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Yes, we know it has been a while since Halloween; however do you want to hear something scary? Well, here it goes. Did you know that the phone you’re possibly reading this on is covered in more germs than a toilet seat? Pretty startling!

In fact, according to the consumer magazine Which? who took swabs of 30 mobile phones and tablets many devices are ‘hazardous’ to health such is the germs and bacteria on them. One iPad it tested was covered in bacteria known as Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause serious food poisoning.

There are a number of reasons why our phones and devices are covered from on button to charge port in potentially life threatening bacteria.

Bacteria Breeding Ground

The best breeding ground for bacteria is warmth and iPhones and other devices are fortunate enough to create enough through charging and out handling to provide the perfect conditions for incubation.

In addition, and one of the most major causes of the problem, smart phones are brought everywhere with people and that includes the bathroom. If you don’t think that’s the case, there are Ofcom studies that prove one in five 18-24 year olds do just that, as do 11% of us as a whole. And even so, most of us wash our hands intermittently; though use our phones all the time, meaning the germs gathered during daily routines between these washes builds up on the phone screens. Truth being told we’re a pretty disgusting bunch.

Anti-Bacterial Charger?

There are a number of innovative tech solutions that are heralded to prevent the growth of a small colony on our devices. One that takes itself seriously is the PhoneSoap charger. This device not only charges but also sanitises your phone and manages to do so without the use of heat, liquid or chemicals. But how?

It uses two UV-C lamps that kill the bacteria. According to PhoneSoap, the device sends a “wavelength of light which encompass your phone and pass through the cell walls of bacteria and virus to impair their DNA. Once the DNA is compromised, the cells die and can no longer cause infections or disease”.

Another innovation and an impressive one at that come from Corning and Gorilla, creators of the antimicrobial glass. This glass uses an ionic silver agent to kill off bacteria throughout the day and lasts for the lifetime of the device.

Disease Laden?

These are two excellent ideas; however as with anything in life we have to be realistic. The likelihood of contracting a life threatening disease from a phone is limited however the average mobile phone is laden with bacteria and may even be covered in serious bugs such as streptococcus, staphylococcus and diphtheroids, but chances are it’s unlikely to harm us. However, a rub down with an antibacterial wipe every so often won’t do anyone any harm.

Despite mobile phones harvesting bacteria it’s not going to them being used everyday. So, remember to give your mobile a good clean and also some comprehensive phone insurance to ensure to phone is safe. Get a quote from us today!

*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.

If you’ve made the tricky decision between a condenser dryer and a tumble dryer already, your next decision should be a bit easier: choosing the right tumble dryer make and model.

Most of us have a budget in mind when shopping around, and there are enough brands to provide a solution at every price point.

Features

Tumble dryers all work by expelling warm air through a hose, so there’s a fairly limited amount of variation on that theme. In general, the fanciest machines have the most dryer heat/ time combinations, better displays, more intuitive controls, and better child locks.

More expensive dryers sometimes have quick dry settings, or settings designed to quickly freshen up an item you want to wear the same day.

In truth, a basic machine with analogue controls can do just as good a job, but it depends what you’re looking for. If you don’t have any space to line dry clothes, you might opt for more programs; if you have indoor space for an airer, or a large garden, you may not need the dryer all year round, and could potentially get by with something more basic.

Capacity

While the physical size of a tumble dryer rarely differs, the capacity might, and that can make a huge difference to its usefulness.

For a family of four, a 3kg dryer is rarely large enough for a full load. Something 6kg or higher will be much more convenient and avoid the need to run the dryer multiple times a day.

For very large families, or sporty types that need to do lots of washing, you can buy machines with 8kg or 9kg capacity. Bear in mind that running big tumble dryers half-full is likely to waste energy, although you can get machines that switch off if they detect that the clothes have dried which can help.

Energy Rating

Any appliance that generates heat will use more energy than average. Dryers and kettles are both good examples.

For the best savings, opt for a machine with an energy rating of B or above. The very best machines might have a rating of A+ or better, for example.

If you have Economy 7 at home, you’ll save money by running your dryer overnight, so you may wish to buy one with a timer or delayed start setting. That way, you can fill the dryer during the day and run it while you’re asleep.

Brand Reputation

In the appliance market, some brands have a better reputation than others. After all, most of us would expect a budget appliance to have a shorter lifespan than a high-end one.

That said, there are bargains to be found. We’ve heard reports of mid-range tuble dryers lasting for a decade or more if well looked after.

 At the top end of the market, Bosch and Miele offer a huge range of settings and features. Mid-range models tend to perform well with slightly fewer settings to choose from. Budget options like White Knight and Beko offer excellent bang for your buck.

 Some Hotpoint, Whirlpool, and related brands have been tarnished by serious fire safety problems, and subsequently, a very long wait to have the fault repaired. It’s not a great advert for the company. If you’re concerned about this recall, we advise not buying used tumble dryers that might have been affected.

Final Points

Tumble dryers may require alterations to your window, or the fitting of a vent for the hose. Remember to factor in the cost of sorting this out; nobody wants to have a window permanently wedged open for their dryer, and certainly not in the middle of winter. If this sounds like a hassle, consider a condenser dryer or a combined washer/ dryer instead.

*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.