Best Ways to Sanitize Your Tech: Phones, Laptops, Tablets, & Computers
April 6th, 2020 | Posted in News
We regularly use our devices to answer messages and calls, read the latest news, play games, or check the shopping list at the store. Now the Coronavirus outbreak has increased attention to germs and bacteria, especially hand hygiene. It’s really important to clean and sanitize our tech gadgets: phones, laptops, tablets, and other devices that we use daily. Studies have found that Coronavirus may be able to survive on some surfaces for up to ten days and maybe even longer.
People don’t clean their tech gadgets as much as they should. Whether you’re concerned about Coronavirus or just common flu and cold germs, regularly disinfecting your smartphone will help to lower your overall risk of getting sick.
We are going to tell you about the best ways to disinfect your gadgets. Keep in mind that before you start sanitizing, you should clean your devices and make sure all of them are powered down and unplugged. Double-check your cleaning supplies: they shouldn’t be expired, and the clothes should be clean.
Smartphones & Tablets
First, you should wash your phone case and tablet cover with dish soap and a microfiber cloth. They also need to be cleaned from time to time.
Apple says on its website that you can use disinfectant wipes, like Clorox sheets, to clean your iPhones and iPads. Samsung suggested on its website that you can apply to your phone an alcohol-based solution (70%) with a microfiber cloth.
For cleaning smartphone and tablet screens and killing all germs, the best solution is to use pre-moistened wipes. You should gently wipe down the screen and backside of your device, avoiding all openings. Avoid these harsher methods, which can damage the screen, never use harsh chemicals.
If you don’t have disinfecting wipes, you can use a microfiber cloth dampened lightly with a little soap and water. Be careful and make sure not to get any moisture in the devices’ openings and ports, if you don’t want to ruin your phone.
Another option for day-to-day cleaning is a UV light, such as PhoneSoap. PhoneSoap claims that its UV SmartPhone sanitizer kills 99.99% of germs and banishes bacteria.
- Check manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning.
- Wear disposable gloves not to spread germs to your hands.
- Unplug your phone or tablet before cleaning.
- Clean your phone or tablet case.
- Use only appropriate cleaning tools.
- Use microfiber cloth.
- Sanitize your gadget if other people used or touched it.
- Wash your hands after cleaning your phone.
- Bring it in the toilet.
- Spray or apply liquids directly onto your phone or tablet.
- Try to make the cleaning solution yourself.
- Apply too much pressure while cleaning your phone or tablet.
- Use paper towel or abrasive cloth.
Laptops
You can use compressed air to blow out the dust from your device. It’s also recommended to use Lysol wipes, which is a good option for most of your laptops, gaming controllers, remotes, etc. First, take your microfiber cloth wipe down the outside casing and around the outside of your laptop. Don’t wipe the screen just yet.
After you cleaned the exterior, open your laptop, and clean all visible surfaces. Isopropyl alcohol or ethanol will disinfect the keyboard and other high-touch surfaces.
Don’t spray or pour liquids directly on the keyboard or screen of your laptop. Always dampen clothes instead. You should be more careful with the screen, particularly if it’s plastic, as alcohol and other chemicals might destroy it.
For Apple devices, you can use 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, but using bleach is prohibited. You may gently wipe the exterior surfaces of your Apple, such as display or keyboard. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, such as charging port, headphone jack, and small spaces around the keys.
- Check manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning.
- Avoid any kind of liquid that can get stuck in small openings of your laptop.
- Use appropriate cleaning tools only.
- Use soft cloth only for cleaning your laptop screen.
- Disinfect your mouse too, if you use one.
- Wash your hands after cleaning your laptop.
- Clean your laptop or keyboard when they are plugged.
- Spray or apply liquids on your laptop.
- Use chemical agents or bleach.
- Use harsh cleaners and avoid putting too much pressure while cleaning your laptop screen.
Desktop Computers
When cleaning your computer, start from the monitor, touchpad, keyboard, and mouse, use a damp cloth with a bit of isopropyl alcohol. Wet the cloth, but don’t pour the alcohol onto your tech.
Keyboards are usually covered in germs and filled with fluff and hair. You can use compressed air to blow the dust from it. After, clean the keyboard with a cloth damped into isopropyl alcohol.
Compressed air is also used for cleaning extremely tight crevices of your computer. Remember to follow the instructions on the can.
- Use appropriate cleaning tools only.
- Use soft cloth only for cleaning computer screen.
- You can use any clean cloth to clean other parts of your computer.
- Clean monitor case, cables, keyboard, mouse and mousepad too.
- Allow all computer parts to dry before you plug it and start using.
- Wash your hands after cleaning your computer.
- Clean when your computer is plugged.
- Spray or apply cleaning solutions directly on any computer part.
What you should NOT use to disinfect or sanitize your tech.
- Bleach, pure alcohol, vinegar, and other harsh disinfectant chemicals. Those chemicals need to stay far away from the glass front and back of your phone.
- A mix of alcohol and water. If you get a wrong concentration, you can damage your phone. The safest option is to use disinfectant wipes that contain 70% isopropyl alcohol.
- Window cleaner or kitchen cleaners can strip the coating and scratch the surface of your device.
- Also, you shouldn’t use a makeup remover, because some of them contain chemicals that can be harsh for electronics.
- Paper towels can also leave scratches on your tech screen.
All the devices should be cleaned, whether it’s pandemic or not. Now it’s a good time to pick up daily tech hygiene habits that’ll last a lifetime. Along with washing your hands several times a day, regular cleaning of all of your electronic devices is essential to be protected against the Coronavirus. Finally, keep in mind that you should clean your phone or laptop again if they are used by other people.