Before Cleaning
During the 2020 pandemic, government officials have encouraged us to use wipes to kill germs on hard surfaces. Apple and others have announced that using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Lysol / Clorox Disinfecting Wipe works best on the exterior surfaces of mobile devices. Don’t, however, use bleach, ever. And avoid getting moisture in device openings, and never submerge these devices in cleaning agents. Before cleaning your devices, you should unplug all cables and turn off the device. To remove minor stains, use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. If small material remains, use your cloth with warm soapy water. Compressed air should also be avoided. Also, remove the device case before any cleaning. To clean your mobile device:
Place a clean towel or cloth on your working space.Very carefully, use a toothpick to clean out any lint, dirt, or other small particles from your phone’s speaker grills and ports. Remove materials between the display glass and frame, as needed.Use a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Disinfecting Wipe on your device. Remember, no bleach!Next, use a soft, slightly damp lint-free cloth all-around your device. Use this to remove any materials you see and any streaks that might have been caused by the wipe.Dip a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol.Use the swab around the edges and buttons of your phone to remove any additional grime.Ru the lint-free cloth one final time around the device to remove other materials.
Once you’re done, you can restart your device and put its case back on.
Use UV-C Light
Another tool that’s useful at removing germs and viruses from mobile devices is the growing list of electronic accessories that use UV-C lighting. One of the earliest companies to offer these types of tools, PhoneSoap, now has an entire lineup of devices available. Some, like the PhoneSoap Pro and PhoneSoap 3, only work with smartphones and other smaller accessories. Others, like the aptly named HomeSoap, is big enough to also clean tablets, toys, and other objects. UV-C lights can break apart germ DNA, which leaves it unable to function or reproduce. Considered germicidal, UV-C lights are also effective at neutralizing so-called “superbugs” that develop a resistance to antibiotics. Devices such as PhoneSoap don’t remove dirt and grime, but rather the dangerous stuff you cannot see with a naked eye. According to PhoneSoap, its products have been tested and clinically proven to kill 99.99 percent of Influenza type A, an enveloped virus similar to the coronavirus. PhoneSoap has also been tested to kill potent bacteria such as Staph aureus. Through regular use, mobile devices such as smartphones, pick up objects like hand oils, dirt, and germs. Cleaning the devices often protects the machine and yourself, and also those around you.
