We said it once and we stand by our statement: UV phone sanitizers are not the best way to clean your phone. If these cleaning gadgets aren’t the best way to keep your phone germ-free, what is? Read on for our tips and product recommendations to keep your device clean and stay healthy.
Do I really need to sanitize my phone?
The short answer is yes. You may have heard that our phones are some of the germiest surfaces we encounter in our lives, but you may have thought that your phone can’t be that bad. However, you would be surprised.
It turns out that our smartphones have 10 times more bacteria than most toilet seats. It’s gross, but it makes sense when you consider that we carry our phones with us everywhere. When you learn that most people check their phones almost 50 times a day and often touch their faces without washing their hands afterwards, the need to sanitize your phone becomes apparent.
How do I remove germs from my phone?
So how should you clean your phone to get rid of the germs that can cause everything from pimples to sickness?
To get started, you’ll power off your phone and disconnect it from its charger. We also recommend taking the phone out of the case to get all those little dots that can easily go unnoticed. Then, you will start cleaning by following a few simple steps:
- Put on disposable gloves before you begin if you want to protect your hands from the cleaning solution.
- Use disinfecting wipes, 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes, or a soft, lint-free cloth that has been lightly sprayed with a solution containing 70% isopropyl alcohol.
- Wipe your device.
- Avoid oversaturating your device and getting moisture into the ports while cleaning it.
- Let your smartphone air dry.
While your phone is drying, you can also clean the phone case and accessories in the same way. Just be sure to let your case fully air dry before putting your phone back in.
When you prepare to clean your phone, there is one important consideration to keep in mind. Many smartphones have an oleophobic coating to keep fingerprints at bay, and alcohol can remove this.
However, having a screen protector can be a good solution. Not only does it protect your screen from everyday damage, it’s also cheaper to replace than your smartphone screen if you start to notice fingerprints after sanitizing your phone.
What products should I buy to disinfect my phone?
As you may have guessed by looking at your smartphone cleaning routine, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to properly sanitize your phone. You only need one of the following:
Whether you use a wipe or a cloth that you dampen yourself is entirely up to you and your cleaning preferences. Also, wearing gloves while cleaning is optional, but can protect your skin from alcohol or drying cleaner.
Is there anything I should avoid when cleaning my phone?
Now you know what you should do when sanitizing your phone, but what about the things you should avoid doing? Here are some quick tips to help you avoid damaging your smartphone while cleaning up germs:
- Avoid using bleach.
- Don’t overload your phone.
- Keep moisture away from openings and ports.
- Don’t clean your phone without a screen protector.
- Avoid spraying cleaner directly on your phone.
Also, you’ll want to follow specific cleaning instructions if you have a phone case made of materials like fabric or leather.
How often should I disinfect my phone?
At this point, you are pretty much an expert on how to sanitize your phone. The only thing you still need to know is how often you need to clean it.
Experts recommend sanitizing your phone at least once a day. It may initially sound cumbersome, but it’s easy to do if you just spare a few minutes after work or before bed. You can consider it as a quick way to keep your phone clean and your body healthy.
