How to Clean Your Phone and Its Case Without Damage
You might be surprised to know that, according to a study by Dscout, the average user touches, taps, and scrolls their phone 2,617 times a day—that’s about 145 minutes of contact daily.
Smartphones have become as essential as food, clothes, and shelter in our lives. From morning till bedtime, our phones are constantly exposed to germs through daily hand contact. In fact, one study found more than 17,000 bacteria on the phones of high school students, including harmful strains like Streptococcus and E. coli. Some scientists even discovered that a mobile can be 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat. With this level of contamination, it is necessary to know how to clean your phone without damage.
In this article I’m going to provide a guide that will outline the necessary steps to make your mobile shiny and pretty. It looks pretty obvious, but believe me, it’s not. I will uncover exactly how to remove bacteria and make it germ-free—without damaging the screen or casing. Let’s have a deep dive!
The Safest Cleaners: What to Use and What to Avoid
Phone makers like Apple, Samsung, and Google suggest using 70% isopropyl alcohol, 75% ethyl alcohol, or disinfectant wipes to clean your device safely. I’ve also researched some easy and proven methods that will help you keep it clean in the future.
It is necessary to avoid household cleaning agents like bleach, washing powders, and window cleaners. These products contain chemicals that can damage the protective coating on your phone’s body and screen, which may dull the exterior shine.
Don’t use compressed air or sharp objects (toothpick, pins) and paper towel in sensitive slots, as they can damage the metal or get stuck with the lint.
You can also use a mixture of mild soap and water as an alternative. You can give a light rinse, but only if your device is waterproof and completely dry afterward. You can verify the IP (ingress protection) rating to check whether your iPhone or Android is water-resistant or not.
How to Clean Your Phone’s Body and Screen
The phone’s body and screen are its most-used surfaces, constantly collecting germs, dust, oils, and fingerprints. This simple process will help you to safely sanitize without damaging sensitive coatings or edges.
Step 1: Prepare cleaning solution:
First, mix 70% isopropyl alcohol with 30% water in a clean container to create a safe cleaning solution.
Step 2: Turn off and unplug the device:
Always power down your device completely. Make sure to unplug the charger and any headphones. For a complete and secure cleaning, also remove any SIM or SD cards to prevent moisture.
Step 3: Wiping
Use a soft microfiber cloth lightly dampened with alcohol solution to wipe the mobile touch screen, buttons, camera, and body in circular motions. It quickly removes smudges and fingerprints, leaving the surface clean and dry.
Don’t Forget to Clean Your Phone’s Hard-to-Reach Areas
The speaker grilles, headphone jack, and charging port are sensitive areas on a smartphone, so it’s essential to avoid direct contact with any liquid to prevent moisture from getting inside. You can safely remove loose debris by carefully using a soft-bristle brush. In the case of sticky residue, apply a light spray of isopropyl alcohol onto a cotton swab and gently insert it into the hard-to-reach area, taking care to avoid applying excessive pressure to prevent damage. Sound vibrations of a specific frequency can also be used to safely clear dust from the speakers without opening the device. After completing the cleaning, you can inspect the performance of both speakers by using a stereo sound test online.
Why Your Phone Case Needs a Deep Clean
Phone cases have become a fashion, and beyond that, they provide strong protection. But most people don’t realize that a dirty case can do more harm than defense. Fine dust, sand, and grime get trapped between your phone and its case, acting like sandpaper and causing tiny scratches on your device body over time.
Plastic, Silicone, and Rubber Cases: These cases are simple and have long-lasting properties. Place the case in a mixture of dish soap and warm water for a few minutes. You can scrub it with a toothbrush to remove grime and germs, and for stubborn dirt, add a small quantity of baking soda. Finally, wash the case with cold water and dry it completely.
Leather: Use a soft, dry cloth to wipe away any surface dust and dirt from the case. For more resistant spots, lightly dip the cloth in a solution of mild soap and water and rub the case, but avoid getting the leather too wet. To finish, you can also apply a small amount of leather conditioner with another cloth to help protect the material
Conclusion
Regularly cleaning your cell with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution and a microfiber cloth is essential for health, not just shine. This quick process safely eliminates bacteria while protecting the screen’s delicate oleophobic coating. Make this simple, non-damaging routine a daily habit for a cleaner life.
FAQs-Frequently Ask Question
How to clean your phone from dust?
The best DIY solution is to gently brush the corners, edges, buttons, and sensitive openings (charging port & speaker grill) of the phone to remove trapped dust.
How to clean your phone speaker?
First, wipe it with lint-free cotton, use a soft brush to remove lint and dust, and finally use 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes to remove stubborn gunk or stains.
How to clean your phone screen without damaging it?
Wipe the phone screen with lint-free cotton in a circular motion. Lightly dampen it in water to remove stains and fingerprints, if they persist.
How to clean your phone case that turned yellow?
First, remove the case from the phone. Then, scrub it using one of the following three cleaning mixtures: mild soap with water, baking soda with water, or white vinegar with water.