Apple Watch bands harbor dangerous bacteria -- because no one cleans them
As it turns out, wristbands, like the one used with the Apple Watch, are the perfect breeding grounds for bacteria like Staphylococcus and E. coli. Here's why you should start disinfecting them.
Apple Watch bands
If you're like most smartwatch owners, chances are you wear your device daily. Unfortunately, as new data shows, you probably aren't washing your smartwatch, either.
A new study published in the science journal Advances in Infectious Diseases, spotted by The New York Post has shed light on just how filthy the average band is.
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) tested wristbands of different materials, such as plastic, rubber, cloth, leather, and metal, to determine which materials harbored the most bacterial buildup.
What they found was that 95% of the wristbands they tested harbored some sort of dangerous bacteria. Staphylococcus spp, responsible for staph infections, was found on 85% of wristbands. About 60% of the bands tested positive for E. coli. And 30% tested positive for Pseudomonas, an antibiotic-resistant bacterium associated with sepsis and pneumonia.
The bacteria was in highest concentrations on cloth bands, then plastic and rubber, followed by leather. Metal bands, notably those made of gold and silver, carried the least bacterial load.
Plastic and rubber are especially notable because their porous and static surfaces actually attract bacteria and harbor their growth.
And the reason for these bacteria hotbeds is simple: people don't wash their watchbands. This is especially concerning as many smartwatches double as fitness trackers, so wearers often wear them at the gym or during strenuous activity. Unsurprisingly, watchbands worn by those who routinely went to the gym had higher bacterial counts than those who didn't.
Nadine de Vries, an Apple Watch wearer, has worn her Apple Watch nearly daily since purchasing it in 2019.
"I clean it rarely. Maybe twice a year I will wash the bands in soapy water and wipe the inside where the bands click in, but very rarely," she told The Post.
The study takes special care to remind healthcare workers that they should routinely disinfect their wristbands, as many of the bacteria found are antibiotic-resistant. By doing so, they can avoid unnecessary outbreaks of MRSA-like diseases.
You may be wondering how best to clean your Apple Watch band. Don't worry -- the study sheds some light on that as well. Lysol disinfectant spray and 70% ethanol alcohol both boasted a >99.99% kill rate regardless of wristband material.
The study also notes that while apple cider vinegar is often the eco-friendly cleaning choice many reach for, it had nearly no effect on certain strains of Staphylococcus bacteria.
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Comments
Tonight I like really long sentences.
Good old hot water or time in a pressure cooker (only the band, not the watch itself). A pressure cooker or autoclave may be too hot for plastic and some other materials. Some essential oils (like tea tree oil). A hospital, nursing school or medical school could provide procedures they follow (and determine what they've learned NOT to do). Head of central services at a hospital would likely know the answer (would make a good interview for an author of news items).
Another person pointed to Lysol spray. Lysol is also available in a bottle, and is a phenolic disinfectant (there are other phenolic disinfectants). Lysol and hydrogen peroxide may be added to water in a washing machine (hydrogen peroxide likely will bleach out color in fabrics).
https://www.solutionsdesignedforhealthcare.com/solutions/products/disinfectants/overview-of-technologies/phenolics/#:~:text=Phenolic%20compounds%20were%20among%20the,They%20are%20not%20sporicidal.
Suspect findings would be similar for old fashioned analog watches. Watch bands may be easier to remove on an Apple watch than on an older analog watch. When I worked in a hospital, more than 50 years ago, I don't remember ever sanitizing my watch. Bet with all of the antibiotic resistant bacteria, that would not be the case today. Historically, before Lister and a few others (long ago), folks didn't wash their hands between surgeries.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7240806/#:~:text=Astute%20clinical%20observations%20and%20logical,were%20disallowed%20into%20labor%20room.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Lister
Tonight you also like being rude and condescending.
I kept taking off my watch, a stainless steel Heuer chronometer, to avoid scratching my Titanium PowerBook.
You're reading it wrong. He was actually being funny.
Apple Cider Vinegar is quite different from regular white vinegar in its chemical composition, and strength of acetic acid. You're right that white vinegar is the way to go for cleaning, but apple cider vinegar is amazing for your health! A tablespoon a day (in water!) to keep the foot fungus away!