While you’re sanitising your hands in every 20 minutes or so to keep off the virus, don’t forget to sanitise your technological gadgets that you handle throughout the day, reminds Joydev Majumdar. An exclusive for Different Truths.
Novel Coronavirus, a microscopic virus has reminded each human on this Earth how important sanitisation and cleanliness is. As a result of this, the whole world has started showing concern about sanitisation and keeping themselves, and their environment clean.
Smartphones are the most used devices that people keep using all day for checking Whatsapp messages, FB updates and most importantly to track the news on COVID-19. Studies have found that the Novel Coronavirus can survive on some surfaces for up to or even longer than nine hours.
While you’re sanitising your hands in every 20 minutes or so to keep off the virus, don’t forget to sanitise your technological gadgets that you handle throughout the day. And if we talk about technological devices, smartphones are the most used devices that people keep using all day for checking Whatsapp messages, FB updates and most importantly to track the news on COVID-19. Studies have found that the Novel Coronavirus can survive on some surfaces for up to or even longer than nine hours. Hence it is imperative to keep this device sanitised as it goes quite near to your mouth, eyes, and nose, when holding on to the ears.
Disinfecting the mobile device has officially become easier now, thanks again to technology. The official website of Apple says that you can now safely clean your iPhone with disinfectant wipes, like Clorox sheets. Samsung updated its website amidst the Coronavirus outbreak saying that users can use an alcohol-based (70 percent) solution on a microfiber cloth to cleanse or wipe it. But, there are still some cleaning agents and techniques that you should avoid while sanitising your smartphone. In this article, I am going to discuss what to avoid and what is the best way to disinfect your phone and its parts carefully.
Use Wipes, not pure Alcohol
Alcohol strips the oleophobic and hydrophobic coatings from the body of the smartphone. These coatings protect the smartphone from oil and water from damaging the display and other ports.
No doubt, alcohol is the best disinfectant, but not for your smartphone. After touching various things in the market like uncovered vegetables, public door handles, grocery carts, and whatnot, you probably have used your smartphone for digital payments. On returning from the market, do you sanitise your phone? If yes, with what? Alcohol? Some people opt for rubbing alcohol straight to the smartphone. Never do that. Alcohol strips the oleophobic and hydrophobic coatings from the body of the smartphone. These coatings protect the smartphone from oil and water from damaging the display and other ports. Though some websites suggest a mixture of water and alcohol for cleaning, you never know the right proportion, so better not risking it. Disinfectant wipes are the best alternatives that contain 60-70 percent of isopropyl alcohol. Also, make sure your device is powered down and unplugged during the cleaning process.
To clean the fingerprint smudges that get imprinted on your smartphone the number of times you touch the screen, dampen a microfiber cloth in distilled water and wipe your phone. The oil produced by your skin leaves a patchy mark on the screen. Applying or squirting plain water on the screen should be avoided as it does not clean the oil completely. A microfiber screen cleaner sticker is also helpful.
PC: chormeunboxed.com
To clean the fingerprint smudges that get imprinted on your smartphone the number of times you touch the screen, dampen a microfiber cloth in distilled water and wipe your phone.
Here is a list of things you shouldn’t think of for cleaning your phone:
Window cleaner – It wears out the coating that resists water and oil
Kitchen cleaner – Protective coating is still an issue.
Paper towels – The paper can shred, making the debris on your phone much worse, and leaving a scratch mark on the phone.
Makeup remover – You surely wouldn’t like the chemicals present in your makeup remover to harm your phone.
Compressed air – Hot air is good, but not for the mic and other parts that are connected through ports.
Dish soap and hand soap – They may be gentle with water. Still, don’t risk it.
Vinegar – Try this option only if you’re ready to buy a new smartphone. Vinegar strips the screen’s coating.
Keeping these tips in mind, make sure you keep your phone and in turn, yourself sanitised throughout the day. Stay safe, stay indoors, and stay sanitised!
Joydev Majumdar completed his Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication from Central University of Orissa and is working as Technology News Writer in CIO Review Magazine. He has also worked with a UK based company as Language Consultant on a project. He completed his graduation from the Steel City, Rourkela. Settled in Bangalore, he loves travelling, reading books, interacting, writing poems and stories. Has passion for photography and writes for theatre too.
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