Mobile phones are a staple object for millions of people worldwide. They provide an essential function in daily life by keeping people connected, providing entertainment, facilitating a workday and so much more. It’s hard to find a person who doesn’t have a phone, but does the average mobile user understand how to keep these precious assets clean? There are two big things to think about for mobile phones when it comes to keeping them hygienic and functioning and that is external cleansing rituals and internal software clean-ups too. This guide has all the information you need about getting the job done right.
How to Clean Your Phone
The question of how to clean your phone depends on a few different factors but can be answered fairly universally. It is vital to take proper care of any device so that it can continue being its best self and limit the risk of damage whether that is cosmetic or internal. There are simple strategies like wiping it down with a sanitary cleaning product or purchasing a specific-style screen cloth that everyone can do, and more intricate ones to lean on too. For instance, phones have many ports for headphones, chargers and so on that are prone to dust build-up and general debris too. These also need cleaning regularly to ensure the device does not overheat while charging or become dysfunctional in some other way.
How Do I Clean My Phone? The Do’s & Don’ts
So, how do you clean your phone and what are the best strategies? Firstly, you must take note of these fatal mistakes that could lead to your phone getting broken beyond repair.
The Don’ts List
Never do any of the following things when attempting to sanitise your mobile phone.
- Use bleach. Bleach is not meant for electronic devices and will cause a lot of destruction that cannot be fixed.
- Use products with 100% alcohol. These will have much the same effect as bleach and are not worth the fallout.
- Leak liquid anywhere important. If you are using some sort of liquid product, take extra care to ensure it does not get inside the phone through charging ports or any other point of entry. This will be another fatal mistake.
- Put the phone in water or another liquid. Submerging phones is not a good idea, as it will make them completely break down. It is never advisable to put the phone in the water for any reason.
That covers the four main things to avoid, so what are some things that can be done to get the job finished properly?
The Dos List
While taking care to avoid the above mistakes, make sure you read the following pieces of advice as well, as they are all essential points of action that will ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
- Unplug your phone from all power sources. It’s advisable to only clean it when it’s not plugged into electricity to minimise the risk of short circuits, electrocution, and other damages occurring.
- Use a cloth. Instead of spraying the mobile, put the cleaning solution of your choosing onto a dry cloth and use that to complete the task.
- Clean your case as well. Cases are one of the biggest germ harbourers and they are often forgotten about when it comes to making everything hygienic again.
Now that the basics have been covered, let’s take a look at all the key steps and areas that need attention as a jumping-off point.
Cleaning the Screen
The screen is the biggest thing that often requires attention. Thankfully, it is really easy to make it look shiny and new if you have the right equipment. Try a simple alcohol-based cleaning solution on a dry cloth and wipe every inch of the screen up and down. A microfiber cloth can be used after to dry the screen off in a vertical motion to ensure that there are no streaks and therefore visual disturbances.
Cleaning the Case
People love to change their phone cases, but what happens when you leave the same one on for a prolonged period? Well, the simple answer is that it collects dirt and germs and puts you at risk of picking up a bug or infection or breaking your phone from all the excess debris floating about. Therefore, you have to clean your case as well. This can be done by completely removing it from the device and taking a look to see what the damage is. If it is really dirty with congealed grime and hard-to-remove stains, it may be in your best interest to simply purchase a new one. However, if you don’t want to do that, there are simple steps to take instead.
Hard Cases
Hard cases can be cleaned with a simple solution of soap and water. Use a toothbrush, or small microfibre brush to get into all of the corners and scrub until it sparkles.
Soft Cases
Soft cases are harder to clean, but it’s not impossible. In place of the soap and water method, consider purchasing some alcohol-based antibacterial wipes. These can be used to get into all the cracks and crevices of a soft case, and are one of the easiest ways to ensure your case is up to a high standard of cleanliness.
Cleaning the Charging Port
The first thing you need when attempting to clean out a charging port is a decent torch. Shining a light inside will highlight the extent of the dirt build-up and show you the areas that need the most attention. Visibility is key because that way, there’s no room for missing anything important. Once you have your light, try to find a toothpick or something similar that won’t be too sharp and therefore cause breakages.
Remember: It’s Fragile!
The charging port is a very fragile thing, so you must do this job carefully and take your time. Use the toothpick to wiggle free the main bits of debris, and gently tap the phone to shake the rest loose. Keep checking on your progress with the torch, and hopefully, this will all get wrapped up with minimal fuss. Just remember to never use anything too sharp or any form of liquid inside the charging port.
How to Cleanse Your Phone from Viruses
Viruses are one of the main reasons people look for software cleaning strategies. If your phone is a victim of a virus, you will know about it by any of the following red flags.
- Your apps are taking ages to load.
- Everything is running super slowly.
- Pop-up ads are everywhere.
- New apps appear that you didn’t consent to.
- The battery may be depleting more rapidly.
- Your data usage has shot up for no explicable reason.
When this happens, you need to find a quick solution to minimise the spread and save your device. Despite a lot of modern mobiles coming ready-made and fully equipped with anti-virus and integrated malware detection, it’s not uncommon for some harmful viruses to slip through the cracks regardless.
How to Clean Your Phone of Viruses – What Can Be Done?
Thankfully, there are a few steps to take to rid your phone of these viruses. The first step is to go into your settings and do a complete scan of all the apps. This will highlight any problems, and your phone is quite good at detecting red flags once the ball is rolling. If an issue is found, great. You can remove the app or select the restore option to get it back to its normal functionality.
Deleting the Cache
If this doesn’t work, there is another option to try out. Go onto your browser, and make sure you do these steps with every browser that is installed on the device regardless of which one you use most often. Once the browser is open, tap on the settings option and look for the box that says cookies, caches, etc. There will be an option to wipe this history, and you need to do it. This will remove any spyware or malicious hook-ons that have infiltrated your device and put things back in neutral territory.
Reset the Device
Finally, if you are still experiencing virus-related problems after performing both these steps, it is time for something a little more drastic. Before you do a factory reset on your mobile, make sure that everything you want to keep is completely backed up. A reset deletes all the apps, data, contacts, pictures, messages, and everything else from the phone and puts it back to how it was when you first bought it. It will be a clean slate, so to speak, so this is a slightly nuclear option. It should always be done as a final solution if nothing else has proven effective.
Cleaning your phone is just a part of owning one. There are lots of ways to make sure you keep up with the aesthetic aspects of mobile phone ownership, and as long as you avoid the big mistakes (no bleach or water!), it should be a straightforward task. Make sure the internal health is up to scratch as well, and keep an eye out for any signs of a virus.