How to Clean Your Cellphone

OK, you’ve got the hand-washing thing down. But have you thought about your “third hand?” 

Smartphones are touched all day, every day and are covered with potential bacteria, pathogens and viruses. 

If you’re washing your hands but then touching your uncleaned cellphone, you may not be doing everything you can to prevent the spread of germs.

Smartphones need to be wiped down frequently. Their glass cover allows germs to live for several days. Considering the proximity of our phones to our eyes, ears, nose and mouth throughout the day, wiping down your phone several times a day helps lower the risk of spreading germs to your most vulnerable areas. 

You don’t need expensive products to clean your phone. Here are some options:

• Clorox wipes
• Lysol wipes
• Solution of ½ cup of distilled water and ½ cup of Isopropyl alcohol, 70%

Steps for initial clean:

1. Unplug phone and attachments (earbuds and other attachments should be cleaned separately). Turn the phone off.
2. Remove case or cover. These should be cleaned separately.
3. Wipe down the phone and case with a wipe. If using a homemade solution, be sure to spray on a microfiber cloth first. Never pour or spray the product directly on the phone.
4. Clean the small areas if there are signs of gunk buildup. This includes camera lens, attachment ports or buttons. A dry cotton swab or wooden toothpick can be used to remove buildup. Wipe down the area again with the slightly damp microfiber cloth.
5. Don’t forget to clean your case!  Silicone cases can be completely submerged and washed in a solution of warm water and a bit of dishwashing soap for initial cleaning. For daily cleaning, wipe down the case with a wipe or cloth with alcohol and H₂O solution. For hard plastic cases, wipe down the entire case with a wipe or 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. Leather cases should be cleaned with a saddle soap formulated specifically for leather and then treated with a leather conditioner.