Disinfecting your electronic devices is always very important, but now more than ever with the spread of the Coronavirus. When you’re out and about and touch all sorts of things, who knows what kind of viruses you may be exposed to.
But, if you follow some simple yet useful tips on how you can keep your devices germ-free, your devices don’t have to turn into a germ-fest. Even the tools you need are available at almost any store.
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Use Pure Alcohol – Alcohol-based (70% isopropyl)
Note: Read before trying it on your phone
Unless your phone manufacturer gives instructions that it’s safe to try on your device, resist the urge to disinfect your device with pure alcohol.
If you go ahead and use it anyway without making sure, you’ll damage your device by removing the hydrophobic and oleophobic coat that protects your device’s display.
If you would rather not run the risk, the best thing you can do is use those disinfecting wipes that have just the right amount of water and alcohol. This is something Apple said iPhone users could do, but no word from Samsung if it’s ok to use on their phone.
Remember to turn off your device before cleaning it. Spray the alcohol-based or nonabrasive disinfectant liquid onto a soft lint-free cloth, never directly on the device.
Don’t use paper towels to clean your device; they are very abrasive. Other things, such as facial tissues and coarse clothes, can scratch your display so much that it could make it totally unresponsive in time.
Try Using a Cleaning Kit
If you want everything you need at once, you can always go for a cleaning kit. What you get in the kit is going to depend on how much you’re willing to spend, but regardless of what cleaning kit you get, you’ll get the basics such as screen cleaner, Microfiber cloth, and device cleaning wipes.
Try Using UV Light
If you feel bombarded with all the options out there, a good idea would be to go with the best sellers or the one that has the highest amount of good reviews. Remember, you can also ask questions about the product before you buy it on sites such as Amazon.
Protective Case/Screen Protector
If you don’t feel like worrying about if the liquid you’re using will harm your phone or not, you can always go for a complete protective case. Depending on the one you buy, it may or may not come with a screen protector.
Even if you use liquids that do a great job of disinfecting, but would typically harm your phone in time, you have nothing yo worry about since it’s not being applied directly on your phone. If in time, the cleaning method you use damages the case, you can always buy another one.
Disinfect Your Keyboard
If you’re using an external keyboard with your tablet, you’ll want to disinfect that too. Clean your keyboard with a good-quality disinfectant wipe or linen-free cloth with isopropyl alcohol. Remember to never directly spray your device with any disinfectant liquid.
Be careful that the cloth is not too damp that any liquid is released into your keyboard. Apply the same method to clean your mouse as well.
When it comes to disinfecting a laptop keyboard you’ll need to:
- Turn off and unplug laptop so it can cool down
- Clean the keyboard with a lint-free cloth with either just water or an electronic-friendly cleaning solution.
- You can also use disinfecting cleaning wipes
How to Disinfect Earbuds
Earbuds are an accessory that will also need to be disinfected. Before you wipe the earbuds, you’ll need a toothpick to gently remove any wax or dust from them and to make sure they’re disconnected from the device.
Once you’ve cleared everything wipe them down with a disinfecting wipe, but be careful that the wipe is not too moist. The excess liquid can get through and damage them. You can do this by gently wiping them and not applying to much pressure, so not too much liquid is released.
If your earbuds are waterproof, you may be tempted to dip them in water with soap or other cleaning solutions. Don’t do this since this could seriously damage them. There’s a chance that nothing bad will happen, but is it worth the risk?
Conclusion
Try to disinfect your devices and accessories as often as you can and try not to share them with anyone. The less you share anything with someone, the less chance you have of getting sick. How often will you be disinfecting your devices?
