The Do's and Don'ts of Disinfecting Your Phone
Let's talk tech hygiene.
Because what's more gross than your phone screen? It's a gross fact that phones tend to have 10 times the bacteria that toilet seats do. Your phone is covered in germs: 25,127 bacteria per square inch, to be precise. This makes cell phones one of the dirtiest objects we come in contact with every day. In fact, when compared to other items that are infamously “dirty,” cell phones take the lead. It could even be what's causing that mysterious breakout, or what's keeping you from telling the difference between the taco emoji and the pizza emoji thanks to smudges.
But did you know there’s a right way to disinfect your phone without damaging them? As oil, dirt, makeup and germs build up on your phone throughout the day, it's important to clean your screen before you pick that phone back up to make a call. We wash and sanitize everything else we touch throughout the day, and now it's your phone's turn.
No Windex! (unless you want to cause all sorts of damage to your device).
The gentlest way to clean it is to take distilled water and a microfiber cloth to wipe down the phone. Use Q-tips to clean around crevices.
Extra: Touch-screens can be cleaned with diluted vinegar or rubbing alcohol: Spray it on the microfiber cloth (not screen) and wipe carefully.
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If your device has a screen protector on it, whether it's tempered glass or just thin plastic, get together some isopropyl alcohol, distilled water, a spray bottle and a microfiber cloth. Pour one part alcohol and one part water into the spray bottle and then spritz a lint-free cloth with the solution and wipe down the phone.
Cleaning your laptop
If we're being honest-- there's also probably crumbs and bacterium on your laptop too.
Here's what to do:
Turn your laptop upside down and (gently) shake out the keyboard to rid yourself of the dirt and crumbs.
To clean the screen on your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, first shut down the computer and unplug the power adapter. Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with water only, then use it to clean the computer's screen.
The Do’s
Disinfectant wipes, yup, it’s okay to use them. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes and any wipes registered by the EPA work, the CDC says.
It’s best to use disinfectant wipes that contain 70% isopropyl alcohol to avoid damaging the protective coating on the touchscreen.
When wiping down the phone, take care to be gentle and not apply too much pressure. Remember, you paid around $1k for this badboy. For added protection, wear disposable gloves so you don't spread any germs to your hands. Pro tip: Don’t forget to wipe down your case.
The Don’ts
JUST like toilet paper, it's hard to get disinfectant wipes, but promise me you won't make your own homemade cleaning solution. If the concentration isn’t just right, there’s a chance of damaging the touchscreen coating.
Avoid using heavy-duty wipes, bleach, or general cleaning sprays.
Avoid getting any liquid in ports and the speaker.
Do not spray the phone directly.
Do not use paper towels, which can scratch. Avoid wiping down the phone with abrasive cloths or paper towels. Instead, clean up the liquid using a soft material like a microfiber cloth.
Unplug before you clean.
Pro-tip: If you’re high-tech, a gadget that pulses UV light to destroy surface bacteria might be your thing. Whatever method you choose, remember to clean your phone regularly to keep bacteria far from you!
