Mobile Phone Training Institute

Learn How to Sanitize your Smartphone - 10 Important Points

The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing pandemic of Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome Corona virus . The outbreak was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020, and a pandemic on 11 March 2020. As of 19th May 2020, more than 4.79 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported from all around the globe resulting in more than 3,18,000 deaths.

The common symptoms of covid-19 infection include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of smell. Complications may include pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Till date there is no known vaccine or specific antiviral treatment.

This virus is primarily known to spread between people during close contact, most often via small droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, and talking. The droplets usually fall to the ground or onto surfaces, and sometime remains suspended in the air for a couple of hours. People get infected by touching a contaminated surface and then touching their face. It is most contagious during the first three days after the onset of symptoms although spread is possible before symptoms appear and from people who do not show symptoms.

Smartphone screens are a hotbed of different types of germs. Researchers have found that smart phones contain more germs than a toilet seat. According to statistics, the current number of smartphone users in the world today is 3.5 billion, and this means nearly 45.04% of the world's population owns a smartphone.

Amid the Corona virus outbreak, medical advisories urge people to maintain personal hygiene by washing their hands regularly and not touching their face and mouth too often. However, the one thing that touches your face more than your hands is your phone. Studies also suggest that the virus can live for up to nine days on the surface of your phone. The benefits of smearing hands with sanitizers is an exercise in futility if people then pick up their phones and expose themselves to germs all over again.

Phone hygiene becomes an imperative to ward off contagious germs especially the corona virus. We will therefore discuss here the various ways in which we can maintain phone hygiene. Here are 10 important points and steps to take which will help you to maintain phone hygiene.

1. Wash you hands thoroughly with soap and use a sanitizer to rub your palms. The best possible remedy seems to be washing one's hands before and after touching one's phone, especially when in public spaces or commuting to work.

2. Clean your smart phone screen. It has become important to clean and disinfect your phones regularly. But, you cannot use the same soap that you used to clean your hands with to clean your phones.

Use Clorox Disinfecting wipes to wipe down on any hard and nonporous surface. You can buy Clorox Disinfecting Wipes from Amazon at this link https://www.amazon.in/Clorox-Disinfecting-Wipes-Fresh-Canister/dp/B0009PCOF0

Apple, recently, stated that their phones can be cleaned with simple disinfectant wipes but there are a lot of cleaning agents you need to stay clear of.

Smartphones from Apple such as iPhone 7 and upwards which are water-resistant can be cleaned using a cloth dabbed with soapy water, as long as the different orifices of the devices are covered. Apple recommends using felt cloth, the type used to clean spectacles. Smartphones from other manufacturers especially the newer models which are water-resistant can be cleaned likewise.

Samsung and Apple advise against using cleaning fluids as they could potentially damage fingerprint-resistant coatings on their screens. Some new phones have in-display fingerprint sensors which make the task of cleaning your phone more complex. However, this could be remedied by using a screen protector, which in turn, could be wiped clean using diluted alcohol.

The back and sides of the phone should also be cleaned thoroughly. Germs will invariably accumulate on phone screens.

Here is a list of ways you can clean and disinfect your phone in the wake of the Corona virus pandemic.

Use wipes, not pure alcohol
Do not clean your phone with rubbing alcohol. The usage of pure alcohol on your phone strips it of important coatings that protect it from oil and water. Instead, the sound way of cleaning your phone is to use disinfectant wipes with 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA).

Do not clean waterproof phones under a running tap
Even though waterproof phones like iPhone 7 and the later models can survive up to 30 minutes in water, it is advisable not to wash them under a running tap. This lets water into the ports and speakers which takes time to dry off. Instead, use a damp cloth to wipe the phone and then go over with a dry cloth to wipe off all the water. Make sure you dry all the ports and speakers thoroughly.

Fingerprint smudges: Use on microfiber cloths
We use our phone day in and day out. Smudges and fingerprints on the screen are inevitable. These are caused by the oils in your skin. The most effective way is to use a microfiber cloth. You can also dampen the cloth with distilled water to get rid of tougher smudges. Do not put water directly on the screen.

Use tape to clean sand and lint
Sand, lint and dust gets collected on the ports and crevices of the phone. It is best to use duct tape to get rid of all the dust. Stick the duct tape over the ports and speakers and gently roll away. The dust and sand stick onto the tape leaving your phone clean.

Here are a few cleaning agents you should never use to clean your phone.

  • Window or Kitchen Cleaners
  • Paper Towels
  • Makeup Remover
  • Compressed Air
  • Vinegar

Further points to remember while cleaning your smartphone

  • Use only a soft, lint-free cloth
  • Avoid excessive wiping
  • Unplug all power sources, devices, and cables
  • Keep liquids away from your device
  • Don't allow moisture to get into any openings
  • Avoid aerosol sprays, bleaches, and abrasives
  • Avoid spraying cleaners directly onto your device

3. Usage of headphones or Bluetooth earphones is advised for people who make lot of phone calls to prevent the germs on phone screens from coming in contact with their faces. Bluetooth earphones aren't germ-proof either, but their exteriors can be cleaned with cotton swabs dipped in antiseptic fluids or isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Be careful to not get any inside your audio device as it could damage the circuitry.

4. Never share your phone, laptop or any device with anybody. There is a high chance of contamination and the spreading of virus when the smartphone is used by more than one person

5. Use a Screen Protector and a case. The screen protector or tempered glass will prevent your phone screen from scratches while using and other possible damages. Wash the case thoroughly at least once a day under soap and running water.

6. Use a UV (Ultra Violet) Phone Sanitizer if you can afford one. UV Phone Sanitizers can kill bacteria and the germs in just few minutes . The process is fairly simple, just get one of these UV treatment boxes and place your smartphone in the case for a few minutes till it does the job, and once done, you can now be tension free that your smartphone is free of germs for some period of time. Please refer the manufacturers manual before using UV sanitizer. Here is a link in Amazon from where you can buy a UV Phone Sanitizer. https://www.amazon.in/Lesgos-Smartphone-Sterilizer-Headphones-Toothbrush/dp/B07X2PY5TT

7. Don't keep your mobile phone and handkerchief in the same trouser pocket

8. Use earphones for making phone calls. This reduces the chance of virus transferring from the phone to your face

9. Always wash your hands with soap and water after cleaning your phone or laptop

10. Try not touching someone's phone or laptop and avoid giving your gadgets to other people



Disclaimer : Please refer the manufacturer's manual before you clean your smartphone or consult their website for the manufacturer of your phone or carrying case for any specific instructions that they might have in order to avoid damaging your device or case. This article is for information only and not intended to be substitute for professional medical advice.

 

 

 

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