The first thing that should come to mind about cleaning a cell phone is removing the microbes and bacteria that are covering your phone every day. Each time you touch your phone, you transfer bacteria to and from your hands, face, and every surface that the cell phone has touched. Ever drop your cell phone in a public restroom? Yuck.
While there are some ultraviolet light sanitizing devices available to buy, you can clean your phone with the supplies you have on hand.
It is essential to avoid excess moisture when cleaning, which can damage interior electronics. Most cell phone screens, especially smartphones’ glass surfaces, have an oleophobic coating that repels oils from hands and fingers. The coating’s effectiveness will lessen over time but using anything abrasive on the glass will hasten the loss and scratch the surface permanently.
What You’ll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Lint-free microfiber cloth
Materials
- 1/2 cup Distilled water
- 1/2 cup Isopropyl alcohol, 70%
- Cotton swabs or wooden toothpicks
Instructions
Unplug Your Phone and Attachments
Earbuds or chargers should be cleaned separately. Turn off the phone.
Remove Cases or Covers
To effectively clean your phone, remove any protective case or cover. These should also be cleaned separately before reinserting the phone.
Mix Distilled Water and 70% Isopropyl Alcohol
In a small spray bottle, mix a one-to-one ratio of distilled water and 70% isopropyl alcohol. The distilled water is essential if you live in an area that has hard water, which is filled with microscopic minerals that can scratch the glass on the phone.
Spray Microfiber Cloth
Lightly spray a lint-free microfiber cloth with the water and isopropyl mixture. Never spray the phone directly. Do not over-wet the cloth.
Wipe Down the Phone
Use the microfiber cloth to wipe down the entire phone. Be sure to clean both the front and back
Clean Small Areas
If small areas like the space around the camera lens, attachment ports, or buttons show signs of gunk build-up, gently use a dry cotton swab or wooden toothpick to clean those areas. Once any build-up is removed, wipe down the area again with the slightly damp microfiber cloth.
Allow the Phone to Air Dry
Allow the phone to air dry completely for at least 15 minutes before reinserting it into its case.
These thorough cleaning steps should be done weekly to keep a phone relatively germ-free.
Cleaning a Cell Phone Case
There’s not much benefit to cleaning your cell phone if you are going to reinsert it into a dirty protective case. Whether made from silicone, hard plastic, or leather, most cell phone case models have textured edges to provide a better grip on the phone. Take a look at those edges. They are probably disgusting.
Once the phone has been removed, silicone cases can be completely submerged and washed in a solution of warm water and a bit of dishwashing soap. Use a soft cloth to gently scrub the textured edges. Rinse well and allow to air dry completely before reinserting the phone. For daily cleaning, wipe down the case with a microfiber cloth dampened with the distilled water and rubbing alcohol solution.
For hard plastic cases, remove the phone and wipe down the entire case with the distilled water and alcohol solution on a lint-free cloth. Use a cotton swab dipped in the water/alcohol solution to clean the small button and lens opening areas. Dry with a clean, lint-free cloth and check that the case is completely dry before reinserting the phone.
After removing the phone, leather cases should be cleaned with a saddle soap formulated specifically for leather and then treated with a leather conditioner. Allow the case to dry completely before reinserting the phone.
How to Clean Cell Phone Accessories
Use the one-to-one distilled water and 70% isopropyl alcohol solution and a microfiber cloth to wipe down earbuds, chargers, and other cell phone accessories. Remember to mist the cloth lightly–never over-wet–and allow the accessories to air dry completely before using.
Tips to Keep Your Cell Phone Cleaner and Germ-Free
- Clean your cell phone immediately if it comes into contact with anything that might cause stains like make-up, ink, dye or sticky foods.
- Wash your hands more often and consider skipping bathroom texting. The cleaner your hands, the cleaner your phone.
- Use an antimicrobial cover. They are readily available to fit most phone brands.
- Consider investing in a small ultraviolet light sanitizer. There are several on the market that will hold your phone, car keys, and other small items that you use every day. The ultraviolet light kills bacteria without using excessive heat or moisture that could damage electronics.
