Spring is here, and so is spring cleaning. When you think of spring cleaning, you may not think of your cell phone. But it’s time to start: our cellphones go everywhere with us. They are constantly touching our faces, hands, clothes and any surfaces we place them on. While we might not think about what our phones go through on a daily basis, they are constantly collecting oils, dirt, and germs from everything they come in contact with. Keeping your phone clean and disinfected is the best way to prevent the spread of unwanted germs.
Daily Cleaning
Spending only a couple minutes at the beginning or end of each day cleaning up your phone can make a world of difference. Daily cleaning is fast and simple, so there are no excuses not to! All you need is a microfiber cloth, like this one from Amazon. Most phones come with one, but you may also have one laying around for cleaning eyeglasses or other glass materials. If not, it’s easy to order one online or pick one up at the nearest drug store. Using cloth materials other than microfiber can be damaging to the phone screen and wear it down over time, so it is important to choose wisely.
For a quick daily clean, simply take off your phone case, unplug any chargers or headphones, and gently rub the microfiber cloth over the surfaces of the phone. The cloth will take away the oils and dirt that have built up from your hands throughout the day, and get rid of any unwanted smudges on the screen.
The Deep Clean
Every once in a while, you should do a deeper clean of your phone. You will still utilize the microfiber cloth, but this time you can get the cloth damp before using it. Wet the cloth using water or a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol. It is best to use distilled water, especially if your tap water is hard. Most importantly, make sure that the cloth is only damp. Too much liquid coming in contact with the phone could potentially damage it, so it’s best not to use very much. Do not put any liquid directly on the phone, but instead on the cloth.
After going over the phone with a damp microfiber cloth, there may still be some dirt or grime built up along the edges of the camera or other buttons on the phone. To clean these tricky spots, you can try pulling up the dirt using scotch tape, or using a dry cotton swab or toothpick to get into the small nooks and crannies.
Clean Device Covers, too
It is also important to clean any case or cover that you use on your phone. The case also collects dirt and germs, and you don’t want it to transfer back onto the phone. You don’t need to be quite as careful with cleaning the case, so you could use soap or a different cloth depending on the case material. Make sure the case is completely dry before putting it back on the phone to prevent any water damage.
These cleaning methods can also be applied to other forms of electronics, such as laptops, kindles, iPads, and more. Cleaning your devices isn’t so much spring cleaning as it is regular cleaning, but this spring is a great time to start. It is important to clean any electronics that you use often, even if it’s only once a week. Your phone and other tech will not only look better, but will also be safer to use on a day to day basis!