How To Clean A Phone?
QUICK ANSWER
Clean a phone by powering off and wiping the screen with a microfiber cloth dampened with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol or distilled water. Clean the case separately with soapy water if removable. Use a dry toothbrush to dislodge debris from the charging port. Never spray liquid directly on the phone.
Phones get touched constantly with hands that have been everywhere, making them one of the dirtiest items most people own. Studies consistently find phones carrying more bacteria than toilet seats. The good news is cleaning a phone properly is fast and the right products preserve the oleophobic (oil-resistant) coating on the screen. Here is the safe method that disinfects without damaging the device.
What is safe for your phone?
Apple and most smartphone manufacturers now approve 70 percent isopropyl alcohol for cleaning phones (this was updated guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic). Also safe: Clorox Disinfecting Wipes (the regular ones, not the heavy-duty bleach versions), distilled water on a microfiber cloth, branded phone screen cleaners. Power off and unplug the phone before cleaning to prevent any electrical issues. Apply cleaning products to the cloth, not directly to the phone. The screen can handle these cleaners without damaging the oleophobic coating that resists fingerprints.
How do you clean the screen?
Power off the phone. Use a soft microfiber cloth (the kind that came with the phone, or any clean microfiber). For light smudges, wipe with a dry cloth. For fingerprints and smudges, slightly dampen the cloth with distilled water or 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe (or apply the alcohol wipe directly briefly, then wipe with dry cloth). Avoid: paper towels (scratch the screen), full-strength alcohol or 91 percent IPA (too strong), household glass cleaners like Windex (contains ammonia that damages oleophobic coating), and bleach (damages screen).
How do you clean the case?
Remove the case from the phone. For silicone or rubber cases: wash with warm soapy water (dish soap), scrub with a soft brush for stuck-on grime, rinse thoroughly, dry completely before putting back on the phone. For leather cases: wipe with a leather-specific cleaner only; water damages leather. For wood, fabric, or specialty cases: check the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. Clear cases turn yellow over time; this is UV damage and discoloration, not dirt; cleaning does not restore clear cases. Replace yellowed cases rather than continuing to clean them.
How do you sanitize it?
For disinfection (especially during cold/flu season or after being sick): wipe the phone with a Clorox Disinfecting Wipe or 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe. Let the surfaces stay wet for the time specified on the product (usually 4 minutes for disinfection vs sanitizing). For the back and sides, wipe thoroughly. Avoid: getting liquid in the speakers, charging port, or camera lens areas. UV phone sanitizers (PhoneSoap and similar) sanitize without any chemicals; these are an alternative to chemical wipes. The combination of regular wiping and periodic deep cleaning keeps phones from being microbiologically dirty.
Phone cleaning is safe with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes or distilled water on a microfiber cloth, methods that all major phone makers now approve. Power off first, apply liquid to the cloth not the phone, clean the case separately. Use a dry toothbrush for the charging port. Phone screens have protective oleophobic coatings that household glass cleaners damage; use phone-safe products. Sanitize periodically with Clorox wipes or UV sanitizers.
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