A study has revealed some of the gross and potentially dangerous strains of bacteria your smartwatch could be harbouring.
Do you wear your smartwatch every day? Do you work out in it? Take it on public transport? Wear it while you’re using the loo? Do you hold pets and change nappies, too? We’ll take a wild guess and assume most of you nodded “yes” to at least some (or all) of the above, which means your smartwatch is likely riddled with bacteria, according to new research published in the Advances in Infectious Diseases journal. “The human skin serves not only as a barrier between the body’s interior and the environment but also as a habitat for a variety of beneficial organisms, especially bacteria,” the study’s authors wrote, adding that not all bacteria are created equal. This means the bad variety can be parasitic. “When these interactions are parasitic…bacteria can pose a serious direct threat to human health. Even the normal microbiota has been shown to serve as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance.” If you’re already grossed out by your technological accessory, let us take it up a notch. The authors explained that, “Skin-associated bacteria include Corynebacterium, Propionibacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus. The latter is known to act as a human pathogen, causing boils, sepsis, pyomyositis, botryomycosis, and endocarditis, among others.” The study found a whopping 95 per cent of the bands tested were contaminated with some sort of bacteria. Staphylococcus was found on 85 per cent, Pseudomonas was found on 30 per cent, and E. coli bacteria on 60 per cent. "Plastic and rubber wristbands may provide a more appropriate environment for bacterial growth as porous and static surfaces tend to attract and be colonised by bacteria," Nwadiuto Esiobu, senior author and a professor of biological sciences at Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, explained. A colony of bacteria? Gross. Esiobu said we need to treat our accessories like we would our hands in the post-COVID pandemic, and she pointed the finger at specific members of our community. "The ability of many of these bacteria to significantly affect the health of immunocompromised hosts indicates a special need for health care workers and others in hospital environments to regularly sanitise these surfaces."

How to clean your smartwatch

The researchers found that a disinfectant spray and 70 per cent ethanol (which is commonly used as a hospital-grade cleaner) had a 99.99 per cent kill rate of bacteria within 30 seconds. Apple cider vinegar was also a winner but required two whole minutes of cleaning time to reduce the bacteria. However, it didn’t hit the 99.99 per cent mark.

How often should you clean your smartwatch?

“There’s no rule, but it depends on how busy you are with your hands and whether you’re at the gym,” Esiobu told Health. “If you sweat a lot, it is not out of place to do a daily cleaning. But if you don’t go running or go to the gym often, maybe you should clean your band once a week." The same goes for mobile phones, earbuds, and jewellery that get used daily. “Really anything people wear or regularly contact will be expected to have positive bacterial cultures,” David Cennimo, an associate professor of medicine, adult and pediatric infectious diseases, at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, added. It might sound a little dramatic, but it’s not. Do you fiddle with your smartwatch or phone while you’re sitting on the toilet? Case closed.