At some time oranother, we all drop our smartphones. We also put them in pockets or purses
crammed with keys, forget to charge them, and leave them in hot or wet
locations. Some of us have even taken them swimming. A dirty phone screen won’t
give you much pleasure–or much information. Screens are delicate, however. Clean them
the wrong way, and you ruin them for good.
crammed with keys, forget to charge them, and leave them in hot or wet
locations. Some of us have even taken them swimming. A dirty phone screen won’t
give you much pleasure–or much information. Screens are delicate, however. Clean them
the wrong way, and you ruin them for good.
The main tool you need is a microfibercloth. You can get a very small one, perhaps even for free, at your
optometrist’s office, which should be just fine for a phone. You can buy larger
ones for a few dollars at camera stores, electronics stores, hardware stores,
or online.
optometrist’s office, which should be just fine for a phone. You can buy larger
ones for a few dollars at camera stores, electronics stores, hardware stores,
or online.
Here’s how to get your smartphone screen
nice and clean:
nice and clean:
11.
As a safety measure, remove your phone’s battery. If the
battery cannot be removed, turning off the device will suffice.
As a safety measure, remove your phone’s battery. If the
battery cannot be removed, turning off the device will suffice.
22.
Wipe the screen gently with the dry cloth. Don’t press
hard on it, but for particularly stubborn dirt you can apply some gentle
pressure.
Wipe the screen gently with the dry cloth. Don’t press
hard on it, but for particularly stubborn dirt you can apply some gentle
pressure.
33.
If a dry cloth doesn’t do the job, you’ll need to use awet one–and that can be tricky. Distilled water is the safest and cheapest
liquid for a screen. If that isn’t strong enough, mix it half-and-half with
white vinegar.
If a dry cloth doesn’t do the job, you’ll need to use awet one–and that can be tricky. Distilled water is the safest and cheapest
liquid for a screen. If that isn’t strong enough, mix it half-and-half with
white vinegar.
55.
Wipe the display as described above, and then wait until
the screen is completely dry before turning the device back on.
Wipe the display as described above, and then wait until
the screen is completely dry before turning the device back on.
11.
Be careful where you carry your phone. That pocket full
of keys was fine for your old, clamshell-style “dumb” phone. But your
smartphone almost certainly has a screen–quite likely a touchscreen–open for
all the world to scratch. So put your handset where nothing can scratch it.
Be careful where you carry your phone. That pocket full
of keys was fine for your old, clamshell-style “dumb” phone. But your
smartphone almost certainly has a screen–quite likely a touchscreen–open for
all the world to scratch. So put your handset where nothing can scratch it.
22.
Buy a case for your phone–preferably one built for yourspecific model–and keep it in that. Most cases leave the screen uncovered so
that you can use it, so buy some screen protectors as well. These thin,
transparent membranes fit over the screen, stay in place, and let both light
and touch go through them. They’re also reasonably cheap and disposable: You
can buy a pack of three for as little as $6.
Buy a case for your phone–preferably one built for yourspecific model–and keep it in that. Most cases leave the screen uncovered so
that you can use it, so buy some screen protectors as well. These thin,
transparent membranes fit over the screen, stay in place, and let both light
and touch go through them. They’re also reasonably cheap and disposable: You
can buy a pack of three for as little as $6.
33.
Turn off the touchscreen before pocketing the phone. Not
only does this stretch your battery life, but it also avoids butt-dialing.
Turn off the touchscreen before pocketing the phone. Not
only does this stretch your battery life, but it also avoids butt-dialing.
44.
If your phone feels hot to the touch, turn it off and (ifthe phone allows it) remove the battery. Let the handset sit awhile where it
can breathe. If the phone or the battery is still too hot an hour later,
contact the vendor; something of a chemical nature may have gone wrong inside.
If your phone feels hot to the touch, turn it off and (ifthe phone allows it) remove the battery. Let the handset sit awhile where it
can breathe. If the phone or the battery is still too hot an hour later,
contact the vendor; something of a chemical nature may have gone wrong inside.
55.
Get in the habit of charging your phone every night whenyou go to bed. That way, you’ll seldom (if ever) run out of juice in the course
of a day. If you still have trouble charging, buy an extra charger or two; one
that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter may be useful.
Get in the habit of charging your phone every night whenyou go to bed. That way, you’ll seldom (if ever) run out of juice in the course
of a day. If you still have trouble charging, buy an extra charger or two; one
that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter may be useful.
Don’t worry too much about wearing out
the battery. It will wear out eventually, no matter what you do, but probably
not before your contract is up and you’re ready to upgrade to the next new
thing.
the battery. It will wear out eventually, no matter what you do, but probably
not before your contract is up and you’re ready to upgrade to the next new
thing.