What is Smartphone Hygiene?

Smartphone hygiene is simply a set of practices you can take to ensure the cleanliness of your smartphone and thus prevent the spread of germs or diseases. According to research, the average uncleaned smartphone is 10 times dirtier than a dirty toilet seat…so needless to say, this is something you want to incorporate into your daily life.

The Importance of Smartphone Hygiene?

To Protect Your Health

As I stated previously, the average uncleaned phone’s screen is 10 times, I repeat, 10 TIMES dirtier than a dirty toilet seat. So carrying your phone around without cleaning it is basically as bad as carrying a dirty toilet around, and that’s undoubtedly going to expose you to a variety of germs and bacteria that we all want to avoid.

To Protect Your Phone

Did you know that having an excessive amount of dirt and bacteria on your phone can also reduce its lifespan? This is because these germs on your phone can damage components like the charging port, display (especially if you have cracks), and muffle your speakers.

To Prevent the Spread of Germs

Your smartphone comes into contact with a lot of different surfaces throughout the day, including public restrooms, tables, and even your own face. If these surfaces are contaminated with germs, your smartphone can become a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. One of the reasons that smartphone hygiene is so important is to mitigate and stop the spread of some of these germs and bacteria.

How to Clean Your Smartphone

Items to Avoid

It is essential to refrain from using certain items when cleaning your phone to ensure the highest quality of care for your device. The goal is to maximize your smartphone hygiene, but you do not want to damage your phone in the process of trying to clean it. The following substances and products should be avoided:

1. Hydrogen peroxide
2. Ammonia
3. Window or household cleaners
4. Bleach
5. Abrasive powders
6. Harsh solvents
7. Spray cleaners in aerosol cans

Steps to Clean Your Phone:

One thing to note while cleaning your phone, is it’s important to be mindful of excess moisture. This can potentially damage the interior of your device. Taking the following steps will help ensure proper cleaning without compromising your phone:

1. Unplug your phone and turn it off, disconnecting it from its charger and any accessories it may be connected to. Additionally, remove your phone’s case.
2. Prepare a cleaning solution by mixing distilled water and 70% isopropyl alcohol in a one-to-one ratio. Combine two equal parts of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water in a bowl, then transfer the mixture into a small spray bottle. Shake the bottle well to ensure proper mixing.
3. Spray a moderate amount of the cleaning solution onto a microfiber cloth. Be careful not to oversaturate the cloth, especially if your phone does not have an IP68 waterproof rating.
4. Gently wipe down your phone’s entire surface using the dampened microfiber cloth, ensuring to clean both the front and back thoroughly.
5.  Allow your phone to dry for approximately 15 minutes after cleaning.

Cleaning the Smaller Areas

Certain areas of your phone, often prone to accumulating dust and dirt, may require specific cleaning methods. Here’s how to clean those small areas effectively:

Cleaning the Charging Port:

1. Regularly clean your charging port to maintain smartphone hygiene and prevent charging issues.
2. Use a can of compressed air and a cotton swab to clean the charging port. Blow air into the port by pressing down on the nozzle for 1 to 2 seconds while holding the straw steady. Avoid excessive blowing to prevent damage to the internal components.
3. After blowing air, prepare a cotton swab by removing some of the cotton at the tip until it fits into the charging port
4. Gently clean the inside of the charging port using the cotton swab.

Cleaning the Speakers:

The smartphone speaker is prone to gathering dust, which can affect the sound quality over time. Our best advice for cleaning out your phone’s speakers is the lint roller method. Use a lint roller to remove dust and dirt from your phone’s speakers. Rolling the lint roller over the speakers will effectively clean them, leading to an improvement in sound quality.

How Often Should You Clean Your Phone?

To maintain cleanliness and optimum performance, it is recommended to clean your phone at least twice a week. However, you may choose to clean it daily if it is feasible for you. Remember to remove the phone from its case before cleaning.

Cleaning Your Phone Case

One of our best tips for maintaining good smartphone hygiene is to clean your case as regularly as you clean your phone. Your case is one of your smartphone’s most used accessories, and like your smartphone, it can also get very dirty. So while cleaning your smartphone, make sure to clean your case also, as it’ll be useless to clean your smartphone and then put it back in a dirty case.