most of us, the first thing we think about when someone asks, “have you
ever cleaned up your cell phone” is how to remove junk files and the
hundreds of bad photos to gain some storage space.
removing the potentially deadly microbes and bacteria that
are covering your phone every day. Each time you touch your phone, you transfer
bacteria to and from your hands, face, and every surface that the cell phone
has touched. Ever drop your cell phone in a public restroom? Yuck.
Supplies You Need
to Clean and Sanitize Your Cell Phone
Distilled water
Isopropyl alcohol, 70%
Spray bottle
Cotton swabs or wooden toothpicks
NEVER Use These Things to Clean a Cell Phone
Window or household cleaners
Compressed air
Aerosol spray cleaners
Solvents
Bleach
Ammonia
Abrasive powders
interior electronics. Most cell phone screens, especially smartphones’ glass
surfaces, have an oleophobic coating that repels oils from hands and fingers.
The coating’s effectiveness will lessen over time but using anything abrasive
on the glass will hasten the loss and scratch the surface permanently.
7 Easy Steps for a
Germ-Free Cell Phone
germ-free.
Unplug your phone and any
attachments. Earbuds or chargers
should be cleaned separately. Turn off the phone.
Remove any protective cases or
covers. These should also be cleaned separately before reinserting the phone.
In a small spray bottle, mix a
one-to-one ratio of distilled water and 70% isopropyl alcohol. The
distilled water is essential if you live in an area that has hard water, which
is filled with microscopic minerals that can scratch the glass on the phone. Give
the bottle a good shake.
Lightly spray a lint-free
microfiber cloth with the water and isopropyl mixture. NEVER spray the phone
directly. Do not over-wet the cloth.
Use the cloth to wipe down the
entire phone front and back.
If small areas like the space
around the camera lens, attachment ports or buttons show signs of gunk
build-up, gently use a dry cotton swab or wooden toothpick to clean those
areas. Once any build-up is removed, wipe down the area again with the slightly
damp microfiber cloth.
Allow the phone to air dry
completely for at least 15 minutes before reinserting it into any case.
Cleaning a Cell Phone Case
from silicone, hard plastic or leather, most cell phone case models have
textured edges to provide a better grip on the phone. Take a look at those
edges. They are probably disgusting.
completely submerged and washed in a solution of warm water and a bit of
dishwashing soap. Use a soft cloth to gently scrub the textured edges. Rinse
well and allow to air dry completely before reinserting the phone. For daily
cleaning, wipe down the case with a microfiber cloth dampened with the
distilled water and rubbing alcohol solution.
the entire case with the distilled water and alcohol solution on a lint-free
cloth. Use a cotton swab dipped in the water/alcohol solution to clean the
small button and lens opening areas. Dry with a clean, lint-free cloth and
check that the case is completely dry before reinserting the phone.
be cleaned with a saddle soap formulated specifically for leather and then
treated with a leather conditioner. Allow the case to dry completely before
reinserting the phone.
How to Clean Cell Phone Accessories
alcohol solution and a microfiber cloth to wipe down earbuds, chargers, and
other cell phone accessories. Remember to mist the cloth lightly–never
over-wet–and allow the accessories to air dry completely before using.
Tips to Keep Your Cell Phone Cleaner and Germ-Free
Clean your cell phone immediately
if it comes into contact with anything that might cause stains like make-up, ink, dye or sticky foods.
Wash your hands more often and
consider skipping bathroom texting. The cleaner your hands, the cleaner your
phone.
Use an antimicrobial cover. They
are readily available to fit most phone brands.
Consider investing in a small
ultraviolet light sanitizer. There are several on the market that will hold your
phone, car keys, and other small items that you use every day. The ultraviolet
light kills bacteria without using excessive heat or moisture that could damage
electronics.