It’s true—with their constant use in a myriad of settings, mobile devices are among the most contaminated items in your household. And when considering the fact that our phones travel with us to and from work, into the gym, and even with us to public restrooms, this really comes as no surprise. Add to that factors like inadequate hand washing and coughing while our phones are in close proximity, and our phones can become major carriers of bacteria and communicable disease.
So how does one balance this need to decontaminate mobile devices with the need to clean them in such a way that they will not become damaged? Read on for tips on how to clean and decontaminate your mobile device’s screen safely.
Everyday Cleaning
As with all forms of cleaning, a device should be fully turned off, and all cables should be unplugged. Apple and Microsoft both advise for their products using only a soft, lint-free cloth for cleaning, avoiding abrasive cloths that could potentially scratch the screen of your phone or tablet. They also advise not spraying any sort of liquid directly onto the device, as this is too much moisture to expose an electronic device to. Instead, when some sort of cleaning fluid is required to help pick up oils and other unwanted substances, it is best to use a clean lint-free cloth that is only slightly dampened with the fluid.
Disinfecting
Quick day-to-day cleaning is great, but how do you make sure the screen itself is fully disinfected? There seems to be quite a bit of disagreement over this. On the one hand, Apple advises against using any sort of household cleaner, window cleaner, aerosol sprays, or alcohol on their products. On the other hand, many specialized electronics and lens cleaners contain some sort of sanitizing alcohol. One compromise, then, is to opt for a specialized electronics disinfectant, being sure to use a very cautious hand and spraying it only directly onto a lint-free cloth for use. Even with so much disagreement over the use of disinfectants on touch screens, there seems to be a lot of agreement that cleaners is very small doses will not cause harm.
Preventative Measures
Aside from cleaning your phone, there is a lot you can do to minimize what germs do reach your phone. Always being sure to wash your hands thoroughly is, of course, an important first step. Another important step is to keep your phone away from particularly germ-infested environments—this means not bringing it to the bathroom with you or setting it next to a garbage can. Lastly, it’s a great idea to get a stick-on protective screen for your phone; this will make cleaning your phone with disinfectants much more risk-free.
