In a study of household surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms, scientists discovered that phone handsets and mouthpieces were two of the most contaminated items we routinely come into contact with. High levels of amylase, an enzyme that warns of contamination from saliva, sweat, urine, or other bodily fluids, were found on the handsets and mouthpieces of phones that researches recently tested. Phones tended to have even more amylase than baby gear, including baby-changing mats. So make sure you carefully clean those surfaces you’d never even think of worrying about.

If that’s not bad enough, researchers speculate that contaminated phones might be the main culprits in nasty cold and flu infections. Viruses can survive on certain surfaces for hours, or even days, depending on the room’s humidity and temperature. And once you touch a contaminated surface with your hands, it’s increasingly likely that the virus will be transferred to your nose or mouth meaning that the bug is now in your body. So clean your phone, and don’t forget to wash your hands afterward.