Doctors have advised that in addition to regularly washing hands, one should also disinfect their smartphone every 90 minutes with alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, smartphone makers told consumers to avoid using disinfecting wipes or sprays on their devices to keep from damaging the coating on their touchscreen displays. Apple, specifically, told iPhone owners to simply use a cloth dampened with water to clean their phones.
Get a phone case. A washable case that surrounds your phone makes it easy to clean: just toss it in the sink with your dishes once or twice a day, and wash.
The iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max, meanwhile, could be cleaned using a cloth and warm, soapy water, according to Apple. Apple updated its care instructions to say that wiping the hard surfaces of a phone with 70% isopropyl alcohol is fine, as long as no moisture gets into any openings, keys, or charging ports. No need to purchase wipes: The $1 rubbing alcohol that you purchase at the pharmacy is typically 70% isopropyl alcohol. Phone cleaning tips:
- use only soft, lint-free cloth. Do not use paper towels, which can scratch.
- unplug before you clean
- do not spray the phone directly
- avoid bleaches or other cleaning products
