After we showed you how to keep your office desk clean, by cleaning your keyboard, your mouse and mouse pad, your headphones and your ID badge in the previous articles, it’s now time for you to learn how to properly clean and disinfect your phone and tablet.
Among the office desk items that you use daily, your smartphone must be the most accessed object during a day, because you’re not only using it while you’re at the office. You wake up closing or snoozing your alarm clock, you check your social media notifications and maybe even take your phone with you in the bathroom. You listen to music on your phone while going to work, use it to send e-mails, make phone calls and video calls and take it with you even when going to the gym.
Basically, you’re almost glued to your phone and it’s something understandable nowadays, when we’re so addicted to technology. But what you don’t know is while you’re caring your phone with you wherever you go, your phone carries a lot of germs and bacteria from all the places mentioned above. Some studies have shown that your smartphone is 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat and it carries germs like Staphylococcus Aureus, an antibiotic-resistant bacteria. That means you have to clean your phone ASAP and regularly.
So now that you know how dirty your phone is, here are a few tips for you to clean your phone and tablet like a pro.
1. Turn off your device
The first step you need to do before cleaning any electronic device is to turn it off and unplug cables. Remove the case and if it is possible, remove your phone’s battery. Thus you’ll minimize damage in case of any liquid leaks in the device.
2. Clean the screen
The touchscreen of your smartphone or tablet is probably the dirtiest part of your device. In order to clean your phone screen use a dry lint-free microfiber cloth to wipe all the fingerprints, then wipe it down, with alcohol and amonia-free disinfectant wipes to remove the bacteria. Use light pressure to avoid scratches and make sure that no liquid seeps into the ports or mic areas of your phone. Do not use alcohol or ammonia based cleaners on your touch screen, as newer smartphones and tablets have a coating that repels oils from your skin, so they can damage this coating that guards your screen against fingertip smudges.
If your device has glass on both sides, make sure to pay equal attention when cleaning each of it. Moreover, if your screen is cracked, you should pay even more attention when cleaning it. Wiping it can cause the cracks to spread and if you’re cleaning it with a damp cloth, you can cause water damage. So you better consider replacing your screen as soon as you can
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3. Clean the shell
Use a microfiber cloth or a cotton swab dampened with water and clean the metal and plastic parts of your phone or tablet, including the camera lens and inside the battery cover. Make sure that no liquid gets into the ports. Avoid using chemical based products, for they are too harsh for your phone. Choose disinfectant wipes that have natural ingredients in their composition. Let your phone air dry or use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe down the excess moisture.
4. Clean the accessories
Accessories like your phone’s charger, headphones or phone case also need to be cleaned. Use computer cleaning-wipes to disinfect these items and remove the dust, bacteria and debris. You can dip a cotton swab in alcohol and gently clean each part of the accesories. Use a dry paintbrush to remove stubborn dirt and debris hidden in ports, connectors or under keys.
If you keep your phone or tablet in a plastic, rubber or silicone case, use rubbing alcohol on cotton swabs to wipe both the outside and inside of your case. You can also clean these phone cases in the dishwasher. If you have a leather case, you must use a proper leather cleaner. Try to avoid fabric cases, as they’re most likely to harbor bacteria and they can’t be washed in the laundry machine.
5. Let your device dry
Allow your device, phone or tablet, and its accessories to dry before reassembling all the pieces and turning it back on.
Now that you learned how to clean your electronic devices, you can start using them without worrying about bacteria causing you illnesses. Remember to clean your phone and tablet regularly and don’t forget to clean up your other office desk items, as well as your office desk, in order to enjoy a healthy work environment.
