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How to clean your iPhone without destroying it.

May 23, 2020

Even without the threat of the COVID-19 virus floating around, it’s a good idea to clean your iPhone regularly. You wash your hand repeatedly, right? It only makes sense then that your phone can also pick up the same dirt and germs that get on your hands. In fact, it has been shown that a smartphone can harbor up to 10 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Here’s how to get your iPhone clean without damaging anything.

First, if you have a film screen protector, remove it. If you have a case protector, remove that as well. You can safely wipe these down, but when you consider that the COVID-19 virus can’t survive on a hard surface for more than a couple of weeks, you may want to buy duplicates, put the first set aside for two weeks, then switch back and forth every other week. This is especially true if you have a wood, fabric or leather case. These cannot be safely wiped down without the chance of discoloring the case. You may also want to consider simply not using a case for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. This will make it far easier to clean your phone thoroughly and often.

Next, wipe your phone down with a soft, microfiber cloth to remove any dirt and grim. Do not use paper towels, toilet paper, or facial tissues. The paper towel will be too abrasive for your iPhone’s screen and all three will leave a lint residue that will be difficult to remove. Also, do not use compressed air to do the initial cleaning as this may force dirt even deeper into the crevices or ports of your phone.

Following the initial cleaning, you should use a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipe to remove germs from the surfaces of your phone. Use gentle pressure (don’t scrub) and be careful not to squeeze liquid into any of the ports on your phone. Let the phone dry, then polish it again with the microfiber cloth.

If you have a plastic case or screen protector, you can also wipe those down with alcohol or disinfecting wipes, then polish them with a microfiber cloth. Once dry, if you choose, you can reapply them to your phone and be on your way. Repeat this process often to fully protect yourself from germs and viruses. Some screen protectors are already infused with antimicrobial agents to keep you safe from germs. You may only need to rinse these in warm water and wash them with soap, then let them dry naturally and polish the non-sticky side once the protector has been reapplied to your phone.

There are ultraviolet light cleaners that reportedly can kill 99.9% of germs from your smartphone simply by putting them inside the unit, turning it on, and allowing it to sit while the UV light does its thing. However, before you run out and buy one of these cleaners, there is no current evidence demonstrating that this is an effective way to eradicate the virus from your phone.

If you aren’t comfortable cleaning your iPhone yourself, bring it to any convenient Cell Phone Zone location and we’ll take care of it for you. We can handle the process quickly, we’ll make sure the procedure is done correctly, and we’ll offer you a competitive price for our services. If you have already attempted to clean your iPhone and it is now malfunctioning, we also offer iPhone repair so we can help you diagnose and fix that as well.

You can’t be too careful with the COVID-19 virus. We’re here to keep you and your iPhone safe and protected.

Tags: Cell Phone, Smart Phone Repair