We touch our phones, PCs, remotes, and other electronics all day, which can lead to a lot of grime. As you spring-clean your house, here’s how to disinfect your devices without damaging them.
A couple of years ago, we were ready to dunk everything we owned into a vat of bleach. But just because we’re past the stage of wiping down all our groceries and making our hands desert-dry with sanitizer doesn’t mean that our electronic devices shouldn’t be kept clean.
Even though we’re now less fanatical about disinfecting them, they still harbor plenty of germs and should be cleaned regularly. So grab some microfiber cloths, cotton swabs, distilled water, isopropyl alcohol, and dish soap, and read our guide to making your gadgets gleam—after you unplug or turn them off, of course.How to Clean Phones and Tablets
Phones and tablets have oleophobic (fingerprint-resistant) coatings that can wear off. So manufacturers generally recommend wiping them down with distilled water and a barely textured microfiber cloth, then using cotton swabs to clean around crevices such as the edges of the screen and buttons.
The global pandemic was no time to heed manufacturer warnings, though, and as people started taking harsher substances to surfaces in 2020, Apple revised its „How to Clean Your Apple Products“ guidelines to endorse using 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. According to Cupertino: „You may gently wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the display, keyboard, or other exterior surfaces. Don’t use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Avoid getting moisture in any opening, and don’t submerge your Apple product in any cleaning agents. Don’t use on fabric or leather surfaces.“
To disinfect thoroughly without wipes, you’ll need 99% isopropyl alcohol, distilled water, a spray bottle, and a disposable microfiber cloth. Mix a solution that is 70% alcohol and 30% water, and pour it into the spray bottle. Then remove the case from your phone or tablet, spritz the cloth with your solution, and thoroughly wipe down your phone. Do not reuse the cloth.
If you’re concerned about damaging your screen, put a tempered-glass screen protector on it. Though the protector is likely treated with a coating as well, it’s easily replaceable and won’t cause damage to the device. Before you put the case back on your device, go over the case with the solution and a cloth, and let it dry completely. Then be sure to wash your hands, or all your cleaning will have been for nothing.
If you’re concerned only about grime, use wipes such as Care Touch Lens Cleaning Wipes.How to Clean Headphones and Earphones
Your headphones and earphones are some of the things you keep closest to you. Though coated in sweat and wax (gross, but facts), they’re likely traveling with you wherever you go.
The general recommendation for over-the-ear headphones is to go over them with a microfiber cloth dampened with a little water, then following up with a dry one. If the cushions and headband look or feel grimy, you can give them a wash: Remove the ear cushions first to clean them separately. Then combine a teaspoon of mild detergent with a cup of water, and use a lint-free cloth to wipe the band and cushions down with the solution. Follow that with a swipe of water on a cloth, then dry all the components completely.
AirPods and other all-in-one units without eartips are supposed to be cleaned only with a microfiber cloth. If your AirPods have lotion or food spilled on them (it happens) or have stood up to a lot of sweat, take a lint-free cloth, dampen it with a little water, and go over them. Dry with a lint-free cloth, then let them sit for a while before you put them back in the case.
To remove wax and dust from headphones and earbuds, take a bit of adhesive putty, roll a tiny bit into a ball, then quickly and lightly press and remove gunk from any grille parts.
