Gadgets Geared to Reduce Germs

May 1, 2009 — -- The swine flu outbreak has put a lot of focus on how germs are spread, so "GMA's" technology contributor Becky Worley takes a look at the germiest places and things in daily life.

Find out how you can protect yourself with some of the latest gadgets.

Hierarchy of Germs

Several recent studies found that telephones are the most germ-infected objects in our lives, followed by desktops, water fountain handles, microwave door handles, keyboards and mice.

Phone: 25,127 germs per square inch

Desktop Surface: 20,961 germs per square inch

Keyboard: 3,295 germs per square inch

Mouse: 1,676 germs per square inch

Fax Machine: 301 germs per square inch

Copy Machine: 69 germs per square inch

Toilet Seat: 49 germs per square inch

Source: The University of Arizona

Gadgets Geared to Reduce Your Germ Risks

The Keyboard

You usually clean these using that compressed air. It never really gets all the gunk off. But with the Unotron Airtight Keyboard and Mouse you can dump the keyboard and mouse right into a kitchen sink full of soap and water and wash off all the germs.

Many school districts around the country are buying these up.

The Remote

The Seal Shield TV Remote has been optimized for hospitals and hotels using an antimicrobial plastic that reduces bacteria growth. It is simple to clean with a disinfectant wipe, but it's also fully submersible and dishwasher safe.

The Cell Phone

Motorola has developed a high-tech coating for some of its cell phones. Agion antimicrobial additive is put on the painted surfaces of the phone.

The Sanitizer

The Germ Guardian Sanitizing Wand is a rechargeable cordless hand wand that looks like a flashlight and emits UVC light, which kills up to 99 percent of germs. Just hold it over items like furniture, bedding, shoes or countertops for about 20 seconds.

It zaps the germs.

Plus, for the moms, there's the Germ Guardian Nursery Sanitizer. You can put all the baby's toys, pacifiers and other objects inside it for about 30 minutes. The same UVC technology kills the germs. And it's good for home use, nurseries, day care centers and schools.

Then there's the toothbrush sanitizer. It also uses UV light to kill the germs on your toothbrush. That way, you can travel with it and not worry about what it might pick up in a hotel room or on a plane.

Other Ways to Combat Germs

While you're travelling, a great way to fight germs is with saline nasal spray. Doctors say the dry air in the plane dries out your nose so that you don't have any mucus, which is what normally keeps the germs out. So keep your nose from drying out, and that's part of the battle.

The Future of Germ Fighting

MIT professors are developing an anti-microbial paint that can be sprayed on door handles, subway handrails or hospital walls. The liquid would prevent the transmission of flu and other viruses. It's not available for commercial use just yet.