You wash your hands everyday—a dozen of times for at least 20 seconds each—but the job is only about half done if the very thing you always touch, always in your hand remains unclean.
Your phone.
“We touch our smartphones more than anything especially now that we try to stay connected to our loved ones who are away from us and keep updated on the latest news. But it can pose a health risk especially since dirt gets easily transferred into our phones,” said Zen Han, vice president for national sales of Oppo Philippines.
According to a study published in February 2020 in the Journal of Hospital Infection, viruses are capable of surviving up to nine days on smooth surfaces, and that includes a smartphone screen.
“So, in light of the current COVID-19 situation, we strongly encourage our consumers to practice proper smartphone sanitation in order to protect themselves from contracting the virus,” said Han.
Here’s how you can sanitize your phone using guidelines proven to significantly cut down the number of bacteria found on a smartphone’s surface, as demonstrated by Dr. Lena Ciric, a microbiologist from University College London:
1. Wash or sanitize your hands. To avoid transferring any harmful bacteria, make sure to sanitize your hands before and after you clean your phone.
2. Ready a soft, lint-free or microfiber cloth. Avoid abrasive cloths such as towels and paper towels. Using such may damage the surface of your screen.
3. Use 70 percent Isopropyl Alcohol. Isopropyl Alcohol is a highly effective disinfectant against viruses particularly the ones with 70 percent concentration. Anything beyond it may evaporate too quickly. When cleaning your phone with alcohol, make sure to use cotton balls or felt-tips swabs when cleaning hard to reach areas like ports and mics and to avoid liquid spilling on such parts that may cause damage to internal components.
4. Use liquid hand soaps with alcohol content. If Isopropyl Alcohol is not readily available, you may use hand soaps with alcohol content. Add a few drops on the screen and gently wipe the whole phone with a microfiber cloth. Make sure to avoid getting moisture in any openings. Wipe off the soap with a damp microfiber cloth afterwards, and then dry your phone with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
5. Avoid using harsh home cleaning products. Window and household cleaners with strong chemical components like ammonia or hydrogen peroxide may damage your smartphone screen.
6. Use UV light sanitation. UV-C light in particular, also used in hospital-grade disinfecting procedures, is a potent solution that targets certain bacteria. UV devices can be used as well to sanitize your smartphone.