Cleaning your phone isn’t as simple as just grabbing an antibacterial wipe or two. Most household antibacterial wipes and disinfectants are actually super abrasive and can damage or scratch your phone.

Disinfecting wipes are effective at killing germs, but if they’re not specifically designed to clean phones, they can corrode and remove the protective coating on the glass screen. On top of this, the actual wipes or cloths can also scratch the screen. Even though pre-moistened baby wipes seem convenient, they’re really not a good idea. 

This is how we suggest you clean your phone:

1. Make sure your phone is turned off and to disconnect it from any external power sources. This will make it easier to see the dirt on your screen and reduce the risk of a short circuit.

2. Grab a dry microfiber cloth and gently wipe the screen from side to side across the screen. The aim of this is to sweep the dirt off the screen rather than grind it in. Try not to press too hard as this can damage your screen. Being gentle is the key to cleaning your phone. Continue to use the microfiber cloth to remove any remaining smudgy oils.

   What not to do: Do not use paper towels, tissues, or a cloth that has been washed with fabric softener. These can scratch away the protective coating on your screen, or even scratch the glass itself. If the cloth has a logo or image printed on it, don’t use the screen-printed area.

3. To the naked eye, your screen might look clean now, but it’s most likely covered in more invisible germs and bacteria than your toilet seat. Whether you're a germaphobe, or someone who doesn't mind getting their hands dirty, we can all agree that anything that can potentially make you ill is bad news. For a more thorough cleaning, you’ll need an alcohol and ammonia free cleaning solution.

   What not to do: Don’t just spray Windex all over your phone and hope it’ll do the trick - your phone isn’t as resilient as it might seem. You also don’t want to rub it down with a paper towel as this can cause all sorts of damage to your screen.

4. Take your microfiber cloth again and lightly spray it with a small amount of phone friendly cleaning solution. Make sure not to soak the cloth - lots of water and phones don’t mix.

5. With your microfiber cloth, gently wipe your screen from top to bottom using a circular motion. Try not to press too hard as this can damage your device. Continue to use the microfiber cloth to remove any remaining smudgy oils.

 

Here are some extra tips:

• Avoid getting moisture in any ports and don’t let the cleaning solution sit on the screen too long.

• Avoid using an alcohol-based cleaner on your device, as this will damage the protective coating on most touch screens and ruin your device.

• Do not wipe or clean your touch screen with paper towels or facial tissues, as these can scratch the surface. Using a microfiber cloth is the only safe way to clean your touch screen.

• Unlike paper towels, AM Get Clean clean microfiber cloths clean the sensitive glass on your phone without scratching the surface. The microfiber attract and removes unwanted oils and dust, whereas other product simply spread them around.

• The liquid and microfiber used in all our products is safe to be used for all surfaces, including tablets, camera lenses, eyeglasses, TV’s and car touch screens.

 

About the author:

This post was written by AM Denmark. Established in 1971, over the last 45 years AM has earned its place as a leader in the field of vinyl, hi-fi, computer, touch screen and flat screen TV cleaning. As media consumption has evolved, AM has continued to innovate and adapt to new technologies and devices. AM thrives to provide the best and highest quality cleaning products for office and home use. The cleaning liquid in all AM cleaning products is alcohol-free, and safely tested across all screens. It won’t damage your most sensitive gadgets, screens or your skin, even after repeated use.