TORONTO -- The rapid spread of COVID-19 coronavirus has many thinking about how easily bacteria and viruses can be spread in everyday environments.

In the midst of an outbreak, elevator buttons, grocery cart handles, and point-of-sale terminals can all seem like potential threats. But most of us fail to consider one of the dirtiest, most bacteria and germ-laden surfaces in our lives: our smartphones.

According to a , viruses like COVID-19 could live for up to nine days on smooth glass and plastic surfaces, like a smartphone screen.

Although the study did not explore how easily coronaviruses could be transferred from contaminated surfaces to a person鈥檚 hands, or the frequency of which this happened, the study authors make a promising case for including your phone in the list of surfaces that should be disinfected.

鈥淎lthough the viral load of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces is not known during an outbreak situation it seem plausible to reduce the viral load on surfaces by disinfection, especially of frequently touched surfaces,鈥 the study, published in the Journal of Hospital infection, noted.

Smartphone users touch their phones an average of 2,617 per day, , and studies have already shown just how many germs live on the surface of our beloved mobile devices.

But as the and urge people to wash their hands frequently and use alcohol-based hand rubs to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, it鈥檚 worth pointing out that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people clean 鈥渉igh-touch鈥 surfaces -- including smartphones and tables -- every day.

鈥淗igh touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables,鈥

HOW TO PROPERLY DISINFECT YOUR SMARTPHONE

This is where it gets tricky.

Your smartphone鈥檚 screen has an 鈥渙leophobic coating鈥 that is designed to cut down on fingerprints and prevent moisture from affecting it.

For this reason, smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung recommend against using harsh products such as window and household cleaners, solvents, ammonia, abrasives, or cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide to clean your device.

While this coating will wear away over time 鈥渨ith normal use,鈥 the tech company adds that abrasive materials will 鈥渇urther diminish its effect and might scratch the glass.鈥

On March 9, to address concerns about using disinfectants to clean its products.

鈥淯sing a 70 per cent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the display, keyboard, or other exterior surfaces,鈥 reads the update.

鈥淒on't use bleach. Avoid getting moisture in any opening, and don't submerge your Apple product in any cleaning agents. Don't use on fabric or leather surfaces.鈥

It鈥檚 unclear whether or not the update was made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

If you鈥檙e not worried about the coronavirus, cleaning your phone can still get rid of other germs.

Peter Hall, professor at the University of Waterloo鈥檚 School of Public Health, suggests that users disinfect their mobile devices twice per day with an antibacterial wipe.

鈥淐lean your device at least twice daily, once at lunch and once at dinner time (or linked to another daily routine),鈥 , calling the smartphone a 鈥減ortable petri dish.鈥

UV-C light cleaners claim to sanitize smartphones using short-wavelength ultraviolet light to break apart germ DNA. Companies that develop these devices claim they are capable of killing 99.99 per cent of household germs; however, it鈥檚 unclear how effective this would be on coronaviruses.