July 18, 2025, 9:33 am | Read time: 3 minutes
While showering, we listen to music on our smartphones, check the latest WhatsApp messages on the toilet, and browse through current news while brushing our teeth: For many, the smartphone is indispensable even in the bathroom. However, it might be wise to declare the bathroom a no-phone zone, as things can get pretty gross. Prof. Dr. Constanze Wendt, a specialist in microbiology, virology, and infection epidemiology, explains why to TECHBOOK.
Bacteria and Germs
The bathroom is full of water and dirt particles that float around and spread in the air. “In our bathroom, there are germs and bacteria that are found in our intestines and on our skin,” explains Prof. Dr. Constanze Wendt. If the smartphone is in the bathroom, these bacteria can settle on the device. These can be bacteria like E. coli, which originate from our intestines. “If you have E. coli on your hands and then grab your phone, these bacteria end up on the smartphone,” says Wendt.
Bacteria and germs can make us sick. But is the exposure so high that it’s dangerous to take the smartphone into the bathroom? “We have ten times more bacteria on our skin than our body has cells,” Wendt explains. Therefore, bacteria are not inherently dangerous to us; they are even part of our bodies.
However, every time we check our smartphones for new messages, we also touch the display–along with all the bacteria living on it. Especially if smartphone users don’t wash their hands after using the toilet and then touch their phones, these bacteria remain on the screen.
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Smartphone in the Bathroom–Harmful to Health or Just Gross?
When bacteria land on the smartphone, according to Prof. Dr. Constanze Wendt, it’s “not harmful to health, but a gross factor.” An interesting point: The risk doesn’t increase in public restrooms. However, caution is advised in hospital public restrooms. “Resistant germs can be present there,” warns the expert. This can indeed have serious health consequences for the body.
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However, the smooth and dry surface of a smartphone doesn’t provide good living conditions for microorganisms. Some germs are also mechanically wiped off by rubbing against pants or a shirt. The use of a microfiber cloth has also proven effective, according to Klinikum Herford. “A soft microfiber cloth already removes cosmetic residues and at least 80 percent of the bacteria on the touchscreen.” It’s important to note that while moist cleaning wipes and disinfectant sprays can kill germs, they can also damage the display–a factor TECHBOOK has already warned about. “The operation of the touch surface can thus be impaired after prolonged use,” explains the clinic.
The problem with smartphones in the bathroom is generally not the smartphone itself, but a lack of hygiene. “Washing hands is the best way to combat germs and bacteria,” says Wendt. Therefore, as in many other life situations, the rule should be: Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly! Then you can continue to use your phone without worry, and without the gross factor.