Many smartphone manufacturers have tips and guides on how you can keep your phone clean, and they’re all pretty similar. Believe it or not, cell phones are said to contain more germs than toilets. A 2012 study by the University of Arizona found that cell phones have ten times more germs than toilets, which is insane.
According to a study by Dscout, the average user touches their phone 2,617 times a day and the number grows for heavy users. Some viruses and germs can survive on your phone for hours to days, and when you touch between your phone and parts of your body like your face, there’s a chance of you getting diseases like the flu. But don’t worry, we’ve gathered the information to give you a guide to keeping your phone clean.
How not to clean your phone
- Since the phone screen is made of glass, people think using glass cleaners are a good idea to clean phone screen. But you should never use Bleach, Lysol, Clorox, or Windex cleaners on electrical appliances.
- Do not use wet or damp cloths to clean the phone.
- Never directly drop or spray any liquid on your phone or saturate it as you don’t want it to get wet.
- You should avoid using 100% alcohol-based cleaning products as they may damage the phone’s protective coatings.
- Do not immerse or submerge your phone in water, you can do it only if your phone is IP67/68 certified. However, excessive moisture should still be avoided.
- Keep away any moisture from the ports of your device while cleaning your smartphone.
- Some smartphone companies also suggest that compressed air should not be used to clean android phone.
- Do not use paper towels or cleaning products that advertise scrubbing power to wipe the phone screen.
How to clean your phone
- Before doing any cleaning, make sure your phone is turned off and unplugged.
- Use warm, soapy water to clean your cell phone. A few drops of dish soap in water will do the trick.
- If possible, purchase UV-C LED sanitizing light that inactivates the DNA inside viruses, and bacteria and effectively blocks their ability to cause and spread disease.
- Expose your phone to UV light, as it damages the nucleic acid of the virus, making it no longer infectious.
- It’s also important to clean phone cover as most people have it on their phones.
- You can use 70% isopropyl alcohol or 75% ethyl alcohol sprays/wipes to wipe and sanitize your phone.
- It is recommended to use a soft, lint-free cloth that easily cleans your phone without scratching it.
- Some smartphone brands recommend contact lens cloth while some stick with microfiber washcloths.
How often to clean a phone?
It is important to clean your phone on daily basis. Because our phones are constantly exposed to dirt, viruses, and other types of germs that can cause various diseases. If you don’t clean your phone every day, these viruses and germs can spread from one person to another increasing the risk of people getting sick. You don’t need to deep clean every day, a quick wipe with a microfiber can do the job. It usually takes a few seconds to wipe your iphone, so don’t be lazy.
Ways to keep your cell phone safe from germs
- Your phone can easily come into contact with germs and other harmful bacteria in public places. Avoid using your phone when traveling on public transport.
- Keep your phone, tablet, headphones, and accessories private. The more people use it, the more the chances of them getting dirty with germs and viruses.
- Don’t make or receive calls or texts while you’re in the bathroom, leave your phone out of this place. Wash your hands after using the toilet before picking up your phone.
- Keep your phone in a sleeve or in the pocket rather than placing it on gym equipments as germs on them can easily end up on your smartphone. It is even better to not use your phone in the gym as your hands are dirty now, so wash your hands before using your phone.