Consumer Alert: Study Finds 95% of Watch Bands Are Contaminated with Dangerous Bacteria

ROCHESTER, NY – A recent study published in the journal Advances in Infectious Diseases found that 95% of watch bands tested were contaminated with various types of dangerous bacteria. The study found that 85% were contaminated with the bacteria that cause staph infections, 60% had E. coli and 30% carried the potentially deadly Pseudomonas.

“Pseudomonas, this nasty little single-celled organism, causes meningitis, a brain infection, endocarditis, a heart infection and otitis, an inner ear infection, and all three can be fatal,” said Deanna Dewberry, Consumer Investigative Reporter at News10NBC.

Scientists say the reason our smartwatches get so dirty is because we wear them to track our daily lives, from sleep to heart rate to exercise routines.

Dewberry chatted with AT&T technology expert Jason Komenski about the safest way to clean wearable technology like smartwatches.

“A lot of people think you just take out the disinfectant wipes and wipe it down, I’ll tell you that right now. This is a little above my salary, but I’m telling you right now: Do not apply disinfectant wipes to the screen of your Apple Watch. It will break it. These screens are very strong. Disinfectant wipes are not the best. You want to use alcohol wipes,” Komenski said.

Komenski recommends using alcohol wipes to clean the screen, crown, and sensors on the back of the watch. He suggests using a toothpick to swipe in and around the crown.

“The most important thing on the back of your Apple Watch is the sensor. You want to make sure this is really clean. I want to wipe this off too. What you want to do then is use what’s called a microfiber cloth,” Komenski said.

After wiping the watch with alcohol wipes, Komenski recommends using a microfiber cloth, like the kind used to clean glasses, to wipe it clean.

When cleaning your watch, don’t forget the strap. The study found that watch straps have some of the highest concentrations of bacteria.