards should each have their own backpack filled with what they will need for the flight to keep them occupied. New crayons and a few pads of paper are both good on the plane and also useful if your child needs a break from the pool or something to occupy them at restaurants. Dot to Dot books or age-appropriate workbooks are also useful. Wrapping a few little surprise presents is always a good idea for potential meltdowns and when nothing else seems to be working. The blind packaging toys you can find at most pharmacies are great for this!

Snacks, snacks and more snacks are key on any trip. Pack your child’s favorites in their backpack for when hunger strikes. To keep things clean on the plane think non-messy snacks like cut up fruit, pretzels, granola bars etc. Save anything that could cause a spill or a mess for your destination.

Tablet or iPad use is a personal parenting choice but if your kids have them make sure they are fully charged and loaded with their current (this week’s not last weeks!) favorite movies and shows before you put them in their backpacks. Don’t forget headphones as no one on the plane wants to listen to your child watch Trolls on repeat!

Mom’s Carry On

If you have a baby or child too young to carry their own backpack pack their things inside your own large tote or backpack to carry on. If you are going on a beach vacation you can use your large beach bag as a carry on so you don’t have to pack it in your suitcase. Going on a city trip? Carry on a backpack loaded with everything you need for the plane and then use it as you explore your destination.

To keep your carry on organized use zipper pouches divided by “event” such as plane time, arrival etc. If you have a baby or toddler in diapers make sure to pack one pouch with at two more diapers than you think you need and a full pack of baby wipes. You don’t want to be stuck rationing diapers if you run into a flight delay! Baby wipes are not only useful for diaper changes but can clean up sticky hands and faces, and are also great for wiping down germ filled airplane seats and tray tables.

In a second pouch pack a full change of clothes for each child as well as a clean top for yourself. You never know when a baby or child will get messy!

In a third pouch pack a full day’s change of clothes for you and each child in case you get stuck with lost luggage. If you are traveling somewhere warm this is also a good place to pack bathing suits and coverups so you don’t have to root around in your luggage to find beach or pool attire. Most kids are anxious to swim after a long flight!

Checked Luggage

Pack one suitcase for your children to share. Inside the suitcase pack each child’s clothes in their own packing cube to make unpacking easier and to help keep those little outfits organized. Roll clothes before putting them in the packing cube to increase space and decrease wrinkles. Unless you will have access to laundry pack two outfits (including underwear) per day per child and a few pairs of pajamas.

Make sure to pack any special bedtimes lovies or sound machines your child may need to help them sleep in a new place. The night before you leave, place a sticky note on the suitcase with a list of last minute items to be packed in the morning. This way you won’t forget that special bedtime friend or toothbrush in the morning rush!

In your own suitcase use packing cubes to divide shoes, underwear and clothes. On vacation, the last thing you want to think about is putting together outfits or lamenting that you have the right shoes to wear. Try packing in a specific color story to avoid wardrobe drama and to make getting dressed each day super easy! Also, make sure to only pack comfortable shoes that you can walk in and work well both day and night.

Featured Photo Courtesy: Mia McDonald

Sara Mercer

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

I am a born and bred New Yorker trying to balance life as a mom of two, writer, wellness coach and fitness enthusiast. If I'm not chasing my girls at the playground, you’ll find me shopping the farmer’s market, checking out the latest boutique fiitness craze or blogging for mercer+green.

Do I Really Have to Use Those Sanitizing Wipes on my Shopping Cart?

By Nadia North

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

October 18, 2017

Most grocery stores offer sanitizing wipes as an option to wipe down your cart before starting your grocery shopping. I really do appreciate the opportunity to decontaminate my shopping cart, especially with cold and flu season in the air. After all, I have read that shopping carts are one of the germiest things we touch in public… When you think about it, diaper-aged kiddos sit in the cart… Add in any kind of meat juices, plus any germs from the previous cart pusher…. YEEESH.

Shopping Cart Study

In 2012, University of Arizona microbiologist Charles Gerba, PhD, sometimes called “Dr. Germ” conducted a study on total numbers of bacteria on grocery shopping cart handles and seats. The results of this study found the shopping cart seats and handles to be bacteria-laden, and suggested the need for improved sanitation of shopping cards/baskets.

This study was conducted 5 years ago. After 5 years of wiping down shopping carts, and many parents using blankets/cloth seat protectors for their kids, I wondered if shopping cart conditions have improved. And truthfully, I really dislike using those wipes. I don’t like getting my hands all wet, and it seems to take forever for the cleaning solution to dry on the handle.

So, I decided to bring my own agar plates and sterile cotton swabs to the grocery store, and test out the handles of shopping carts myself (I did not test the seats).

Background: How I Grew Bacteria at Home

Agar Plates and Growing Bacteria

I purchased some luria broth agar plates (thank you, Amazon – they truly sell everything!), which are used to grow environmental bacteria, including E. coli. Other types of agar plates are used to grow pathogenic bacteria- I did not want to grow any of those in our home! I should also note here that only bacteria can be grown on agar plates – no viruses.

Incubator

When it was time to grow the bacteria, I placed the agar plates in an upside-down position in a homemade incubator with a temperature between 85 and 100 degrees F. For the homemade incubator, I used a plastic bin, a thermometer, and a heating light bulb as a heat source.

After 1-2 days in the incubator, I watched for the appearance of small bacterial colonies (usually white or yellow dots) on the surface of the agar plates. You need millions of bacteria in one spot just to see one dot on the agar plate.

My Shopping Cart Sampling Method

I went to two different Meijer stores, and sampled 4 different carts on 4 separate shopping trips. Meijer stores have Purell sanitizing wipes available for use next to the shopping cart corral, so I used Purell sanitizing wipes in this experiment..

So that my results would be fair, my comparison of wiped/unwiped cart handles were performed on the same cart – I used a Purell wipe on 1/2 of the shopping cart handle, and left the other 1/2 untreated. I scrubbed 1/2 of each cart handle thoroughly with the Purell wipe, and waited until it was dry before using my sterile cotton swab to test the surface of the handle, and then applied the swab to my agar plate. I left the other half of the handle untreated, and carefully swabbed the untreated 1/2 as well. Then, I put the plates in an incubator for 1-2 days to grow bacteria.

Shopping Cart Handle Results

I was surprised to find that overall, the shopping cart handles were pretty clean!

My results from 4 different shopping trips provided 7 total colonies of bacteria (not very much at all!) from unsanitized shopping cart handles vs. 1 colony from handles treated with Purell. For comparison purposes, we grew hundreds of bacterial colonies when I tested my kids’ dirty hands after playing outside. And on one sampling day, I was unable to grow any bacteria from the shopping cart handle – sanitized or not – it had been raining for about 24 hours, and I wonder if the rain helped to make this cart extra clean (my cart was dry when I got it, but it could have been rinsed off with rain and already dried).

Conclusion

So, should I use the sanitizing wipes? Sure. They do a good job of killing most bacteria. I was only able to grow 1 colony of bacteria from all 4 of my sanitizing wipe samples. Also, remember that I only focused on bacteria – the ingredients in Purell wipes are also effective in killing certain viruses.

But do I have to? If you are like me, and don’t really love the wipes, I think it’s okay to skip them. In lieu of the wipes, I use hand sanitizer when I get into my car after a grocery trip. And, as soon as I get home but before I put my groceries away, I always wash my hands with soap and water.

The best solution for your cart-riding child? I would never take any risks with a baby/small child. I would not use the sanitizing wipes and assume that your child is safe from all bacteria and viruses. Instead, make sure that they do not touch the shopping cart handle at all – ensure that the area that your baby rides in is covered with a blanket or shopping cart cover. Even years ago, I always used a cloth grocery cart cover when shopping with my kids, and washed it when we returned home from a shopping trip. Totally worth it!

Featured Photo Courtesy: Wendell

Nadia North

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Nadia North is a science teacher, mom, wife, and blogger. She writes about her fun and easy science experiments (plus other cool stuff that intersts her- like yummy food and home projects) at Adventures in Wonderlab. She enjoys drinking (too much) coffee, running (off the crazy), and hanging out with her awesome family!

This Dad’s Homemade Ball Pit Is Awesome & Totally Doable

by Melissa HeckscherJuly 1, 2017

photo: imgur

Kids love ball pits. There’s just something about submerging in a sea of colorful plastic spheres that makes children want to spend all afternoon swimming in the stuff. But what’s a parent to do, besides spend every day at a (germ-ridden!) crowded indoor playground?

One handy dad decided to bring the balls home. He built his daughter her very own Playplace-worthy ball pit, complete with 2,500 little plastic balls (purchased on eBay for about $220) for her sphere-swimming enjoyment. Then, he posted the project online so now you, too, can make your living room a kid’s dream come true. All you need is PVC pipe connectors (available at Home Depot), black mesh netting, four pool noodles and about 100 zip ties. Want to be the coolest mom or dad on the block? Click below for the step-by-step instructions.

4′ x 4′ Ball Pit Build

FYI: Apparently, a lot of parents want to bring the balls home. His project has already been viewed nearly 600,000 times in the three days since it was posted.

Would you build this ball pit for your kids? Tell us why or why not in the comments below.

Spark Box Toys: Cool Toys Delivered to Your Doorstep

by Erin LemJuly 5, 2013

Too many toys. How can that ever be a bad thing? While our kids may be immune to their house looking more like a toy store than an actual home, we think curtailing the sheer amount of goods would be nice, especially if it means we’ll actually be able to see our hardwood floors again. Busy parents with even busier looking living rooms say hello to Spark Box Toys, a service that delivers hand-picked toys to your doorstep. Think of it as the Netflix for the toy lover.

Why we love Spark Box Toys.
Just like the copious piles of toys in our home, there’s certainly no shortage of subscription box services available. From LEGO sets delivered to your doorstep to monthly craft boxes, we’re no stranger to the overwhelming amount of choices out there. So when it came to testing out the quality of Spark Box Toys we were impressed by this awesome service that makes scoring new and age-appropriate toys simple.

All the products sent in a Spark Box Toys delivery aims to encourage the development of skills and incite imagination. Their high quality toys are all age appropriate, meaning if you have a two year old, she won’t receive toys appropriate for a three year old. You fill out a questionnaire telling Spark Box Toys about your child and they personalize the box to fit your kid’s needs and development. It’s that easy.

What to expect.
Before signing up, browse the types of toys available or check out some sample boxes, which details the types of age appropriate toys you can expect in your first delivery. In your box, you’ll receive a return shipping label, a “How-to” letter, batteries (if needed), a mesh bag in case you want to take your toys and hit the road, and four laminated toy product cards with playtime ideas.

Let’s talk about germs.
When we think re-used toys, we think germs. So when we opened our delivery, we were pleasantly surprised to find the toys wrapped in plastic as if new. “Spot-Free, Germ-Free” is the name of the game with Spark Box Toys completely sanitizing all of their toys in a rigorous five-step cleaning process that only uses safe and sustainable cleaning materials. Plus, the goods didn’t have any dents, marks, or stains. Believe us, we checked!

The cost.
Just like Netflix, Spark Box Toys offers free shipping on both delivery and returns. Just remember to keep the box your toys were shipped in to return them. Prices for the service range from $35.95 per month for a box delivered every four weeks to $23.95 per month for a box delivered every eight weeks. There are also monthly plans available.

And, while we’ll admit that the price of signing up for a monthly delivery of toys may be expensive at first glance, the money you spend on toys every month surely exceeds the flat rate fee. Not only will you save but you’ll also eliminate the clutter piling up in your home with toys that you know are high quality and age appropriate.

Good to know.
Kids lose toys and pieces. It just happens. To accomodate your family, Spark Box Toys will allow you to return the missing pieces in your next box (provided you find the piece) for no charge. But, if the toy or piece is missing for good, you’ll be charged a missing pieces fee, which ranges from $3 to $5.

Online: sparkboxtoys.com

Will you be signing up for Spark Box Toys? Let us know whether you love it or will leave it.

Written by: Erin Lem

first photo courtesy of Charina Lumley (that’s her son Thomas playing with the toys); remainder of photos courtesy of Spark Box Toys.

Related reads

Cleaning Mistake: Thawing raw chicken in the sink

Cleaning Mistake: Reusing your dish towels

Cleaning Mistake: Not emptying your vacuum

Cleaning Mistake: Putting your wet toilet brush back into its holder

Cleaning Mistake: Spraying cleaner directly onto a surface

Cleaning Mistake: Not cleaning the sink

Cleaning Mistake: Thinking rinsed sponges are clean

Cleaning Mistake: Washing cutting boards with dish soap

Cleaning Mistake: Vacuuming pet fur without a wand

Cleaning Mistake: Not soaking dishes

Cleaning Mistake: Putting dryer sheets in your HVAC vent

Cleaning Mistake: Using wood polish on your furniture

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Avoid the waiting room (if you can).

Wash your hands and sanitize often.

What to do if you STILL get sick?

Wear a mask.

Keep your kids off the floor.

Bring your own reading material and toys.

Tony Yuan

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Kids Carry On

Mom’s Carry On

Checked Luggage

Sara Mercer

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Nadia North

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