How to clean your touch screen phone
Cleaning a touch screen phone can be tricky; they can get dirty easily, however, you have to ensure that you don’t scratch or damage the phone or screen whilst cleaning it. This focuses on touch screen phones, as they are not only the most common type of phone but also the hardest to clean as any scratches on the screen could actually break the phone and it’s not covered in the warranty.
No product
Typically, you simply shouldn’t use any product when you clean your phone. It will get the phone wet which can damage it and often normal cleaning products will have different reactions to electric appliances. This means the normal cleaning products would not only most likely not be effective at cleaning the phone; it’s likely they will damage it, particularly the electrics.
Using the right fabric
You should not use fabric such as cloths, paper towels or tissues as these fabrics could damage and scratch the phone. It doesn’t matter how gently you use these fabrics; it’s the fibres themselves that are simply too harsh. The only fabrics that have been backed by phone companies are: microfiber cloths or any soft lint-free cloths as they have fibres gentle enough to clean without scratching or otherwise damaging the phone.
Water
You should only use water if you absolutely have to, as it could damage the electrics inside the phone and touch screen phones have a number of different coatings that could always get damaged. If it’s necessary to use water you should dip a cloth in water and wring it out before gently wiping the phone.
Products
You shouldn’t spray a product straight onto your phone under any circumstances. You should avoid using any products as much as you can; however, if it’s unavoidable, spray or gently pour the product onto a cloth first, as this is often said to be the safest method.
Unplug
A simple rule, but an important one nonetheless. Make sure your phone is unplugged before you start cleaning. If you are using water and any other water based products you could electrocute yourself. However, even if you aren’t using water, wiping down your phone whilst it’s still plugged into a power socket may create static and give you a shock.
Dry openings
It’s important to make sure that any sockets or openings on the phone are completely dry as any water the leaks in could damage or completely break the phone, as it will damage the electrics. Water damage is avoidable and heavily warned against therefore it will not be covered by any warranties you may have.
Phone case
You should always use a phone case, as it will help prevent scratches or any further damage if the phone is dropped. Phone cases are also useful for keeping the phone cleaner. They should be removed every month or so and the case itself can be washed with water as long as it is fully dry before you put it back on the phone.
