Keeping your smartphones clean

Your smartphone is one of the most potent carriers of germs and disease. With the 2019-nCoV virus having reached Bangladesh and infected many already, it is high time we start taking adequate precautions against the deadly virus.

While we are busy protecting our bodies from COVID-19, it is also important to keep our belongings clean and sanitised. Our handheld devices are one of the few things we come in close physical contact with several times a day by holding it in our hands, to our ears and faces, and keeping it inside our bags and pockets. Through such contact, it becomes easier for the virus to enter our bloodstreams. 

Smartphones also go everywhere with you. Starting from setting it down on tables, benches, and other public spaces, and bringing it home with the germs and bacteria lingering on the device's surface. Earphones, laptops and chargers also go through the same process. And in the midst of a growing pandemic, it is important to prevent these gadgets from becoming potential carriers of the virus. So here is a guide to keeping your everyday gadgets clean —

Things you need

1. Isopropyl alcohol

2. Cotton swabs

3. Microfiber cloth

Steps

1. Take the phone out of the case and turn it off. If it is a TPU case or made of any other washable material, soak the case in warm water and rinse it thoroughly. You will find a lot of dust and grime trapped around the edges. If it is made of leather or other non-washable material, you can use alcohol-based solutions and cotton swabs to wipe the dirt off.

2. Next, take another clean cotton swab, dip it in isopropyl alcohol and thoroughly clean the speaker grills, earpiece, headphone jack and other ports of the phone. Be careful not to leave any fibres behind, especially in the charging port. It is better to use a small brush to clean the port instead of a swab.

3. After that, take a piece of micro-fibre cloth and dip it in the alcohol solution to wipe the screen and the body. Be careful to not put too much pressure on the screen. It is important to note that your average household cleaning cloth might be too abrasive for the display glass and could leave micro-scratches all over. Do not put on the phone's case immediately after cleaning, leave the phone out to dry.

4. Once the phone and the case are completely dry, put the phone back into the case and start using it. You can turn it back on now.

This is an easy DIY method to keep your smartphone free of bacteria, germs, dirt and grime. 

However, in case of a viral outbreak, more stringent steps should be undertaken to disinfect your smartphone.