7 UV

One thing that Covid-19 has brought into stark relief is the need for Mary Poppins-levels of cleanliness. Just as we were thinking that germs were the good guys—there to boost our immunity—we have had to completely rethink our attitude to hygiene and wash, scrub, disinfect as much as we can. This is even more startling when you learn startling truths, like the fact that each square inch of your phone contains 25,000 germs.

There have been numerous studies confirming the effectiveness of UV-C light in killing bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. And while it has not been proved that they definitively kill Covid-19 (as most companies do not currently have a way to test its effectiveness against the virus yet), it is a start to a cleaner, more germ-free existence.

A wave of snazzy devices with UV-C light are fulfilling the need for attractive, effective sanitizing products. From a magic wand that kills all the nasties in your sofa to a bag that zaps invaders on your remote control and cellphone to a water bottle that means you can drink pond water safely, here are a few of our favorites.

Editor’s Note: With all of these products, UV light is said to kill 99 percent of germs, but with all the devices you should never shine direct UV light into the eyes.

From Singapore based company Luumyn, this stylish gray bag is an excellent choice for parents on the move. The same size as a small vanity case, it is big enough to hold milk bottles and cuddly toys, as well as devices like mobile phones. Once the items are placed inside, the bag is connected to a power bank with a USB and then charge for five minutes. The bag then radiates the contents with UV light, sterilizing everything inside.

Buy Now: $110

The CrazyCap water bottle is for both the roving adventurer who wants to drink from a stream, and the person who simply wants to make sure their tap water is ultra-safe or to cut down on plastic bottles. With the slogan “to set water free,” the claim is that you can put any water in it, from a freshwater lake to a contaminated tap. Using UV LED to sterilize the water, as the deep UV light enters the microbial cell, the boggle destroys the nucleic acids. It self-cleans too. Voila!

Buy Now: $69

Did you know that if you use your phone daily, it probably collects seven times more germs than a public restroom? Clearly, that was a horrible statistic before Covid-19; now we are even more likely to want to keep one of our most well-used daily items germ-free. Known for its jaunty cellphone cases, Casetify has now branched out to make a UV sanitizer for the devices. Sleek and white, you simply place your phone (or even keys) inside and turn it on for its three minutes cycle.

Buy Now: $120

The 59s sterilizing wand is a magical implement, as it can be used to disinfect all manner of things. Powered by 20 UV light, you can apply it directly to the surface of a sofa, bed, bathtub, towel, mat, carpet, keyboard, computer mouse or, well, any other object you fancy. It is lightweight and portable so can be taken on travels. They also make other products such as a pacifier sterilizer and a household good sterilizer bag.

Buy Now: $139.99

Another UV water bottle making waves is Larq—billing itself as the world’s first self-cleaning bottle, it activates every two hours to keep your water super clean. Ingeniously, it also keeps liquids cold for 24 hours and hot for 12. You can also put it into “adventure” mode to clean water, say, from a lake or stream. It looks pretty too, in colorways including Sahara Gold and Seaside Mint.

Buy Now: $95

This nifty black or gray bag by HoMedics claims to sanitize faster than rival products, zapping nasties in a minute. Excellent for items like jewelry, remote controls, sunglasses and keys, it uses four UV lights to kill germs. Uber efficient, it can do 18 cleans per charge. They also sell a jaunty purple phone sanitizer.

Buy Now: $99.99

As their tagline states, germs don’t just inhabit public spaces. But the real beasts are hidden in your keyboard, smartphone, or TV remote control. Mobile Klean is a germicidal sanitary device using UV-C light to stop bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and allergy-inducing microorganisms found on everyday items. It can be used on everything from your eyeglasses and electronics to your cutting board and cutlery. To prevent you from staring straight into UV light, which is damaging, it will only work when facing down.

Buy Now: $69.99