How to Clean Your Phone Screen
Did you know that the average person in the U.S. spends 5.4 hours daily on a mobile phone? Typical Americans also check their devices over 60 times a day.
While you may not be counting, you likely touch your phone hundreds, even thousands of times a day. Indeed, a poll found that, on average, such touching occurs 2,617 times daily.
The problem is that every time you touch your phone, you transfer germs to it. That’s a good enough reason to learn how to clean your phone screen correctly. Besides, regular cleaning prevents disgusting residue from building up on its display.
Our phone screen cleaning guide below will teach you how to do it right, so read on.
Know What to Avoid
We’re starting with this one so that you don’t have to keep wondering if what you plan to use is safe for your phone.
First is tissue paper; avoid using this because it leaves numerous fibers when it breaks up. Its particles can then stick to your phone’s screen and wedge into crevices.
Don’t use kitchen paper towels, either. Their stiffer nature can scratch your phone screen. Plus, these items are expensive.
Avoid using cotton balls, too, as they’re a catch-all for debris, which they can transfer to your screen. They can also leave their fluff and fibers stuck on your display and your phone’s crevices.
Glass or window cleaners are also a no-no. They contain harsh chemicals that can strip off your phone’s protective coating.
While makeup removers should be safe for your skin, the same may not apply to your phone screen. They may contain chemicals that are too harsh for cleaning an electronic display.
Gather Your Phone Screen Cleaning Supplies
Cleaning your phone screen safely requires the use of some Scotch tape. You’ll use this to pick up debris and remove them without scratching your phone screen.
Next, grab at least two pieces of microfiber cloth. These are the same (and only) fabrics used to clean the lenses of eyeglasses or sunglasses. That’s because they’re lint-free and can remove oils and grease.
Lastly, prepare 70% ethyl or isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle. Alternatively, use disinfectant wipes containing the same ingredients and concentration.
That potency is enough to kill bacteria like staphylococcus and streptococcus. Additionally, it can inactivate herpes, flu, rhinovirus, and rotaviruses, to name a few.
Turn Off Your Phone
Never clean a powered-on phone plugged into an electrical outlet. Otherwise, it’s at risk of a short circuit if even a tiny droplet of fluid gets into it accidentally. Besides, it’s easier to see dirt and fingerprints on the screen surface of a turned-off phone.
After powering off your phone, remove its accessories, such as a case, keychain, and ring holder. You’re already cleaning your phone screen, so why not clean the rest of its surfaces, too?
It’s even more crucial to remove the case of a phone with foldable displays, such as the Samsung Z Fold3. After all, it has front and inner screens, so if you clean it with the case still on, you may miss several spots. If it doesn’t have a protective case yet, here’s a video showing you how to install one later; check it out.
Tape Away Grit and Sand
Inspect your phone screen, particularly the crevices where it meets the body. If you see grit or sand, gently dab it with a tiny piece of Scotch tape. This phone screen-cleaning tip can safely remove debris that could scratch your display.
You can also use Scotch tape to clean your phone’s front and back cameras. Likewise, you can roll a small piece into a tube and insert it into your phone’s ports. Its adhesive backing can catch debris and pull it out of the holes.
Wipe the Screen
Get one of your microfiber cloths and spray it with alcohol. Please don’t spritz the alcohol straight onto your phone to avoid the risk of a short circuit. If you’re using a disinfectant wipe, wring it first to ensure it’s not heavily saturated.
Next, imagine your screen divided into vertical 1-inch sections. Doing so allows you to concentrate on one area at a time and helps ensure a more thorough cleaning.
Wipe your screen from top to bottom, starting from the leftmost side. Then, lift the cloth or disinfectant wipe and bring it back to the top. Repeat two to three times before moving on to the next section.
If you’re using sprayed-on alcohol, spritz some more of it onto the cloth before you wipe the next section.
Allow to Air Dry
To disinfect your phone screen, allow the air to dry off the remaining alcohol. Don’t wipe it off immediately. That’s because disinfectants require contact time on surfaces to be effective.
For 70% ethyl or isopropyl alcohol, the contact time is at least 30 seconds.
Clean the Rest of Your Phone
Repeat the steps for your phone’s edges and its back surface. Let these areas air dry too.
In the meantime, wipe your phone accessories, especially the case. You can use the same cleaning steps for your earphones, chargers, and other cables.
Eliminate Fingerprints With a Microfiber Cloth
Some fingerprint smudges may remain even after cleaning and disinfecting your phone screen. That’s because of the oils your fingers produce.
The best and safest way to eliminate those streaks is to run a fresh piece of microfiber cloth on your screen.
Wipe from top to bottom, section by section. After about a minute, your screen should be smudge-free.
That’s How to Clean Your Phone Screen
Remember: Many disease-causing germs can survive for hours, even days, on non-porous surfaces. So even if you clean and disinfect your hands, it won’t help if you touch your dirty phone afterwards.
But since you know how to clean your phone screen, why not do it as early as now? The sooner you do, the sooner you can eliminate dirt and any nasty germs likely lurking on it. Also, as much as possible, clean your phone once a day.
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