The best ways to protect yourself against COVID-19 and other contagious illnesses include frequent hand washing, social distancing, and using appropriate personal protective equipment such as masks.
If you're looking to take your precautionary game to the next level, you might be eyeing any number of UV light sanitizers that have recently flooded the market.
But do they work? And if so, which one should you buy? We're here to help you figure it out.
Does UV Light Kill Bacteria?
UV light is one type of electromagnetic radiation that comes naturally from the sun and can also be created artificially with specialized bulbs.
There are three types of UV radiation—UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C—none of which can be observed with the naked eye.
Of the three, UV-C has the smallest wavelengths (180-280nm) and is the one required for UV disinfection.
Most commercial UV products are sold as sanitizers, and it’s important to note that sanitation and disinfection aren't synonymous. Sanitization reduces the number of germs on a surface.
Disinfection, on the other hand, “eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on inanimate objects,” per the CDC.
UV-C light is just one disinfection method shown to inactivate the COVID-19 virus in multiple studies.
The EPA keeps a list of COVID-19-approved disinfectants that can be used on various surfaces.
But make sure to read the directions carefully, as many of these products aren't friendly to tech devices.
Note that over the past year, we've learned a great deal about COVID-19 transmission.
Early studies and news stories that focused on COVID-19 contamination looked for traces of viral RNA; however, viral RNA is not infectious.
Further studies show the virus is rarely viable on surfaces, and the CDC states that transmission from contaminated surfaces "is not thought to be a common way that COVID-19 spreads."
Do UV Sanitizers Work?
While the evidence that UV sanitizers destroy the novel coronavirus is inconclusive, The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine believe the technology should work.
UV light is effective against other coronaviruses, including the one that causes MERS, and the US government continues to work with industry leaders to define standards for UV-disinfection-technology settings.
Furthermore, CleanSlate, a company that sells UV-C sanitizing solutions to the healthcare, hospitality, and food-processing industries, released data in July showing that UV-C light can kill 99.979% of MS2 bacteriophage, a surrogate for viral human pathogens such as the novel coronavirus, in just 20 seconds.
Since most commercial laboratories don't meet containment standards for handling the novel coronavirus, such testing is as close as we can get, for the time being.
Many hospitals already use UV light to disinfect against superbugs and have ramped up efforts in hopes that it will have the same effect on COVID-19. Duke University’s network of hospitals have used UV disinfection for years.
And in 2017, a study published in The Lancet, funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found UV disinfection can reduce transmission of the four most common superbugs—MRSA, VRE, C.
difficile, and Acinetobacter—by a cumulative 30%.
Airlines and hotels are also betting big on the technology.
JetBlue started testing a UV light robot last year that's able to disinfect an entire airline cabin within 10 minutes, and the Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts created an extensive health and safety protocol in conjunction with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, called Lead With Care, that includes the use of ozone technology for air purification and/or UV technology for HVAC systems at its properties.
Although UVC-C irradiation destroys Covid-19, it should be used as a second line of defense against viruses and microbes in general, since hand-washing, masks, and social distancing are easier and more effective.
It’s also worth mentioning that the UVC-C irradiation systems used in commercial settings are dramatically different than those of consumer products.
In fact, we’ve found very few consumer products in this category that we can recommend at this time.
What the Experts Say About UV Sanitizers
Hundreds of UV sterilizing bags, cases, and wands have flooded the market since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but few manufacturers offer any in-depth details about their products, let alone lab tests that show they offer any protection whatsoever.
, a senior scholar and assistant professor at the John Hopkins University Center for Health Security, is skeptical about the efficacy of consumer UV sanitizers.
In an interview with NBC News, he said, “I just have a hard time trying to find a role for [UV sanitizers] that is effective in the general public where you have an actual, meaningful impact, and not just some kind of marginal benefit that’s not really worth it.”
Richard Webster, a clinical researcher and methodologist at the CHEO Research Institute in Ontario, Canada, also has doubts about consumer-grade UV sanitizers.
In an interview with the CBC, he said, “We think the amount of UV you need is about 20,000 joules per metre squared and you probably aren’t going to get that in your hand-held device."
, a professor of engineering at the Armani Lab at the University of Southern California, worked with a team of researchers and published "Build-at-home UV-C disinfection for healthcare settings" early in 2020.
In an interview with Discover, Professor Armani discussed her concerns about UV sanitation wands in particular.
She says there is no way for consumers to test UV sanitizer wands and recommends people read carefully before making purchases.
The product specifications should state the wand is 260 nanometers in range and give a specific duration that is no more than seconds.
Since most consumer UV sanitizers require a few minutes to complete a cycle, Dr.
Armani's recommendation all but knocks out hand-held wands.
Professor Armani also recommends looking at prices, since a high-powered UV-C LED costs about $15, and you’ll need several for adequate sanitation.
If you find a wand for $20, it’s most likely not going to provide any protection whatsoever.
Finally, she—and other medical professionals—urge users to remember UV-C light is harmful to the skin and eyes.
How to Use a UV Sanitizer
It's clear that UV light shouldn't be your only defense against COVID-19 and other contagions.
But if you're going to use it in addition to well-established methods, such as washing your hands, you should make sure that you are using it correctly.
UV disinfection works best on nonporous objects without a lot of nooks and crannies.
If the light isn't able to reach all the exposed surfaces of a device, it won't be very effective.
That means you'll want to take your phone (or other device) out of its case and make sure all the ports are open for the best results.
While your device is in the UV sanitizer, you might want to clean the case and the outside of the sanitizer itself with an EPA-approved disinfectant such as Lysol.
Once the sanitization cycle is complete for your device, place it on a different disinfected surface, let the sanitizer run a second cycle (this is automatic on many units), then place your case in the sanitizer and run yet another sanitization cycle.
The Best UV Sanitizers
The jury's still out on UV sanitizers, but if you're going to buy one, you should at least get it from a company that backs up its claims.
Belkin BOOST-CHARGE UV Sanitizer + Wireless Charger
Belkin is a respected name in tech accessories, and its UV Sanitizer and Wireless Charger is among the few products we recommend.
The sanitizer is larger enough to fit your phone and other small items, and it eliminates up to 99.99% of bacteria.
Within its three-minute cycle, the Belkin Sanitizer and Wireless Charger kills up to 97% of E.
coli; if you're looking for heavy-duty sanitization, you'll want to go with the 10-minute cycle.
Since wireless charging is built in, this is a great accessory for the nightstand.
PhoneSoap has been in the UV sanitizer business for years and is one of the only companies to offer extensive lab-testing results.
One of its newest products, the PhoneSoap Pro, is large enough to fit just about any cell phone and can take on smaller items, including jewelry, cash, AirPods, and even credit cards.
The PhoneSoap Pro uses four UV-C bulbs and is the only consumer sanitizer with a vacuum-plated aluminum inner shell for additional reflectivity to aid in the disinfection process.
It disinfects items in just five minutes and has both manual and automatic settings.
It’s also one of the few sanitizers we’ve found to have a nonporous plastic exterior that can easily be cleaned with disinfectant wipes.
HomeSoap is PhoneSoap’s solution for larger items.
It’s big enough to hold a 12.9-inch iPad Pro and can easily fit smaller things such as remotes, game controllers, and baby bottles and pacifiers.
It has two large UV-C lights and a reflective inner surface to aid in the disinfection process, which takes 10 minutes.
Like the PhoneSoap Pro, the HomeSoap sports a nonporous outer surface for easy disinfection, as well as automatic and manual modes.
Moshi Deep Purple UV Sanitizer
Moshi's soon-to-be-released Purple UV Sanitizers is one of our favorite products.
This foldable sanitizer can easily fit in a diaper or overnight bag and has a few features you won't find on other products.
The Deep Purple's LumiClear platform is a clear base that raises your phone from the surface of the interior.
You can sanitize your phone and other small objects in four minutes with a single tap.
And since it uses a USB-C cable and power adapter instead of a hardwired plug, you can easily use a portable charger or power bank to operate the Deep Purple on the go.
Utilimedic In-Car UV Phone Sanitizer and Wireless Charger
If you're looking for a UV sanitizer that's made for your car, Utilimedic has an excellent option: Its In-Car UV Sanitizer and Wireless Charger features a non-slip silicone mat for easy dashboard or console placement.
Utilimedic also added adjustable legs in the chamber to prevent your phone from slipping while you're driving and has a passthrough port for wired charging.
When you're not using the sanitizing feature, there's a 10W Qi wireless charging pad on top of the chamber.
A complete sanitization cycle takes just five minutes.
Outside of these products, there aren't any other UV sanitizers we feel comfortable recommending at this time, but we will update this section if and when we do.
And remember, UV light isn't a substitute for washing your hands, social distancing, or wearing a mask.
For more, see our stories on how 5G does not cause COVID-19 and how to spring clean your electronics.
The best ways to protect yourself against COVID-19 and other contagious illnesses include frequent hand washing, social distancing, and using appropriate personal protective equipment such as masks.
If you're looking to take your precautionary game to the next level, you might be eyeing any number of UV light sanitizers that have recently flooded the market.
But do they work? And if so, which one should you buy? We're here to help you figure it out.
Does UV Light Kill Bacteria?
UV light is one type of electromagnetic radiation that comes naturally from the sun and can also be created artificially with specialized bulbs.
There are three types of UV radiation—UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C—none of which can be observed with the naked eye.
Of the three, UV-C has the smallest wavelengths (180-280nm) and is the one required for UV disinfection.
Most commercial UV products are sold as sanitizers, and it’s important to note that sanitation and disinfection aren't synonymous. Sanitization reduces the number of germs on a surface.
Disinfection, on the other hand, “eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on inanimate objects,” per the CDC.
UV-C light is just one disinfection method shown to inactivate the COVID-19 virus in multiple studies.
The EPA keeps a list of COVID-19-approved disinfectants that can be used on various surfaces.
But make sure to read the directions carefully, as many of these products aren't friendly to tech devices.
Note that over the past year, we've learned a great deal about COVID-19 transmission.
Early studies and news stories that focused on COVID-19 contamination looked for traces of viral RNA; however, viral RNA is not infectious.
Further studies show the virus is rarely viable on surfaces, and the CDC states that transmission from contaminated surfaces "is not thought to be a common way that COVID-19 spreads."
Do UV Sanitizers Work?
While the evidence that UV sanitizers destroy the novel coronavirus is inconclusive, The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine believe the technology should work.
UV light is effective against other coronaviruses, including the one that causes MERS, and the US government continues to work with industry leaders to define standards for UV-disinfection-technology settings.
Furthermore, CleanSlate, a company that sells UV-C sanitizing solutions to the healthcare, hospitality, and food-processing industries, released data in July showing that UV-C light can kill 99.979% of MS2 bacteriophage, a surrogate for viral human pathogens such as the novel coronavirus, in just 20 seconds.
Since most commercial laboratories don't meet containment standards for handling the novel coronavirus, such testing is as close as we can get, for the time being.
Many hospitals already use UV light to disinfect against superbugs and have ramped up efforts in hopes that it will have the same effect on COVID-19. Duke University’s network of hospitals have used UV disinfection for years.
And in 2017, a study published in The Lancet, funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found UV disinfection can reduce transmission of the four most common superbugs—MRSA, VRE, C.
difficile, and Acinetobacter—by a cumulative 30%.
Airlines and hotels are also betting big on the technology.
JetBlue started testing a UV light robot last year that's able to disinfect an entire airline cabin within 10 minutes, and the Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts created an extensive health and safety protocol in conjunction with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, called Lead With Care, that includes the use of ozone technology for air purification and/or UV technology for HVAC systems at its properties.
Although UVC-C irradiation destroys Covid-19, it should be used as a second line of defense against viruses and microbes in general, since hand-washing, masks, and social distancing are easier and more effective.
It’s also worth mentioning that the UVC-C irradiation systems used in commercial settings are dramatically different than those of consumer products.
In fact, we’ve found very few consumer products in this category that we can recommend at this time.
What the Experts Say About UV Sanitizers
Hundreds of UV sterilizing bags, cases, and wands have flooded the market since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but few manufacturers offer any in-depth details about their products, let alone lab tests that show they offer any protection whatsoever.
, a senior scholar and assistant professor at the John Hopkins University Center for Health Security, is skeptical about the efficacy of consumer UV sanitizers.
In an interview with NBC News, he said, “I just have a hard time trying to find a role for [UV sanitizers] that is effective in the general public where you have an actual, meaningful impact, and not just some kind of marginal benefit that’s not really worth it.”
Richard Webster, a clinical researcher and methodologist at the CHEO Research Institute in Ontario, Canada, also has doubts about consumer-grade UV sanitizers.
In an interview with the CBC, he said, “We think the amount of UV you need is about 20,000 joules per metre squared and you probably aren’t going to get that in your hand-held device."
, a professor of engineering at the Armani Lab at the University of Southern California, worked with a team of researchers and published "Build-at-home UV-C disinfection for healthcare settings" early in 2020.
In an interview with Discover, Professor Armani discussed her concerns about UV sanitation wands in particular.
She says there is no way for consumers to test UV sanitizer wands and recommends people read carefully before making purchases.
The product specifications should state the wand is 260 nanometers in range and give a specific duration that is no more than seconds.
Since most consumer UV sanitizers require a few minutes to complete a cycle, Dr.
Armani's recommendation all but knocks out hand-held wands.
Professor Armani also recommends looking at prices, since a high-powered UV-C LED costs about $15, and you’ll need several for adequate sanitation.
If you find a wand for $20, it’s most likely not going to provide any protection whatsoever.
Finally, she—and other medical professionals—urge users to remember UV-C light is harmful to the skin and eyes.
How to Use a UV Sanitizer
It's clear that UV light shouldn't be your only defense against COVID-19 and other contagions.
But if you're going to use it in addition to well-established methods, such as washing your hands, you should make sure that you are using it correctly.
UV disinfection works best on nonporous objects without a lot of nooks and crannies.
If the light isn't able to reach all the exposed surfaces of a device, it won't be very effective.
That means you'll want to take your phone (or other device) out of its case and make sure all the ports are open for the best results.
While your device is in the UV sanitizer, you might want to clean the case and the outside of the sanitizer itself with an EPA-approved disinfectant such as Lysol.
Once the sanitization cycle is complete for your device, place it on a different disinfected surface, let the sanitizer run a second cycle (this is automatic on many units), then place your case in the sanitizer and run yet another sanitization cycle.
The Best UV Sanitizers
The jury's still out on UV sanitizers, but if you're going to buy one, you should at least get it from a company that backs up its claims.
Belkin BOOST-CHARGE UV Sanitizer + Wireless Charger
Belkin is a respected name in tech accessories, and its UV Sanitizer and Wireless Charger is among the few products we recommend.
The sanitizer is larger enough to fit your phone and other small items, and it eliminates up to 99.99% of bacteria.
Within its three-minute cycle, the Belkin Sanitizer and Wireless Charger kills up to 97% of E.
coli; if you're looking for heavy-duty sanitization, you'll want to go with the 10-minute cycle.
Since wireless charging is built in, this is a great accessory for the nightstand.
PhoneSoap has been in the UV sanitizer business for years and is one of the only companies to offer extensive lab-testing results.
One of its newest products, the PhoneSoap Pro, is large enough to fit just about any cell phone and can take on smaller items, including jewelry, cash, AirPods, and even credit cards.
The PhoneSoap Pro uses four UV-C bulbs and is the only consumer sanitizer with a vacuum-plated aluminum inner shell for additional reflectivity to aid in the disinfection process.
It disinfects items in just five minutes and has both manual and automatic settings.
It’s also one of the few sanitizers we’ve found to have a nonporous plastic exterior that can easily be cleaned with disinfectant wipes.
HomeSoap is PhoneSoap’s solution for larger items.
It’s big enough to hold a 12.9-inch iPad Pro and can easily fit smaller things such as remotes, game controllers, and baby bottles and pacifiers.
It has two large UV-C lights and a reflective inner surface to aid in the disinfection process, which takes 10 minutes.
Like the PhoneSoap Pro, the HomeSoap sports a nonporous outer surface for easy disinfection, as well as automatic and manual modes.
Moshi Deep Purple UV Sanitizer
Moshi's soon-to-be-released Purple UV Sanitizers is one of our favorite products.
This foldable sanitizer can easily fit in a diaper or overnight bag and has a few features you won't find on other products.
The Deep Purple's LumiClear platform is a clear base that raises your phone from the surface of the interior.
You can sanitize your phone and other small objects in four minutes with a single tap.
And since it uses a USB-C cable and power adapter instead of a hardwired plug, you can easily use a portable charger or power bank to operate the Deep Purple on the go.
Utilimedic In-Car UV Phone Sanitizer and Wireless Charger
If you're looking for a UV sanitizer that's made for your car, Utilimedic has an excellent option: Its In-Car UV Sanitizer and Wireless Charger features a non-slip silicone mat for easy dashboard or console placement.
Utilimedic also added adjustable legs in the chamber to prevent your phone from slipping while you're driving and has a passthrough port for wired charging.
When you're not using the sanitizing feature, there's a 10W Qi wireless charging pad on top of the chamber.
A complete sanitization cycle takes just five minutes.
Outside of these products, there aren't any other UV sanitizers we feel comfortable recommending at this time, but we will update this section if and when we do.
And remember, UV light isn't a substitute for washing your hands, social distancing, or wearing a mask.
For more, see our stories on how 5G does not cause COVID-19 and how to spring clean your electronics.
