How To Clean & Disinfect Your Phone, 10 Quick Tips To Get Rid Of The Germs • love beauty thrive

There’s no other way to say it.

Our phones are filthy, covered in germs.

In the times of COVID-19, we’re washing our hands, disinfecting our homes (and practicing other protective measures like social distancing), but are you making it a priority to clean your phone?

We touch our phones constantly (thousands of times a day), hold them up to our face, and bring them everywhere we go. If we’re washing our hands as much as we can, we should also be sanitizing our phones (no brainer).

How do you safely clean and disinfect your phone? We’ve made a list of ten quick tips to help get rid of the germs, bacteria, and viruses on your favourite device.

Want to take further steps in preventing COVID-19 by keeping everything else your hands touch frequently clean and disinfected? Check out our post on 12 things to clean and disinfect regularly to help you stay healthy.

Let’s all stay safer at home (and clean those phones).

WASH YOUR HANDS

Let’s start here (the best way to protect yourself). Plus, the cleaner your hands, the cleaner your phone (generally speaking). Wash your hands with soap and water, the right way for the right amount of time (20-30 seconds). Check out CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta as he demonstrates the correct way to wash our hands.

Extra dry hands from all that washing? Check out our post on the seven best tips for moisturizing relief.

DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE

Hands touch phone, phone touches face. So, let’s just do what we can to limit this all around shall we? Keep your hands away from your face (another important measure in protecting yourself), and your phone might just stay a little cleaner too.

MAKE IT A PRIORITY

How often do you clean your phone? We touch our phones more than almost anything else (it’s a germ land) and we’re now in different times. Make it a priority to clean/disinfect your phone twice weekly (at minimum), if not every day (even several times). Used your phone in public? Clean it after, right away.

FOLLOW DIRECTIONS

Clean your phone safely (don’t damage your device). Follow Apple’s guidelines on how to properly use disinfectant wipes and/or soft microfibre cloths to keep your phone clean and working good as new. Don’t have an Apple product? Check your manufacturer’s recommendations (and always turn off and unplug before cleaning).

“Is it OK to use a disinfectant on my Apple product? Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the display, keyboard, or other exterior surfaces.” – Apple.com (March, 2020).

KNOW WHAT NOT TO DO

Don’t damage your phone. Sprays, bleach, abrasive and other household cleaners/cloths, excessive wiping, and submerging your device are absolutely not recommended. Avoid getting moisture into any opening or charging ports (keep your phone away from all liquids entirely), and don’t ever spray cleaners directly onto your device.

Check out Apple’s precautions on what not to do when cleaning your phone.

CLEAN YOUR ACCESSORIES

Don’t forget your phone case, pop socket, credit/debit card holder, and any other frequently touched phone accessories. Just as dirty, they need regular disinfecting too.

DON’T SHARE

Be the only person to handle your phone (if possible). Don’t share devices if it’s not absolutely necessary. Reduce the spread of germs, let your (clean) hands be the only ones to touch and use your phone.

LIMIT USE IN PUBLIC

In these uncertain times, try not to touch or use your phone while out in public (e.g., while at the grocery store and touching/handling grocery carts, door handles, other things for public use, etc.). If it can be avoided, its best to keep your hands off your phone (and both away from your face) until you can properly wash your hands.

BATHROOMS = NO PHONE ZONE

Need we say more?

UV STERILIZERS/SANITIZERS

Willing to pay a little more? Blast germs and bacteria off your phone with a UVC light chamber/device (in the span of just a few minutes). Interested? Make sure it’s recommended (and safe) for your phone first.

Like hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes, these might be in short supply (but are something to consider). Known to kill cold and flu viruses, it’s hoped they’ll also be effective in blasting the coronavirus (but is too early to tell).