Cleaning more because of coronavirus? Here’s how to properly sanitize your smartphone
If you’ve been sanitizing everything to stop the spread of germs as the coronavirus emerges in the United States, you should consider cleaning your smartphone too.
Phones are with most people all day long and can pick up lots of germs and grime. They constantly are set down on different surfaces, which are teeming with filth.
It’s always a good idea to clean your phone every now and then, but some people are looking for ways to stay safe from germs during flu season and the spread of COVID-19.
It’s not yet known how long COVID-19 virus can live on surfaces, but other coronaviruses can survive for between two hours and nine days, Medical News Today reported.
Cleaning off phones can be simple, AndroidCentral reported, but there are some important dos and don’ts.
Things to avoid
Using harsh cleaners on your phone is a bad idea, and it could break down the anti-scratch coating on phones, KOMO News reported. Spraying anything directly on a device could be harmful.
Lysol and Clorox wipes, even though they seem like the easy solution, can also break down the coating on your phone and shouldn’t be used, according to AndroidCentral.
Apple, however, said it is OK to use a Clorox wipes or 70% isopropyl on the nonporous surfaces of Apple products, like the display, keyboard and exterior surfaces. You shouldn’t use bleach.
“Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the display, keyboard, or other exterior surfaces,” Apple said on its website. “Don’t use bleach. Avoid getting moisture in any opening, and don’t submerge your Apple product in any cleaning agents.”
How to wash it the right way
The first step to cleaning any phone is to turn it off, CNBC reported. You should also remove any cases and unplug accessories, Wired reported.
It is important to be gentle with your phone, according to Wired. The best way to get the grime off your phone is to use a lens cloth with a small amount of soapy water. Apple says to use only a soft, lint-free cloth and avoid using abrasive cloths or paper towels on your phone.
It’s important to avoid getting water in any openings.
To get a deeper clean, one could use Q-Tips to swab around the earpiece, speakers and other ports, AndroidCentral reported.
How often should you do it?
It depends on how much you use your phone, KOMO News reported. Generally, washing your screen weekly is a good idea.
In general, CNBC reported that people should wash their hands before using a phone and use hand sanitizer after using it to avoid the spread of germs from the surface.
This story was originally published March 4, 2020 at 5:35 PM with the headline "Cleaning more because of coronavirus? Here’s how to properly sanitize your smartphone."