Why? Well, if you’re anything like us, your phone probably accompanies youeverywhere– and until now, our best chance of cleaning it was with a microfibre cloth.
We take our phones on walks, to the supermarket, to the kitchen; even to thetoilet– including public toilets pre-lockdown. Don’t pretend you don’t take it there, too. So imagine how many germs live on it. In fact, you probably don’t want to, ‘cos it’s SO damn disgusting.
From revealing Mrs. Hinch’s favourite cleaning products to guiding you on how to sanitise your makeup brushes, we often share ideas on how to stay clean in a fast-paced world. But cleanliness is more important than ever right now, considering the on-going and uncertain spread of Coronavirus.
So, when we heard the news that Casetify – most popular for their influencer adored, selfie-worthy tech cases – had launched a sanitiser for your phone, we were all ears.
Michael Sdhmidt, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina, told NBC: “We take a shower to remove the microbes affiliated with our skin. The only thing that microbes like better than human skin is plastic and glass. ”
A 2017 study of high school students’ mobile phones found an average of 17,000 different bacteria per phone. Other studies have suggested that if you use your phone daily, it probably harbours seven times more bacteria than you’d find in the aforementioned public toilet you use it in. To make matters worse, phones create their own heat – particularly after hours spent scrolling on Instagram – and they’re often stored in dark environments. These two things make them perfect breeding grounds for bacteria, before we even factor in a global pandemic. Now can you see why we were all ears?
THE REVIEW
Casetify’s new UV sanitiser – a launch which seems very on brand considering their “real cute real tough” tagline – uses the shortest UV wavelength, UV-C, to kill 99. 9 percent of common household viruses, bacteria and mold by breaking down their DNA. Although there’s no evidence to support that UV light kills coronavirus, studies found it successfully kills the H1N1 virus and MRSA, the virus that causes staph, along with antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
It’s really quite genius. And as we begin to venture outside of our homes more, we’re so thankful to have it in our lives.
But how does it actually work? On the UV light spectrum there are UV-A, B, and C lights. Only the UV-C light can kill germs. This light destroys the nucleic acids of bacteria and other microbes and can also disrupt proteins in the microbes by killing certain amino acids. UV-C light works best on flat surfaces, like your phone. Hence the success of Casetify’s latest launch (and the release of their slightly cheaper “Lite” version). There are some downsides – the light can’t get into nooks and crannies, so if you want the sanitisation to be successful, you’ll want to take your phone case off… and may be even sanitise that separately. Otherwise, the UV rays won’t be able to get in.
And what about the practicalities? Well, you can charge your phone while it is being sanitised, which is an added bonus, and the whole process only takes three minutes. There’s a circular button on the lid which stops flashing when the sanitisation is done. The whole process couldn’t be any easier and the design is *super* sleek.
Oh, and the benefits of this UV sanitiser don’t end at your beloved iPhone. We actually had success cleaning many other personal items like keys and small accessories – including some rings and jewellery. Basically anything that’s not sensitive to UV-C light and can fit in the compartment. Life changing.
The original UV Sanitiser is just available is white and costs £100, while the UV Sanitiser Lite costs £65 and is available in pink, white and black. The main difference between the two? It’s more portable and lightweight. They both kill the same number of bacteria.
Of course, Casetify’s UV sanitiser isn’t the only one on the market. If £100 is a little out of your price range – or you’d prefer to test the waters first – we’ve found a whole load of other options with excellent reviews.
THE VERDICT
This is a great product and makes us feel *so* much better about putting our phone through the ringer on the daily. What’s more, our health anxiety surrounding Coronavirus has subsided just slightly. We’ll be using ours daily from now on; after going to the gym/using public transport when things finally return to normal. Or the “new normal”, whatever that may be.
It’s important you still take note of all other Coronavirus prevention measures, including wearing a face mask in public (it is mandatory to do so on public transport from 15th June), using hand sanitiser when you can’t wash your hands with hot water and soap, and practising social distancing.
