Does The HomeSoap Really Work? (An Honest, Non-Sponsored Review)

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I’ll be testing out the HomeSoap UV Sanitizer in this post, and including Petri dishes to see how well it cleans…

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I’ve had this request for quite some time now and decided it would be really fun to try out the HomeSoap UV Sanitizer.

HomeSoap is from the brand PhoneSoap, but it’s the bigger unit that can fit more than just your phone.

You can fit tablets, baby toys, bottles, phones, cords, remotes, wallets, masks, etc.

When I read up on it, I loved the idea of it and was really curious about the technology.

But I, of course, have to test it out myself.

The worst-case scenario was that I didn’t like it, and could contact customer service for a refund.

The best-case scenario was that I could safely sanitize electronics without worrying about ruining them.

So, I took a chance and ordered it.

I also knew this was something I wanted to test out because I’ve read our phones are 10x dirtier than a toilet seat.

Aaaaaaand that really grossed me out.

Especially since having our daughter Zoey – she loves grabbing our phones whenever she can.

And she either puts our phones right in her mouth or her hands right in her mouth after touching…well, anything!

I wash her toys frequently, especially after having caught the big bad virus ourselves several months ago.

But that doesn’t always guarantee I’m getting every nook and cranny.

Especially if that toy has batteries and cannot be thoroughly washed.

In this post, I’ll be unboxing it, testing it out, and sharing some before and after agar plates (Petri dishes).

I love using agar plates to test the efficacy of different cleaners.

Check out these posts below if you want to see some other cleaners and sanitizers I’ve tested…

2021 Non-Toxic Branch Basics Cleaning Products Review

Testing The Efficacy Of Common Household Cleaners

Cleaning With Ozonated Water – Does It Really Work?

Before I unbox it with you down below, I want to note that I decided to get the HomeSoap instead of the PhoneSoap because it can fit more things in it!

For our family of five, being able to sanitize multiple phones, or a tablet along with a couple of phones, or even baby toys and remotes makes it more desirable than just the PhoneSoap.

The single PhoneSoap can only sanitize one phone at a time. 

And if I’m going to purchase something for the sake of a review, I want it to make sense and be useful for our family.

This post contains affiliate links, however, all opinions are my own, as always. This is not sponsored in any way – I purchased this unit with my own money. 

What Comes In The HomeSoap UV Sanitizer Box?

Here’s what’s included in the box…

• The Homesoap sanitizing unit
• A power cord and plug
• a quick-start guide

It’s very carefully packaged, and the door is taped closed for safe shipping and delivery.

There are also four suction feet on the bottom to help it adhere to the counter.

You just need to peel off the very top plastic layer.

Here’s what the sanitizing unit looks like inside…

Two UV-C bulbs line each side, while the interior is reflective to help direct light to every surface.

Think of it as a tanning bed for your phone. 

My favorite interior feature of the HomeSoap UV Sanitizer is the two charge ports!

That’s right, you can charge your phones or tablets while they are sanitizing.

The unit doesn’t turn on until after the door is closed, and you’ll know it’s working because the symbol on the front will light up…

You can still safely open the door in the middle of the cycle if you need to grab your phone for any reason.

As soon as you open the door, the lights power off.

I love that, especially having kids that might get curious and want to open it mid-cycle.

If you let the 10-minute cycle complete itself, the light will power off once it is done sanitizing.

HomeSoap’s Two Modes: Auto Or Manual

This UV Sanitizer also has two modes:

• auto
• manual

With automatic mode, the unit will power on as soon as you close the door.

With manual mode, you’ll need to press the power button to power it on, but the door still has to be closed for it to power on.

I keep mine on auto mode, just for convenience.

How I Tested The HomeSoap Sanitizer

To put this UV sanitizer to the test, I pulled out my handy agar plates.

I first swabbed my phone as it was.

When I do these tests,  use a specially designated water bottle, stored in the fridge, marked clearly SWABS, and with a bunch of X’s on it so I don’t contaminate the swab with anything in the tap water.

I wet the swab and ran the sterile cotton-tipped applicator over my phone screen, side buttons, camera, case edging, and pop socket.

I then rubbed that swab gently inside a fresh agar plate (here are the ones I use for all of my tests) and taped it shut.

I then placed my dirty phone in the HomeSoap UV Sanitizer and closed the door.

When I close the door, the lightning bolt symbol on the front lights up and stays lit for the entirety of the 10-minute cycle.

I timed the cycle on my husband’s phone, and it ran for 10 minutes long. 

During the cycle, I sealed with tape and labeled a never-opened Petri dish, and marked it as my clean control.

This ensures my Petri dishes are not contaminated.

Once the cycle was finished, I picked my phone up by the charge port and repeated the swabbing technique with a sterile swab.

I swabbed over the same surfaces I had before sanitizing it and transferred the swab to a new Petri dish.

I sealed and labeled that one as my HomeSoap results.

To incubate, I put my agar plates under an extra reptile heat lamp we have on hand.

If you repeat this at home, some condensation is normal and to be expected.

Does HomeSoap Really Sanitize Surfaces?

After three days, I read the results.

On the left, you can see the results from my unclean phone, and the results from my phone after being sanitized on the right…

Phew, my phone was DIRTY!

My clean control slide reassures me that my dishes are not contaminated, which is great!

And here is how the HomeSoap sanitizer worked at cleaning my phone…

One little colony is present!

If you’re having trouble seeing it, it’s a little yellow dot close to the right side of the plate.

I tried putting the agar plates on a piece of dark blue cardstock to make the yellow and white colonies easier to see.

My results are pretty consistent with their claim that it kills 99.99% of bacteria.

I was so happy to see such an amazing reduction in bacteria.

I didn’t have to wipe down my phone with alcohol first or do anything special besides pop it in the unit.

Although I will say that using alcohol wipes from time to time to quickly wipe down your phone screen isn’t a bad idea ;).

My Thoughts On The HomeSoap UV Sanitizer

I’m really happy with my purchase.

I am glad I went with the HomeSoap vs. the Phone Soap, although the price difference is pretty big.

The Home Soap is about $199 at the time of writing, whereas the latest model of the PhoneSoap is about $79.

Since testing the unit and seeing how effective it is, we’ve been using it to sanitize our…

• masks
• phones
• keys
• favorite baby toys
• pencils
• markers
• crayons
• wood slice coasters
• tablets 
• chargers
• cords
• headphones
• remotes (gaming or television)

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I hope this sheds some light on how the HomeSoap works so you can make an educated decision on whether it’s right for you or not.

If you’re interested in reading an update on the HomeSoap and my thoughts and experience, I’ve posted an 18-month Update HomeSoap review HERE. 

*Post originally published January 2021, last updated May 2022.