There’s A Right Way To Clean Your Cell Phone

A research firm called Dscout a few years ago reported findings that the average cell phone user touches his phone 2,617 times per day. The figure for those addicted to their phones was 5,400 times daily, which should give you a picture of how often our phones are in our hands. That said, as much as you wash your hands and sanitize all other surfaces in your home, one thing you might forget to keep clean is your constant companion, your mobile phone. Therefore to avoid the spread of coronavirus, below are details of how to clean your cell phone.

How dirty is your phone?

Before we talk about cleaning your phone, it is good to know how dirty your cell phone is. Time published that scientists from the University of Arizona found out that mobile phones have bacteria ten times more than what you can find on a toilet seat. While that alone is enough to make you gag, another study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine concluded that one in every six smartphones have fecal matter on them. Of course, that is not hard to believe, considering how many people take their phones to the bathroom.

However, some experts say the types of germs found on your phone depend on your line of work. For instance, health workers, even if they wear gloves, they can still touch their phones and pass on the pathogens picked up from patients. For the general public, most bacteria are passed on to our phones by touching things such as handbags, work surfaces, and clothes. It is, therefore, no surprise that with the pandemic of COVID-19, washing your hands frequently and thoroughly is highly recommended.

How should you clean your phone?

First of all, remove anything attached to the phone, such as earphones, phone cases, and chargers, and then turn off your phone. You can then wipe the phone with a microfiber cloth, not to remove germs but to get rid of physical dirt such as smudges. You can make your own disinfectant by mixing distilled water (hard water has minerals that can harm your phone) and 70% isopropyl alcohol. Spray a clean microfiber cloth with the mixture and start wiping your phone’s entire surface. You should not put too much of the disinfectant on the fabric and also never spray the disinfectant directly on to the phone’s surface.

You should also note that some disinfectants such as Lysol and Clorox are advertised as ideal for cleaning electronics. However, while some websites will advocate for the use of Lysol or Clorox wipes, Android Central warns us to stay away from them unless we are only cleaning the sides and back of the phone. According to the article, using such products does more harm than good since they remove the oleophobic coating that helps fight fingerprint smudges. However, if the coat no longer exists, then there is no problem using the products.

As for the ports, camera lens and buttons you can use dry cotton swabs to get rid of any buildup. You should not use any chemical solutions when cleaning the ports or lenses to avoid damaging them. Next, wipe those ports, speaker grills, and lenses with a clean damp microfiber cloth. Now that your entire phone is clean allow it to dry for at least 15 minutes.

Remember to clean your phone case

It would beat logic to have a clean phone in a dirty phone case, yet your hands will be touching the phone case too. Therefore, Microfiber Wholesale enlightens us on ways to clean different types of phone cases. Plastic, rubber, and silicone cases only need to be soaked in soapy water and scrubbed with a soft toothbrush to remove stains. Once clean, you can wipe it dry with a clean microfiber cloth. As for the white silicone and plastic cases, a little bleach in warm water can help get rid of stains and yellowing.

Wooden cases do not need any water to avoid damaging them, so a clean, dry microfiber cloth will do the trick. However, for stubborn stains, you can dampen your microfiber cloth with a mixture of a little vinegar and water and then wipe off the grime. Always clean wooden surfaces by going along the grain. Leather phone cases, on the other hand, can be cleaned using soap and water; dampen your microfiber cloth and apply the soap on to it, then rub the case clean using a circular motion to avoid stretching it.

How to avoid fingerprint smudges

One of the most annoying things found on the phone’s screen is the fingerprint smudges, which can make it harder to swipe. Luckily, you can avoid such problems on your touch screen by cleaning the screen gently using steady pressure until all the smudges are gone. Next, you should place a fingerprint-resistant screen protector on the phone screen; the screen protector also works to resist skin oil.

You should apply the protector by peeling back the cover at the back and place the sticky part on to the phone starting from the top. You should smoothen it down as you peel the rest of the cover until your entire screen is covered. You should then invest in a phone finger, which is a protective sleeve worn on the finger you use to swipe your phone.

Things you should never use to clean your phone

Even if you cannot find a microfiber cloth or some vinegar to clean your phone Microsoft News advises that you should never be tempted to use some items. Top of the list is paper towels because they are abrasive; hence will scratch your phone’s screen. As much as you might reason that the window cleaners keep your glass squeaky clean thus will do the same for your phone screen, they will only wear out the oleophobic coating. The same goes for rubbing alcohol and any other things that contain alcohol, such as wipes.

You should also never use compressed air to remove dust particles from your phone since it will damage your microphone. You should also note that vinegar is only used in cleaning the cases and not the screen while we only use a damp lint-free cloth, not a wet one.