From Experimax
You probably think of your electronic devices, especially your mobile phone, as an extension of yourself. Since you’re constantly touching your phone, often while you’re touching other surfaces, your phone can be thought of as your third hand. Any bacteria that makes its way to your hand from a surface you touch, will end up on your cell phone the next time you scroll through your favorite apps. According to a 2017 study by the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health, cell phones carry more than 17,000 bacterial gene copies and may play a role in the spread of infectious diseases. We already know how important it is to regularly wash our hands with soap but by neglecting to clean our cell phones we are still at risk of transferring bacteria to ourselves and others.
Cleaning our electronic devices daily will help minimize the spread of disease and keep ourselves healthy. But what will kill potential bacteria on our phones and other devices without damaging them?
Let’s Clean your Phone
Cleaning your phone is a quick process that can be done while you sit on the couch enjoying your favorite show. Grab your favorite brand of disinfectant wipes and a few microfiber cloths or paper towels. If you do not have access to wipes, you can spray a disinfectant cleaner on a paper towel but make sure it is not excessively wet. We do not recommend using alcohol to clean your phone.
- Turn off your phone.
- Remove the case from your phone and set it aside.
- Wipe down your phone with the microfiber cloth to remove any dust or dirt.
- Gently wipe your phone with the disinfectant wipe, avoiding the charging port or headphone jack. You don’t want liquid to get in there.
- Let your phone air dry for a minimum of 5 minutes (or the time indicated on the package of wipes).
- Use either a clean paper towel or clean microfiber cloth to wipe away any leftover moisture from your phone.
- Once your phone is clean, repeat the same process with your phone case. With your phone case, you may be able to use more astringent cleaners since most phone cases are made from durable plastics. However, if your case has fabric or leather, do not use bleach.
Let’s Clean Your Other Devices
Other devices that are prone to bacteria include your laptop and desktop keyboards, your mouse, your headphones or earbuds, and even your TV remote. A process similar to the above should be used on these other devices starting with shutting down the devices; however, we do not recommend using wipes directly on your laptop or computer monitor. Distilled water or a water and vinegar solution can be added to a microfiber cloth and gently wiped on your monitors to give them a quick clean. Take extra care while wiping down your devices to avoid dislodging keys or accidentally putting too much pressure on your monitor as that could cause more serious damage.
Of course, keeping your devices clean is only part of the equation. Washing your hands regularly is also very important when trying to keep everything disinfected.
Need more help with your devices? Experimax is here to help you stay connected during these challenging times and beyond. Contact your local Experimax store for assistance from your local Apple® product X-perts.
