Your smartphone might be dirtier than a toilet seat? Apple, Google show how to disinfect it

Your Smartphone may look clean, but in actuality, it contains more germs than even a toilet sheet! Yes, you read that right. If you are not cleaning your smartphone on a  regular basis, then you are carrying a small portable germ box in the form of a smartphone. As Coronavirus fears are on the rise and it has entered more than 115 countries, you need to ensure that your smartphone is not carrying the dreaded COVID-19 virus. However, even if, your smartphone is not infected by Coronavirus, the germs it carries are enough to make you sick. So, regular use of disinfectants for cleaning your Smartphone is the need of the hour. Do note that in the process you do not want to damage your handset and that can happen if you use certain cleaning chemicals.

Apple iPhone and Google Pixel users can use the guidelines offered by these companies. It’s quite safe to assume that these steps can be used to clean all phones as their surfaces share similar features - glass screens and/or casings with oil-repellent (oleophobic) coating and some degree of water resistance. However, make sure you adhere to your smartphone company's advice about using water to clean handset as it may not be water-resistant at all. 

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Unless you contain a fancy UV light to sanitise your Smartphone, it's okay to clean it with a damp cloth and you should stick with mild cleaning solutions to avoid damaging the glass coating.

Does and don'ts suggested by Apple and Google to disinfect one's Smartphone:

Lint-free Cloth: Use lint-free cloths instead of paper towels. Lint-free cloths help you avoid scratches and ensure the safety of glass coating on the Smartphone screen.

Disinfectant Wipes: One can use disinfectant wipes to clean one's Smartphone but it's strictly not advisable for using household cleaning products as it will hit the Oleophobic coatings of your Smartphone.

Water: One can use clean water with the soap bubble using a lint-free cloth for cleaning the dirt and disinfect one's Smartphone. But, before going for this option, make sure about how much water-resistant your Smartphone is.

Here are the iPhones that are more water resistant — iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, X, XR; Pixel 2. iPhone XS, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max; Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S8, S8+, S9, S9+, S10, S10+, S10e, Note 8, Note 9, Note 10, Note 10+, Fold; Pixel 3, 4 are also safe for use of water.

How to disinfect your Smartphone? Step by step guide

1] Turn off your Smartphone and remove all accessories;

2] Wrap your Smartphone with a damp towel;

3] Put water on the towel after making sure how much water-resistant your Smartphone is;

4] Mix hand soap with water;

5] Unwrap the Smartphone and use a lint-free damp cloth for removing the excess water on your Smartphone;

6] Wipe your Smartphone on all sides with the damp lint-free cloth;

7] One can use a toothpick wrapped with a lint-free damp cloth for cleaning and soaking soap water in various joints of the Smartphone;

8] Use wipes to clean the Smartphone again;

9] Use damp lint-free cloth after using the wipes; and

10] Leave the Smartphone for three-four hours in switch off mode.

Once you are done with these step by step guide on how to disinfect your Smartphone, your Smartphone is ready for use. One can do this on a fortnightly basis if not on a weekly basis.