When was the last time you disinfected your smartwatch? 

The gadgets we wear daily are often riddled with germs. By now, you’veprobably heard that your phone carries more bacteria than a toilet seat, but did you know that your smartwatch is even worse?

And in the wake of thecoronavirus pandemic, now might be the time to pull out the alcohol wipes.

"Any solid surface can be a transmitter for COVID-19," saidDebra Goff, an infectious disease specialist at Ohio State University MedicalCenter.

"That includes your Apple Watch, Fitbit, Samsung or Garmin".

People often remember to wash their hands, which is one of the best waysto avoid catching coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization. Butsmartwatches don't get the same level of attention.

We use our dirty fingers to open notifications and count our steps. Thengo to the sink, lather up and kill germs on our hands, before proceeding to tapaway at unclean screens on our wrist.

Research found smartwatches to have 30 times more bacteria than a toilet seat!

In fact, the study found that smartwatches were by far the worst offender. The smartwatches examined contained over 250 bacteria colonies per cm2, which is 3,746 per cent more than your average toilet seat. Gross.

Worse still, the bacteria found on the smartwatches which were tested included Staphylococci and Enterobacteriaceae.

Smartphones proved to be the second dirtiest devices, being 15 times more contaminated than a toilet seat.

"The period we're in right now, you need everything possible to be as clean as possible, including your watch," said Goff.

A recent study found that coronavirus can live up to three days on plastic and stainless steel. What's even more alarming is the spreading respiratory illness can hang out as droplets in the air for up to three hours before falling to the floor, or onto other hard surfaces like phones or watches.

So what’s the solution?

Treat your smartwatch band the same way you do your face mask - or your underwear! Change it daily and wash it thoroughly between uses.

Fortunately, here at Scrunchie Time we have a huge selection of super comfy smartwatch bands to help you stay safe and stylish, and they’re all machine-washable. Check out some of our favourites below!