These are scary times for just about anyone, but especially germaphobes. Actually, that term may not even apply during this pandemic. By definition, a phobia is an irrational fear. If this global health crisis has taught us anything, it’s that a little aversion to invisible particles can be downright healthy.
It can also be very difficult. No matter how clean you keep your home, everyone needs to go outside eventually. And that’s where it gets tricky, because even if you follow social distancing protocols, there’s a secondary risk of virus infection. Studies indicate that the coronavirus can live and stay viable on surfaces like plastic and stainless steel for up to three days. That means touchscreens, countertops, cell phones and nearly every other object you might interact with.
It’s enough to make you go into hibernation, but there is a handy solution that doesn’t involve constant wiping. The Mini UV Light Bar is a quick way to disinfect surfaces using the same technology that hospitals employ.
This portable bar is no bigger than your smartphone, but it uses a bank of three HQ3 LEDs to artificially produce an intense UV light that is normally emitted by the sun. It’s normally blocked by our ozone layer, which is good news for germs. It can actually degrade the DNA of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms, destroying them in seconds.
That makes it a powerful line of defense against infection. You can wave it over seating areas, tables, elevator buttons and even complex electronics without harming anything but the germs that live on them. It lasts for up to six hours on a charge, and is a lot easier than swabbing furiously with antibacterial wipes — not to mention cheaper over time.
Right now, Macworld readers can get the MIni UV Light Bar for $29.99, a full 69% off the retail price.
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Prices are subject to change.