3 Effective Ways to Disinfect Your Phone

You’ve got your phone out when someone next to you sneezes. Yuck! With threats like coronavirus, germs, or even unsanitary environments — ever use your phone in the bathroom? — you might wonder, “How often should I clean my phone?”  


Handheld devices are famous for picking up germs and bacteria that could carry unseen threats. We’ll explain how to sanitize and disinfect your phone effectively and easily, using methods from UV light sanitizers to classic soap and water.

Why Sanitize Your Phone

Let’s be blunt for a minute: your phone is filthy. 


No really, it is. 


More than just a fingerprint magnet, your phone harbors a lot of germs, bacteria, and even viruses. It comes into contact with so many hands and surfaces throughout the day. While some of those microorganisms are benign, some can cause illness. 


Think of it this way: if you wash your hands, touch a public door knob, and then handle your phone, your phone is picking up those germs that were on that door knob. It’s important to know how to sanitize your phone to protect yourself and those around you from any of those harmful germs, so let’s get cleaning!

How to Sanitize and Disinfect Your Cell Phone

How often should I clean my phone? Due to all of the germs it comes into contact with, you should try to clean your device at least once daily. 


Cleaning your phone is super easy! Use one or more of these simple methods to sanitize your phone:

 

1. Disinfecting Wipes 
One of the best ways to sanitize phones is with disinfecting wipes with a 70% isopropyl alcohol-based solution. Do not use 100% alcohol solutions or spray alcohol directly on your phone because it can damage your device. 


Here’s how to sanitize your phone with 70% isopropyl alcohol-based wipes:


1. Wipe down your phone and protective phone case to remove visible dirt. Use as many wipes as required until they show no signs of dirt. 


2. For the final sanitizing step, use a fresh wipe over the front, back, sides, and buttons. Make sure the solution in the wipe contacts all surfaces, then allow it to dry naturally.

 

Pros: Easy to Use; Portable; Convenient


Cons: Can Be Messy; Not as Environmentally Friendly as Other Methods; May Miss Spots


2. UV Light Sanitizers
Need to know how to sanitize your phone from bacteria and germs completely? Sanitize your phone with UV light! Used in healthcare and other professional industries, UV light is very effective at sterilizing handheld devices and eliminating 99.9% of surface bacteria: 


1. Take your phone out of your case
2. Open the UV phone sanitizer
3. Put your phone in
4. Close the lid of the sanitizer and wait for the cleaning cycle to finish. Note: how long it takes to disinfect your cell phone depends on the manufacturer. Some phone sanitizers, like mophie’s, take as little as 5 minutes!
5. Take your phone out

 

Pros: Easy and Effective; More Environmentally Friendly than Disposable Cleaners; mophie Model Can Charge Phone at the Same Time; UV Light Sanitizers Can Be Used to Clean Other Small Items


Cons: Takes a Little More Time Than Other Methods


3. Antimicrobial Soap and Water
If you’re looking for an easy way to sanitize your phone, try using soap and water. This does not mean submerging your device or getting it wet, which can damage your phone. Here’s how to sanitize phones with soap and water the right way:


Mix a small amount of antibacterial soap in water.
Dampen a clean, microfiber cloth.
Gently rub the solution over your phone. Take care around buttons, the lens, and the seams in the body or case. Make sure to use as little water as possible and dry as you go. 
After all visible dirt is gone, repeat the process a final time to make sure you come into contact with every part of the surface. 


Pros: Cost-Effective; Convenient


Cons: May Miss Spots Cleaning; Need to Exercise Caution to Prevent Water Damage

 

 

Quality ZAGG Products Can Help

ZAGG can help if you are wondering how to sanitize your phone or improve your mobile lifestyle. Our products make your life easier and offer 360-degree protection for your valuable devices. 


Keep yourself and your loved ones safe from harmful germs with these effective methods for sanitizing your phone. Now, you can ensure your phone is clean and free of bacteria every day.

 

FAQs

You should try to clean your phone at least once a day. While that may seem like a lot, keep in mind that your phone comes into contact with a lot of germs and bacteria throughout the day which may cause sickness or health risks. Keep disinfecting wipes on hand or invest in a UV light phone sanitizer for easy and daily phone cleaning.
No, it’s perfectly safe to sanitize your phone with UV light. Unlike harsh chemicals and cleaning products, UV light will not corrode, degrade, or damage any part of your phone. Since UV light in general can be damaging to your eyes and skin, be sure to use an enclosed UV light sanitizer instead of a UV wand.
No! You should never spray alcohol on your phone to clean or disinfect it. You not only risk having liquid enter your phone but it can also be extremely damaging. Using 100% alcohol wipes or a spray could ruin your phone screen’s protective coatings and negatively affect your display quality. If you want to use alcohol to disinfect your phone or case, spray it on a microfiber cloth first or use 70% isopropyl alcohol-based wipes. Need to know how to sanitize your phone without alcohol? Disinfecting wipes or a UV light sanitizer work well and don’t take much time!
Yes, you can; it’s one of the best and easiest ways to sanitize phones. Apple, Samsung, and Google have all indicated that using household disinfecting wipes or 70% isopropyl alcohol-based wipes for cleaning their phones is safe and will not cause any damage. This includes major brands like Lysol. Never use any wipes with bleach.

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