Your phone is your BFF, and because it goes everywhere with you, it picks up a massive amount of germs, bacteria, and even viruses. According to one study, cell phones actually carry 18x more germs than a public toilet handle. Yuck!
That unpleasant stat is largely because most people rarely clean their phones, despite the fact that they’re constantly touching them. And viruses can stick around on surfaces, so you never know what your phone might be carrying.
So now that you know how dirty your phone is, let’s talk about the dos and don’ts of getting a clean phone and the different techniques for cleaning your phone.
How to Sanitize Phone: Dos and Don’ts
When it comes to getting a clean phone, there are definite dos and don’ts. The last thing you want to do is damage your precious phone, so make sure you’re following manufacturer instructions and using common sense when you’re learning how to clean cell phone.
Dos
Unplug your phone before cleaning
Turn the power off on your phone before cleaning
Remove the case before cleaning
Only use lint-free cloth to wipe your phone
Don’ts
Use bleach, household cleaner or any other harsh liquid
Get liquid into any of the ports on your phone
Dip your phone into liquid
Spray anything directly onto your phone
Stick foreign objects into the ports
Use paper towels or other abrasive fabrics
Options for How to Sanitize Phone
There are a few different options for getting a clean phone. If you’re wondering how to clean my phone, you can choose the technique that works best for you.
Lint-free Cloth and Soapy Water
Previously, phone manufacturers primarily just recommended cleaning your phone by wiping it down with a lint-free cloth (like microfiber). This doesn’t remove any germs or bacteria, however, since there’s no disinfectant involved. This technique is best for removing fingerprints or other smudges on the surface of your phone but doesn’t actually clean or utilize any phone sanitizer. If you need a little more cleaning power, you can use a small amount of warm water mixed with antibacterial soap along with the cloth — but avoid the ports and holes. This will certainly clean your phone of dirt and any other exterior gunk but may not provide as much sanitization protection as some of the other methods.
Disinfecting Wipes
How to disinfect phone, you ask? Apple has actually said that a Lysol wipe, Clorox wipe or other 70 percent isopropyl alcohol disinfecting wipe is considered a safe way to disinfect your phone. Just ring out the excess liquid first and gently wipe down your phone, avoiding the ports and holes. There is some question about whether these wipes can negatively affect the oleophobic coating on screens (designed to repel fingerprints), however, so use with caution.
Phone Cleaning Kit
Lots of companies make kits designed specifically to clean your phone or other pieces of technology. Usually they come with a spray bottle of cell phone cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Spray the liquid onto the microfiber cloth, then wipe down your phone. These kits are good for removing any dirt, debris or smudges, but depending on the liquid type they don’t necessarily disinfect.
UV Phone Sanitizer
A UV phone sanitizer utilizes UV lights to kill germs and bacteria. totallee’s sanitizer is designed with dual UV lights that emit UVC rays to eliminate germs and clean your phone from top to bottom. It also sanitizes other small items like keys and credit cards. Just pop the box open and stick your phone inside. It has two cycles: standard (30 minutes) and express (18 minutes). It also serves as a wireless charger; just close the box and place your phone on top. (Note: our sanitizer kills germs and bacteria, but we do not currently have a way to test its effectiveness against COVID19.)
Oh, and totallee’s UV sanitizer comes with our guarantee. If you don’t love what you bought, we’ll refund your purchase in full! We offer a 30-day money back guarantee and a 2-year warranty to back up our whole line of products.
Remember: whatever method you choose to clean your phone, you can do your best to keep it germ-free by washing your hands frequently and definitely leaving it behind when you go to the bathroom!
