Effectiveness of Various Cleaning Solutions in Eliminating Bacteria from Surfaces; An Application to Cellular Device Surfaces

Abstract

The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of different household cleaners with the goal of recommending cleaning solutions for cellular devices that will promote both hygiene and mitigation of disease transmission (Olsen, M. et al.). 1% Bleach, 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, 2.5% Iodine, 70% Ethanol and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (commonly found in detergent) were used as treatment to measure reduction in bacterial contamination on phone surfaces. Concentrations were chosen based on common availability.
Series dilution was used to obtain desired concentration of specific treatments, micropipettes to deliver the treatments, and water-based agar plates to colonize bacterial swabs. Percent reductions in bacterial colonies were analyzed, and ANOVA tests assessed the significance of results. 70% Ethanol, 3% hydrogen peroxide and 2.5% iodine are the most practical and effective options for cleaning phone surfaces due to their accessibility, safety, and strong disinfecting properties, while the detergent proved to have the most bacterial growth out of the tested cleaners.