The Best Smartphone Sanitizer

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Adam Barker
Published on
August 19th, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Adam has a passion for cleaning from his youth growing up in England, and he has carried it with him to the US. Adam’s formal training and certifications in cleaning include the Advanced System Cleaning specialist (For HVAC cleaning / ductwork), through NADCA (this is the highest certification that NADCA has), as well as several other certifications from the IICRC. Adam has either advised, consulted, or done research with dozens of cleaning and cleaning related business entities. Adam holds an undergraduate degree from Oxford, a Master’s degree from Oxford, and a Master’s degree from Harvard Business School.

The Cleaning Institute

Your phone is one of the dirtiest things you own. You bring it to the bathroom, put it down on random tabletops and other surfaces (sometimes even on the ground), and you use it without washing your hands first or at least sloshing sanitizer or alcohol on your hands. I recently came across an ad for a smartphone sanitizer. It got me wondering when was the last time I gave my phone a thorough cleaning so I went online and searched for recommendations to test out. The PhoneSoap 3 UV Cell Phone Sanitizer and Dual Universal Cell Phone Charger turned out to be the best among all those I’ve tested while the GERMISE UV Light Smartphone Sanitizer – Travel Portable Folding UV Light Wand Sanitizer got an honorable mention for being so handy and so easy to use. I also tested out the LEDMEI Cell Phone Sterilizer Cleaner with USB Charger which I applaud for its versatility.

Testing Categories

Ease of use – Sanitizing your phone shouldn’t be a hassle, lest you forego doing it every now and then. Look for a phone cleaner/sanitizer that won’t require you to do too much before it gets the job done. Look for one with a simple design as well that won’t confuse you with too many buttons and switches.

Versatility – If it can sanitize your phone, it should be able to sanitize other items as well, right? Well, not all smartphone sanitizers are this versatile. Others only have a chamber fit for a phone and, sometimes, they’ll even have it fit only a specific brand or model which means you’ll need to buy multiple if you use multiple phones of different brands.

Cleaning time – How long should it take to sanitize a phone? Well, that really depends on a lot of other factors. A powerful UV lamp, however, shouldn’t take longer than 10 minutes (max) to do clean your smartphone.

Other features – To get the most bang for your buck, look for a phone sanitizer with added features. For example, a lot of the smartphone chargers in the market today don’t only sanitize but charge your phone as well. There are also those with LED display panels that let you know the current progress of whatever it is you’re sanitizing. The auto-off feature is also a nice one to have.

Top Pick

PhoneSoap 3 UV
Cell Phone Sanitizer and Dual
Universal Cell Phone Charger

This smartphone sanitizer cleans 99.9% of the germs on your phone.

Price Check

This smartphone sanitizer cleans 99.9% of the germs on your phone. It fits most phone models, regardless of brand, and it can clean and sanitize whatever else can fit inside the product.

Most notable upside: It cleans and disinfects your phone in as little as 10 minutes and it charges your phone during the sanitation process as well. The size is big enough to accommodate the bigger phone models like the Apple iPhone X and the Google Pixel 2XL.

Biggest downsides: There’s no way to manually start and stop the 10-minute time cycle.

Honorable Mention

GERMISE
UV Light
Smartphone Sanitizer

Germaphobes rejoice! This light and compact phone sanitizer is the perfect device for those who are always on the go with their phones.

Price Check

Germaphobes rejoice! This light and compact phone sanitizer is the perfect device for those who are always on the go with their phones.

Most notable upside: This sanitizing wand is so easy to use, even kids can sanitize their toys with it! Just flip the wand open, press the switch to begin the process and start scanning your phone, making sure to cover it on all sides. Because there’s no enclosure to put your phone in, this wand can sanitize just about anything you need as well.

Biggest downsides: This device can be powered by both battery and USB but it would have been more convenient if it had a built-in battery that could carry a charge instead to make it truly travel-friendly.

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All Our Picks

In this technological age, our society is immersed in smartphones. Phones and other gadgets have become so interconnected with our daily lives that we often spend more time holding and staring at our phones than sleeping. This can be a problem in the future for our society and in fact, some studies have shown that smartphones are slowly altering our brains and the way we interact with other people. The harmful societal effects of prolonged smartphone use have been addressed many times. However, there may be a more pressing risk in the use of smartphones, which is the spread of germs through our phone screens.

Smartphone screens may harbor any type of microorganisms because we provide them with a suitable environment. We keep our phones warm and we take them everywhere: classrooms, offices, public transportation systems, restaurants, and even bathrooms, where there are numerous opportunities for microbes to thrive. The most common way to prevent the spread of pathogens through our phones is to sterilize them with chemicals, usually with isopropyl alcohol. This is cheap and easy to do but it can be very harmful for your phone especially if the substance leaks to the sensitive parts inside. Some people use cleaning materials made for cleaning surfaces but this has proven to be harmful to the phone screen. Others even recommend using water and a tissue or cloth to wipe down some of the dirt that has accumulated on your screen but it can still be unclean because this method just removes the visible filth. Luckily, phone sanitizers have been developed to cater to your disinfecting needs. There are many types of phone sanitizers but the three most common categories are phone-cleaning wipes, microfiber cleaning stickers, and phone sanitizing devices.

Phone Cleaning Wipes

Phone-cleaning wipes remove dirt, grease, and bacteria and usually come in individually-wrapped cloths which are pre-moistened for cleaning on the go. Some products also come with a bottle of solution for longer use. These wipes may come in different scents and are disposable for convenience. These are sold in resealable plastic packaging and are recommended for travelling.

Microfiber Cleaning Stickers

Microfiber cleaning stickers have antibacterial properties and can stick to any device using a silicone gel adhesive. They can be washed several times without losing their adhesiveness and their design can be customized to provide cleanliness and appealing visuals on your phone. This product is usually ordered in bulk and is great to give as gifts or giveaways.

Phone Sanitizing Device

This product provides ultraviolet-C light, which is noted for its ability to deactivate the DNA of the pathogen, destroying its ability to reproduce. This is the best choice if you want to give your phone a thorough cleaning. There are two types of phone sanitizers: Wand and Enclosure.

Wand

Wand phone sanitizers work by holding the wand over the item you want to clean and the UV light will remove any germs on its surface. It can remove microorganisms on any type of device or item because of its portable design. Its weight ranges for 5.5 to 7.5 lbs and it can either come with a cord or it can be battery powered. The manufacturers suggest holding the wand over the device for three seconds but exactly how you can tell when your device is fully cleaned is yet to be determined. This sanitizer can potentially have a damaging health risk over prolonged exposure because ultraviolet rays are believed to cause skin cancer although there are certain brands which provide a safety measure to prevent this threat. Some types automatically shut off once the wand is pointed upwards, and some have adjusted wavelengths that do not emit ozone. It is recommended for home use but it should be used with caution and kept away from children.

Enclosure

Enclosure phone sanitizers are usually rectangular in shape and made to fit the average smartphone. These devices work by inserting your phone inside the enclosure and plugging it in. The usual cleaning time is around 5 to 10 minutes and some devices are built with a charging port so that you can charge your phone while it disinfects. There are other models which can fit larger devices such as tablets and they can even clean wallets, keys, earphones, and other small belongings. This device requires little effort but it is bulky. Due to the enclosure design of this sanitizing device, the UV light is able to bombard the phone from all sides, effectively removing any harmful microorganisms while making sure that the radiation stays sealed inside. It is recommended for everyday cleaning at home or outside.

The Best Smartphone Sanitizer

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Adam Barker

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

PhoneSoap 3 UV
Cell Phone Sanitizer and Dual
Universal Cell Phone Charger

GERMISE
UV Light
Smartphone Sanitizer

All Our Picks

Dial Antibacterial Liquid
Hand Soap
Variety Pack

Softsoap Antibacterial Liquid
Hand Soap
White Tea and Berry Fusion

Aromavita
Antibacterial Oregano
Oil Soap

Phone Cleaning Wipes

Microfiber Cleaning Stickers

Phone Sanitizing Device

Quick Links

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The Best Smartphone Sanitizer

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Adam Barker

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

PhoneSoap 3 UVCell Phone Sanitizer and Dual Universal Cell Phone Charger

GERMISE UV Light Smartphone Sanitizer

All Our Picks

Dial Antibacterial Liquid Hand SoapVariety Pack

Softsoap Antibacterial Liquid Hand SoapWhite Tea and Berry Fusion

Aromavita Antibacterial Oregano Oil Soap

Phone Cleaning Wipes

Microfiber Cleaning Stickers

Phone Sanitizing Device

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

PhoneSoap 3 UV
Cell Phone Sanitizer and Dual
Universal Cell Phone Charger

GERMISE
UV Light
Smartphone Sanitizer

Dial Antibacterial Liquid
Hand Soap
Variety Pack

Softsoap Antibacterial Liquid
Hand Soap
White Tea and Berry Fusion

Aromavita
Antibacterial Oregano
Oil Soap