Gas pumps, door handles, handrails, and elevator buttons: Since we can hardly ever avoid encountering surfaces that are contaminated with germs daily, it is imperative that you wash your hands well and often. Although it is impossible to ensure that public surfaces are kept clean daily, you do have control over something you contact daily: your cell phone.
You could wonder how filthy the typical mobile gadget is. A study examined 27 phones that belonged to minors and discovered that, among other nasty microorganisms, E. Coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus were living on the screens of these phones (1).
Although phones aren’t thought to be the source of illness transmission, viruses can persist longer than you might imagine.
On hard surfaces, viruses can live for a few hours or even several weeks. Depending on the temperature and relative humidity, most cold and flu viruses can live anywhere from a few hours to as long as nine days. On the other hand, norovirus can last for up to four weeks on surfaces (2).
Nevertheless, you shouldn’t let cleaning your phone keep you up at night. Especially during flu season, consistent cleaning practice could lower your chance of coming into touch with pathogens.
You won’t need to use the same harsh chemicals you use to clean glass and hard plastic in your house to clean your mobile device. Consider products like metal polish, pure bleach, or grout and tile cleaning solutions designed specifically for bathrooms.
Keep in mind not to overdo it or spray anything directly onto your phone because you don’t want it to get wet. Moreover, stay away from any cleansers that promote scrubbing or anything harsh.
Apple cautions users that using strong commercial cleaning solutions will scratch the glass fronts and harm the fingerprint-resistant coatings on their screens. Samsung has issued a similar warning for its well-liked Galaxy models.
Here are detailed tips on how to clean your phone safely and without causing damage or lowering its worth as a used item.
How to Sanitize and Clean your Mobile Device
- Turn off your phone and take off the cover.
- Use a microfiber cloth to polish. To remove smudges and debris, use a clean microfiber cloth to gently wipe the outside of your phone. Because of the friction between the cloth and the glass surface, germs will be physically removed in this way. Microfiber works better at removing germs from the surface than paper towels or washcloths because its fibers have a larger surface area for capturing dirt and they are better at absorbing grease. However, it won’t kill bacteria.
- Next, grab a Benefect Botanical Disinfecting Wipe for disinfection. These disinfecting and cleaning wipes are great for reducing cross-contamination and combating the spread of viruses and bacteria on high-touch surfaces. Wring the wipe out first if it’s quite moist. After that, carefully clean the entire phone, being careful not to get any water on the ports.
- Give your phone at least five minutes to air dry. One wipe can clean your phone considerably even if you don’t leave it wet for that long. Disinfecting using these wipes only takes four minutes.
- Grab a fresh microfiber cloth or paper towel. Remove any residual moisture by wiping. Ideally, use a different microfiber towel that you’ve just washed instead of the same one you used in step two.
- Lastly, give your phone case a clean if you have one. Apply the same method to your phone case as well, but keep in mind that since most phone cases are composed of sturdy, hard plastic, you can use cleansers with stronger ingredients. According to Apple, accessories with leather or fabric surfaces shouldn’t be bleached.
How often should my phone be cleaned?
Although it may not be the solution you were looking for, regularly wiping clean your phone with a microfiber cloth works best. It’s not necessary to perform a thorough cleaning every day, but I do use a couple microfiber cloths that I always have on hand to rapidly remove any dirt off my screen. I suggest using a disinfectant wipe every other day or at least twice a week.
Related Post: Unveiling the Risks: Why This Might Not Be Your Best Cleaning Ally
To Wrap Things Up
Keeping your phone clean is an important but simple element of general hygiene, especially in today’s world where we are constantly in contact with germ-infested surfaces. Simple cleaning techniques, such as regular wiping with a microfiber cloth and occasional disinfection with solutions such as disinfectant wipes, can greatly decrease your exposure to hazardous microorganisms while preserving the integrity of your device.
Consistency and compassion are crucial to keeping your phone secure, clean, and valued in your daily life. Prioritizing the hygiene of your personal equipment is not just about keeping them in good shape, but also about protecting your health.
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