Among the various tech products, there is no doubt that smartphones are one of the cleanest. As phones pass from hand to hand and come into contact with many different and varied surfaces, apart from wiping with tissue paper, they are rarely exposed to any real cleaning process.

In fact, according to a study published on the US Department of Health website, smartphones carry an average of 17,000 different types of bacteria. This is many times more than a toilet seat, for example, which undoubtedly makes smartphones among the dirtiest gadgets used daily.

Unfortunately, permanent sterilization and cleaning of phones is not really available, but it is useful to carry out periodic cleaning operations every period, as these operations can reduce disease transmission, especially in seasons of epidemics such as seasonal influenza.

In this topic, we will discuss the best and most effective way to clean the smartphone with products that are already in the house, and we will review several alternatives to facilitate the matter upon implementation.

How to clean the smartphone
How to clean your smartphone safely

Mix water with 60% isopropanol alcohol and 40% alcohol.

Moisten the tip of the microfiber cloth with the solution.

Wipe the screen, edges, and back of the phone, but avoid openings and holes.

Use cotton swabs to clean the holes such as the speaker and charging port.

A cleaning gel can be used as a more effective way to remove dust and dirt from the nozzles.

Dry the phone with a microfiber cloth and do not let it dry on its own.

Materials
A piece of microfiber cloth
Cotton picks
Cleaning gel
Isopropanol alcohol
Pure water
Of course the components above can be substituted with other alternatives, here are the most important of these possible substitutions:

Use a 50:50 water and white vinegar solution instead of the alcohol and water mixture.
Use cotton (with caution) instead of microfiber cloth.
Use tape instead of cleaning gel to remove dust and dirt from the holes.
Things you should avoid when cleaning a smartphone
As opposed to proper and effective cleaning methods, there are actually harmful methods when cleaning phones. These methods may distort the appearance of the phone or even affect its operation. So here we will mention the most important of these things to avoid:

Immerse or wash the phone in water 

With most modern phones being water resistant with IP67 or IP68 standards, many people deal with the matter as if it means that the phone does not mind the presence of water in the first place, and therefore washing the phone or submerging it in water is an effective way of cleaning.

Of course, this is actually dangerous, as the water resistance may betray you at any moment, especially if the phone is old. Also, exposing the charging port to water is a very bad idea.

You will need to wait for several hours sometimes to be able to charge again, and repeated exposure to water and moisture can damage the port partially or completely.

Use glass cleaners or surface polishes to clean the screen
Although modern phone screens are made of glass of course, this does not mean that traditional glass cleaners and polishes are a suitable choice for cleaning them. In fact, it is one of the worst cleaning options here.

Usually, phone screens are coated with water and oil repellant materials in the form of a very thin layer, as this layer aims to reduce the possibility of dirt or fingerprints when touched by fingers. This coating is not as resistant to all cleaning materials as glass.

When using strong detergents such as glass cleaners, the water repellent layer can be easily damaged, thus changing the texture of the screen, and it becomes more prone to dirty and fingerprints easier than usual.

Use vinegar or clear alcohol to clean

Although diluting solutions of vinegar or alcohol are the preferred options for cleaning phones, using these materials without extension is usually not a good idea, as they have similar, but usually less effective, disruptive properties to glass cleaners.

Using vinegar or alcohol will not damage the phone the first time, but it will speed up the removal of the liquid-repellent layer over time. So if this can be avoided, do not use either material in its concentrated form.

Use compressed air or a hair dryer on the vents
Compressed air and a hair dryer (on cold air) are usually an ideal choice for cleaning laptops or desktops, but are never really suitable for cleaning phones.

Because phones are usually completely silent, they are not designed with openings that allow air to circulate. With great pressure from a can of compressed air, the speaker or microphone, for example, can be damaged, and even the charging port is sometimes compromised.

How often should you clean the smartphone?
Ideally, the phone should be cleaned every day, if not even several times a day. It gets dirty quickly and more than any other technical or non-technical tool. But of course no one wants to set aside daily time to clean the phone.

In general, the phone can be cleaned every week or two, for example. Or in the necessary times, as if cleaning is done before giving it to a child to use it, as children have weaker immunity and need more protection from the bacteria that can be carried by the phone.