PhoneSoap FAQ: UV Sanitizer Questions Answered
Everything about how UV-C sanitizing works, what fits inside, charging, phone safety, choosing a model, and orders. Short answers up top — with links to the deep dives when you want the lab data.
Getting Started
Setup, what fits, and the basics of your first cycle.
How do I set up my PhoneSoap?
It is ready in under a minute. Plug the unit into a wall outlet, drop your phone (case on) inside, close the lid, and the cycle starts automatically. When the light turns off, your device is sanitized and, on charging models, still charging.
Will my phone fit inside?
All standard smartphones fit any PhoneSoap unit. If you run a thick case with a PopSocket or wallet, either sanitize those separately or step up to a larger chamber like the PhoneSoap Pro or HomeSoap, which fit the biggest phones and bulky accessories. Exact interior dimensions are on each product page.
Can I keep the case on my phone?
Yes, please do. Most of the bacteria on your hands transfers to your case, so that is exactly what you want sanitized. Every PhoneSoap unit is built to fit your phone with the case on. Very thick cases with add-ons are the only exception, so check the product-page dimensions if yours is bulky.
Using It Day to Day
Charging, timing, notifications, and what else you can drop inside.
Can I charge my phone while it sanitizes?
Yes. Most PhoneSoap models have a USB port in the back, so you can run your charging cable through it to charge and sanitize at the same time. When the cycle finishes, your phone keeps charging.
How long does a cycle take?
Most models run a full 360-degree cycle in about 10 minutes, and the PhoneSoap Pro does it in 5. PhoneSoap Baby runs longer, 11, 16, or 21 minutes, because it also dries with warm air. Close the lid, walk away, and come back to sanitized items.
Will I still hear my alarms and notifications?
Yes. Every unit has acoustic outlets designed to let sound through, so you will hear calls, alarms, and notifications clearly while your phone sanitizes or charges overnight.
Can I sanitize things other than my phone?
Anything that fits inside is sanitized, from keys and credit cards to earbuds, watches, sunglasses, and pacifiers. For larger items like tablets, remotes, and baby bottles, HomeSoap gives you far more room.
How often should I sanitize my phone?
Once a day is a good habit for most people, since your phone picks up bacteria everywhere it goes. If you have been out in public, at the gym, or around someone who is sick, run an extra cycle. It only takes minutes and there is no wear on your device.
Safety & Science
The short version here; full lab data and the UV-C science on our dedicated pages.
Is PhoneSoap safe for my phone and electronics?
Completely safe. No heat, no liquid, no chemicals, just light. UV-C will not damage your phone, tablet, case, or earbuds, and each cycle is pre-timed so your device is sanitized correctly every time, with no discoloration or wear.
Is UV-C light safe to use at home?
Yes. PhoneSoap's UV-C light stays fully enclosed inside the unit and shuts off when you open the lid, so it never reaches your eyes or skin. There is no ozone and no chemicals involved.
Does UV-C light actually kill bacteria and viruses?
Yes. PhoneSoap uses UV-C light at 253.7 nm, the same germicidal wavelength hospitals rely on, to kill 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and viruses,† including Salmonella, E. coli, MRSA, and Coronavirus 229E. Every product is independently third-party tested.
Do UV phone sanitizers really work?
They do, when they are engineered correctly. PhoneSoap's results come from getting intensity, distance, and timing right, and they are verified in accredited labs across more than a decade of testing.
Does UV-C light kill mold?
UV-C light damages the DNA of mold spores it reaches directly, which is why it is used to sanitize surfaces and air. It will not fix the moisture that lets mold grow in the first place.
Can I use PhoneSoap in a hospital or clinic?
Yes. Hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country use PhoneSoap to help stop the spread of illness-causing bacteria and viruses carried on phones and tablets, from nursing stations to waiting rooms.
Choosing a Model
A quick orientation; the full side-by-side comparison lives on the shop page.
What's the difference between the PhoneSoap models?
The PhoneSoap 3 is our best-selling phone sanitizer and charger with a 10-minute cycle. The PhoneSoap Pro sanitizes in 5 minutes and fits the largest phones with bulky cases. HomeSoap is the large-capacity model that fits tablets, remotes, and several items at once. PhoneSoap Basic is a simple sanitizing box with no charger, and PhoneSoap Baby is our dedicated UV baby bottle sanitizer and dryer.
Which one should I buy?
If you mostly want your phone sanitized and charged, the PhoneSoap 3 is the sweet spot. Want the fastest cycle and room for a big phone in a thick case? Go Pro. Need to sanitize tablets, remotes, and household items? HomeSoap. Sanitizing baby bottles and pacifiers daily? PhoneSoap Baby.
Do you offer wholesale or bulk orders?
Yes. For business, healthcare, hospitality, or bulk orders, visit our wholesale page or email our sales team at sales@phonesoap.com and we will help you find the right fit.
Baby & Bottles
The PhoneSoap Baby bottle sanitizer, plus routing to the full how-to guide.
Do you make a UV sanitizer for baby bottles?
Yes. PhoneSoap Baby is a UV baby bottle sanitizer and dryer. It sanitizes 99.9% of bacteria† on bottles, pump parts, and pacifiers, then dries them with warm air. No water, steam, or chemicals. HomeSoap also fits bottles alongside the rest of your household items.
How do I sanitize bottles, pacifiers, and pump parts?
Wash them first, then run a sanitizing cycle. With PhoneSoap Baby the parts are sanitized and dried in one sealed step, so there is nothing to air-dry on the counter afterward.
Orders, Shipping & Warranty
Everything after you buy; we'll point you to the right support page.
What's your shipping and returns policy?
We offer free shipping on orders over $100. If something isn't right, our support team can help with returns and exchanges.
What warranty comes with my PhoneSoap?
Every PhoneSoap is backed by our warranty against manufacturing defects. If you hit a problem, reach out and we will make it right.
My unit isn't working. What do I do?
Most issues are quick fixes. Check that the unit is plugged into a wall outlet (not just USB) and that the lid closes fully, since the light only runs when the lid is shut. Bulb replacements and common fixes are covered in our troubleshooting guide.
How do I track my order?
You will get a tracking link by email once your order ships. Can't find it? Use our order tracking form, or contact support with your order number and we will track it down.
Still have a question?
Our team is happy to help with anything you didn't find here, from choosing a model to troubleshooting your unit.
Sanitize more of your life
HomeSoap
The large-capacity UV sanitizer that fits tablets, remotes, baby bottles, and several items at once.
Shop HomeSoapPhoneSoap Baby
The UV baby bottle sanitizer and dryer. Sanitizes bottles, pacifiers, and pump parts, then dries them with warm air.
Shop PhoneSoap Baby†Efficacy figures reflect independent third-party lab testing against specific bacteria and viruses under defined conditions; results vary by organism, model, and use. PhoneSoap products are not medical devices and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. PhoneSoap Baby sanitizes 99.9% of bacteria and is not tested against viruses.