Bacteria, germs, and viruses love warm places and what better breeding ground than the electronic devices you use on a daily basis. And as you might know already, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) “the COVID-19 virus can survive for up to 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel, less than 4 hours on copper and less than 24 hours on cardboard.”
High-touch electronics you should clean regularly include: remote controls, computer keyboards, video game controllers, computer mice, smartphones (with or without cases), tablets (with or without cases), computer monitors, digital watches, and handheld game systems. “Some things we think are personal are actually more public than we imagine,” says Dr. Jeffrey Cain, the president of the American Academy of Family Physicians and chief of family medicine at Children’s Hospital Colorado. “Bacteria and other infectious agents on a phone can cause flu, pinkeye, or diarrhea,” he continues. Let Clean Concepts show you how to clean electronics without causing damage or removing the protective coating on most devices.
Alcohol/Water
According to cnet, “Straight alcohol can strip the oleophobic and hydrophobic coatings that keep oil and water from damaging your display and other ports.” For safe, yet effective results use a 50/50 mixture of ethyl or isopropyl alcohol 70% with distilled water into a spray bottle. Don’t spray directly onto electronics. Spray the solution onto a microfiber cloth, chamois, cotton swabs, or coffee filters to avoid damaging the surface of touchscreens and lenses.
Disinfectant Wipes
According to Apple.com “Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the display, keyboard, or other exterior surfaces.” Likewise, Samsung, Google, XBox, and more share the same opinion with Apple to avoid using bleach and excess moisture especially near crevices and ports. Make sure your devices are powered off and unplugged before cleaning and disinfecting your electronic devices.
UV Light
This is probably the best way to clean electronics. If you’re concerned about sprays and wipes killing the oleophobic coating or generally damaging your device, consider artificial ultraviolet light. UV disinfection lamps are more effective than liquid disinfectants with no irritating odor after disinfection. Another issue with self-disinfecting is not letting the solution sit long enough before handling it. By setting up a UV disinfection station for your devices, you can use the ‘set-it and let-it-go’ method thus ensuring proper disinfection without the stress. Here are three great choices to get you started:
- FitOkay Sterilization Portable USB Rechargeable LED UV Cleaner Zipper Box
- PhoneSoap 3 UV Smartphone Sanitizer & Universal Charger
- Portable UV Lights Cell Phone Sanitizer
This moment in time is a declaration for cleanliness. While it’s especially important to stay a clean and healthy person, you DO NOT need to be saturated by fear or misinformation. Practice safe, social distancing (6 ft. apart), wear a mask, avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes, wash your hands, and disinfect high-touch items frequently. By including these practices into your daily routine, you create a ‘new normal’ that not only helps you reduce your risk for general infection, cold, or virus but also helps minimize your chance of contracting and spreading COVID-19—without fear.
