Clean gadgets look nice, of course. Sterile gadgets could help you through cold season. Most office cleaning checklists and even the best cleaning services company usually don’t include devices like laptops and smart phones. Electronics are magnets for dust, dirt and grimy fingerprints and they can be difficult to clean. From smudges and buildup to bacteria and germs, electronics endure a daily barrage of dirt and contaminants that can make us sick.
Just think about your smartphone. You use it while you’re eating, at work, in the car and, yes, even in the bathroom. That’s a lot of opportunities for germs and bacteria to transfer from your hands to your smartphone (and vice versa!). That germ-infested phone then comes in contact with your face, ears, nose and sometimes even your lips—the most common infection gateways.
Those bacteria and germs on your hands also end up on your laptop, gaming system and desktop keyboards and just keep rotating from hands to devices and back to hands and so on. It’s a cycle of spreading pathogens that can cause strep throat, ear infections, stomach flu and even pneumonia.
Let me help you with steps on how to safely clean and sanitize your phone, laptop and other electronic devices.
Cleaning Headphones and Earphones
Your headphones and earphones can be handled as frequently as a smartphone, so in addition to germs and bacteria, you’re dealing with sweat and earwax. Disconnect your headphones or earphones before cleaning them. For earphones with removable tips, take the tips off and clean them with soap and water and rinse thoroughly. Use a water-dampened microfiber cloth to wipe down the rest of the earphones and the cord. Make sure the tips are dry before putting them back on the earphones.
For headphones, a microfiber cloth and water will get rid of any buildup. Wipe down the surfaces of the headphones and the cord. For crevices and grooves, a small soft-bristled brush will get the dust out. Bluetooth headphones or earphones should only be cleaned with a dry cloth to prevent damage to the electronics inside.
Cleaning a Phone or Tablet
When cleaning your phone or tablet, you have to be cautious since it probably has a fingerprint-resistant coating that could be damaged. Tempered-glass screen protectors likely have the same coating too. Remove the case and wipe it down with a damp microfiber cloth and move on to your device. The safest way to clean these electronics is to wipe them gently with a damp microfiber cloth. Use cotton swabs to get into crevices and the edges of the screen and buttons.
If your device has a screen protector that doesn’t have a coating, use an isopropyl-alcohol-and-water mixture with a microfiber cloth. Pour one part alcohol and one part water into a spray bottle and then spray your cloth with the solution and wipe down the phone to get rid of dirt and germs. Keep this solution handy because you’ll be using it for most of your other electronics.
Cleaning a Laptop
Because your laptop is mobile, it has plenty of opportunity to pick up dust and germs. Turn your laptop upside down and gently shake out the keyboard to get rid of crumbs. Grab a can of compressed air and blast the keyboard, inputs and crevices. Unplug the laptop and remove the battery.
Lightly dampen a microfiber cleaning cloth and wipe down all the surfaces. To clean the LCD screen, use a damp microfiber cloth to remove dust and smudges. For touch screens, use water or eyeglass cleaner applied to a microfiber cloth. Finish up by wiping down the keyboard with your alcohol-and-water solution.
Cleaning a Desktop PC
For your desktop monitor screen, follow the same procedure you used for your laptop screen. Use water and a microfiber cloth to wipe down the back of the monitor and the bezel around the screen. Wipe down your computer tower and wipe off the dust on your desk while you’re at it to get your home office area clean.
Shake your keyboard out over a trash can and use compressed air to get rid of the debris around and under the keys. Wipe down the keys and the rest of the keyboard and use a cotton swab to get grime out of crevices. Finish by wiping down the keyboard with a cloth and your alcohol and water solution. For your mouse, wipe it down with a damp cloth and use cotton swabs to get into crevices. Complete the job by wiping down the mouse with your sanitizing solution.
Cleaning a Flat-Screen TV
While it’s tempting to grab your glass cleaner for this job, know that glass cleaners can be corrosive. Many television screens have anti-reflective coatings that are sensitive to the chemicals in most cleaners. Skip the harsh chemicals and use a microfiber cloth dampened with water to wipe down the screen and then the bezel and base. If you have any electronics like DVD players or streaming devices, wipe these down too.
Just like smartphones, remote controls can harbor germs and contain buildup from sticky, dirty hands. Remove the batteries from the remote and shake loose any debris. Blast the buttons with compressed air and get the gunk around the buttons and in crevices with a cotton swab. Wipe down all surfaces with your alcohol and water solution.
Cleaning Bluetooth and Smart Devices
Smart appliances and Bluetooth speakers collect dust and germs like all other high-tough items. Unplug devices or take the batteries out before you clean them. For devices with screens, wipe down the screen with a damp microfiber cloth. Fabric-covered parts, plastic and other surfaces can be cleaned with the same cloth. For grooves and crevices, compressed air and cotton swabs should get out any debris. Finish up by wiping down everything except the screen with your sanitizer solution.
Cleaning a Game Console and Controllers
Game consoles, and especially controllers, can get grimy, greasy and dirty from hours of gaming and snacking. Unplug the console and disconnect the controllers before you start cleaning. Spray the cutouts and inputs with compressed air and dust everything with a soft bristle brush. Wipe down all surfaces with a damp microfiber cloth and use cotton swabs to get into crevices.
For controllers, dampen a cloth with your alcohol and water solution. Wipe down the controller and cord thoroughly. Use a cotton swab with the same sanitizing solution and get into the grooves and all around the buttons. Make sure everything is dry before you reconnect the controllers and plug in your console.
Cleaning Fitness Trackers and Smartwatches
Your fitness tracker and smartwatch are subjected to sweat and the bacteria from your hands. Use a microfiber cloth dampened with water to wipe off the screen and casing. You can get into any crevices with a small soft-bristled brush and use your sanitizing solution for buttons. It’s best to remove really dirty bands if they need a thorough cleaning.
Nylon bands are prone to absorbing sweat, so use a dab of dish detergent and a damp cloth to wipe them down frequently. For silicone bands, wipe them down with a small amount of rubbing alcohol to remove dirt and germs. Metal bands should be wiped with a dry, lint-free cloth. If the metal is especially dirty, use a damp cloth and dry thoroughly. Leather bands can be wiped down with water and a microfiber cloth followed by a leather conditioner.
