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Want to Stay Healthy This Fall? Clean Your Phone!

8 · Aug 27, 2019 · Stephanie Pollard · 20 Comments

I hate to break it to you, but your smartphone is probably disgusting. In fact, I read somewhere recently that your phone may be up to 6 times dirtier than a toilet seat. And if that’s not enough to scare you, just remember, you hold that thing up to your face on the reg. Gross.

But it also got me thinking: how dirty are the rest of my devices? Especially the ones I have never cleaned, like my Kindle, camera gear, laptop keyboard, you name it. Since we cart our electronics around everywhere, they’re veritable petri dishes that are long overdue for a good scrub down. Here’s how to clean your tech devices so they last a long time and don’t make you sick.

How to clean iphones and tablets

How to Clean Your Tech Devices

In order to get your tech clean while protecting it from nicks and scratches, you need the right tools. While not all of these are mandatory, I consider these the basics for getting rid of dirt, grime and germs without making problems worse:

Rubbing Alcohol. It’s cheap, it dries quickly and kills germs like a boss. But it’s not the gentlest of cleaners and there are certain devices that should never be cleaned with rubbing alcohol. For those, you’ll need…

Screen spray or disposable screen wipes. These contain an alcohol-free cleaning agent made specifically for fragile screens. Since they’re gentle, you don’t have to worry about them stripping the protective coating from your devices or leaving a hazy film.

Microfiber cloths. These super soft towels actually pick up lint and dust as opposed to just moving it around. And as a bonus, they’re said to help prevent scratches when you’re cleaning monitors and other screens.

Cotton balls. Perfect for spritzing with rubbing alcohol and using to disinfect your tech.

Q-tips. I use these to clean gunk out of nooks and crannies. Either spray them with rubbing alcohol to clean tight spaces or use them dry like a tiny duster.

Soft brushes. While they make brushes specifically for camera lenses and the like, a new (clean!) makeup brush can work just as well. Use it to remove dust and crumbs on keyboards, camera lenses, remotes, etc.

Lint-free lens cloths. Since you don’t want to rub dirt particles into your lens (or your phone screen for that matter), these are essential for making delicate screens shine like new.

Compressed air. This is best for blowing dust out of small spaces like keyboards, camera bodies and phone charging ports.

Now, here’s how to clean your tech devices.

Laptop

Your laptop usually goes where you go, so chances are it’s a hot mess. Since the keyboard is known to collect dirt and crumbs, you’ll want to start by cleaning it first. Hold your laptop open and gently shake it with the keyboard facing the floor. Then grab a soft brush and dust between the keys.

How to clean a laptop

Lastly, spritz a microfiber cloth with a 1:1 ratio of rubbing alcohol and water and disinfect the keys, being sure not let the solution drip down between the keys. Make sure your computer is turned off, and with the same microfiber cloth, wipe down all the plastic or metal surfaces. Focus on any areas with visible fingerprints, dirt or grime.

To clean the computer screen itself, use a screen spray or disposable screen wipes. A microfiber cloth will help prevent streaks or scratches.

How to clean laptop screen

Flat Screen TV

Standard glass cleaners can destroy your TV screen, since most have an anti-reflective coating that’s sensitive to some chemicals. To get rid of dust and fingerprints, apply water to a microfiber cloth and gently go over the screen’s surface. While I’m not sure if it’s “recommended”, I have been known to use glass cleaner on the plastic parts of our TV without any issues. Simply spritz a little on a clean cloth and wipe down the TV frame while being careful to avoid the screen itself.

See also
7 Ways to Use Lavender Oil in Green Cleaning Recipes

Don’t forget to clean your remotes while you’re at it, since they’re often a sticky, greasy mess. Simply go over the surface with a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol. Then dip a cotton swab in the solution and go in between all the buttons.

e-Reader

Much like your TV screen, it’s best not to use any chemicals on your e-reader’s screen either. Read your device’s User Guide to make sure you can get the screen a tiny bit wet. Then apply water to a microfiber cloth, wring it out as best you can and gently go over the screen’s surface removing dust, crumbs and fingerprints.

I also dilute a bit of rubbing alcohol with water and lightly wipe it over the back of my device to get rid of germs.

Cell Phone or Tablet

Most phone or tablet screens have a fingerprint-resistant coating, so you’ll want to take extra care when cleaning these. The gentlest thing to do is take a soft microfiber cloth and a bit of distilled water and wipe it down, focusing on finger prints and grime. You can also use cotton swabs to clean hard to reach places like between the buttons. Water won’t disinfect your phone, though, so I also recommend using a screen spray when you want a deep-clean.

If your phone or tablet has a screen protector on it, feel free to use a 1:1 ratio of rubbing alcohol and water to disinfect the screen as well as the case and the back of the device.

How to clean iphone

Fitness Tracker

It’s probably safe to say that your fitness tracker isn’t the most sanitary device you own – but it is one of the easier things to clean. Wipe down the face with a bit of water and a microfiber cloth. Then disinfect the band down with a small bit of rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball. Let it dry completely.

Camera

Start by cleaning your camera lens. Using a soft, clean brush (one specifically made for cameras is best but a new makeup brush will also work in a pinch), gently dust away lint and debris on the lens. Since you don’t want to grind dirt into your lens, take your time and be as thorough as possible here. Next, use a pre-moistened lens towelette or a lens spray and a lint-free cloth to wipe away finger prints and smudges.

How to clean camera lens

Next, move on to the body of the camera. Give the body a light dusting with your brush, followed by a more thorough wipe down with a microfiber cloth. To disinfect it, you can wipe down the body with a 50/50 mix of isopropyl alcohol and water. Just make sure to wring the cloth out so it’s practically dry first – you don’t want to let any moisture get inside your camera body.

Earbuds

Hold you earbuds with the mesh side facing down. Take a brush or a dry cotton swap and gently wipe the mesh to remove debris without pressing it further into the earpiece.

Next, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol, squeeze out the excess and wipe the bud to remove any remaining gunk.

Finish off dipping a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol, squeezing it out and wiping down the outside of the earpiece and the cords.

8

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. cindy schierl says

    February 22, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    I wipe with a wet cloth

    Reply
  2. Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says

    February 22, 2017 at 9:45 pm

    I can’t imagine how dirty my phone is. I can even SEE grease on my phone screen.

    Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
    http://charmainenyw.com

    Reply
  3. Natalie Harney says

    February 23, 2017 at 6:28 am

    I am ashamed to admit I have never cleaned my phone, let’s just say that’s about to change very quickly!

    – Natalie
    http://www.workovereasy.com

    Reply
  4. deana says

    February 23, 2017 at 12:51 pm

    I clean my tech gear with alcohol wipes.

    Reply
  5. Caitlin H. says

    February 24, 2017 at 11:36 am

    I typically wipe my phone’s screen with a lens wipe. I use a disinfecting wipe on the case portion on a weekly basis.

    Reply
  6. Sheila Joy says

    February 24, 2017 at 11:46 am

    Back in a college biology class I had we tested the amount of gyms on different objects, like our shoes, door knobs, and phones! It’s crazy how dirty everything we touch is!

    http://www.insearchofsheila.com

    Reply
  7. Rachel Stocki says

    February 25, 2017 at 7:46 am

    I’ve never cleaned my phone – this post really opened my eyes!

    Reply
  8. Audrey says

    February 25, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    Very interesting article, I never thought about cleaning my phone.

    Reply
  9. Victorine says

    February 25, 2017 at 4:32 pm

    Ahhh I need to clean my phone right now! Thanks for this!

    Reply
  10. Joycelyn says

    February 25, 2017 at 10:41 pm

    I “clean” mine with a damp cloth, but I doubt that’s really doing much at all. I know i need to try and get some actual tech cleaning solution.

    Reply
  11. JL says

    February 26, 2017 at 3:05 am

    I use computer screen cleaner and a cheese cloth on my phone :). That copper is so pretty, though!

    Reply
  12. Jenn says

    February 26, 2017 at 9:33 am

    Regular wipes on a daily basis

    Reply
  13. Jaque Richards says

    February 26, 2017 at 8:17 pm

    Every time I see a smudge, lint, anything that mars the surface…I clean it. Often, several times daily.

    Reply
    • Jaque Richards says

      February 26, 2017 at 8:19 pm

      Oops, sorry…my mind is gradually turning to mush. I clean with a soft, damp cloth.

      Reply
  14. Erica B/ says

    February 26, 2017 at 10:21 pm

    I just wipe down with antibacterial wipes.

    Reply
  15. susan smoaks says

    February 27, 2017 at 9:42 am

    i just wipe them down every now and then, not as much as i should though.

    Reply
  16. Lisa V. says

    February 27, 2017 at 1:47 pm

    I use alcohol wipes.

    Reply
  17. Jae Park says

    February 28, 2017 at 9:52 am

    I clean my tech gear by using alcohol and Qtips and a lens cleaning cloth, Thanks!

    Reply
  18. Richard Hicks says

    February 28, 2017 at 8:33 pm

    I use slightly dampened wipe.

    Reply
  19. Rosanne says

    February 28, 2017 at 8:41 pm

    I will sometimes use rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball to clean my electronics

    Reply

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