Whether it be an iPhone or Android, your phone is one of the dirtiest things that you've ever touched. Even though you wash your hands regularly, it won't do anything to clean your dirty phone.
So, just how dirty is your phone? According to the University of Arizona research, smartphones are ten times dirtier than most toilet seats.
This makes a lot of sense because your phone is exposed to all of the same things you frequently touch, yet most people do not wash their phones when they wash their hands.
Also, all the dirt builds up over time, and it gets more filthy.
Washing Your Phone
You may have wondered if you can just wash your phone when you wash your hands. That depends on the type of phone that you have, according to HowtoGeek.
A lot of modern smartphones are marketed as being water-resistant. However, they are not waterproof. There are different levels of how much water a phone can handle before it breaks.
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If your phone can handle water, it has an IP rating like IP68 and IP67. The second number is what determines the water resistance. The eighth means immersion beyond 1 meter, while the seven means immersion up to 1 meter.
You can check the manufacturer's website to see if your smartphone has an IP rating. If it does either IP67 or IP68, you can run soapy water over it for quick cleaning. Do not submerge it in water.
Using Clean Wipes
Wipes and other cleaning solutions containing alcohol are used to clean dirty surfaces. Naturally, you may reach for these to clean your smartphone. But are they safe to use, and can they damage your device?
Samsung and Apple both recommend using a 70% isopropyl alcohol cleaning solution to clean their smartphones. Those who use alcohol-based cleaners is ruining the oleophobic coating on the phone's display, according to CNET.
The oleophobic coatings wear off with constant use, but cleaning the display frequently with cleaners that have alcohol can speed up the process.
Wiping down the display once a week or so is not going to make a massive difference, but if you wipe it constantly, the coatings will wear off faster.
Beyond the display, the other parts of the smartphone should be okay. Again, you will want to ensure that the smartphone has some water resistance.
Alcohol can interact with certain plastics in ways that you might not like. It is always a good idea to do a bit of test before wiping the entire phone from top to bottom.
Clean Your Phone With Light
Another option does not require liquids, wipes, or other cleaning solutions. Certain wavelengths of ultraviolet light can instantly kill and limit the growth of microorganisms.
You can purchase UV Light sanitizers. These products look like mini tanning booths. You need to put your phone inside, turn on the UV light, and let it soak in the UV light for a couple of minutes in order to kill the germs and bacteria.
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This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Sophie Webster
