Mark, thanks for posting this. :) It's a very apt post, since I'm sure my phone is totally bacteria-laiden. :) I'll be sure to get what's required to fix this state of affairs.
Thanks, Ari > On Feb 18, 2020, at 11:14 PM, M. Taylor <[email protected]> wrote: > > Your phone screen is gross. Here's how to clean it > These techniques are the absolute best to keep your iPhone or Android screen > smudge-free. > First Posted: August 31, 2019 6:00 AM PDT > CNET editors pick the products & services we write about. When you buy > through our links, we may get a commission. > > Make sure you're cleaning your phone the right way. > Smudges and grime cling to your phone's screen. It's really disgusting, but > most of us have learned to live with the grease because keeping phone > screens clean is hard. Maybe you'll give it a cursory wipe on your jeans or > the hem of your shirt, but that won't really get the screen clean. The best > approach isn't hard, and will only cost you a few bucks. > On the flip side, there are the cleaning agents and techniques that you > never want to use, because -- although you might initially see good results > -- they can be too harsh and damage the screen you're working so hard to > protect. > We're going to tell you which products to avoid, and the best ways to clean > off fingerprint smudges, sand and lint from the ports, tenacious makeup off > the screen (hint: never with makeup remover) and even disinfect your phone > after contact with raw meat while you're cooking. We also tell you how to > care for phones rated for water-resistance. > Note that CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products > featured on this page. > > We're not here to shame you, but drop that bottle of Windex, stat. This is > how not to clean your screen. > Window cleaner > You clean your mirrors and windows with window cleaner, and they're squeaky > clean, so it must be OK to use on your phone? Wrong! Some newer phones, such > as the iPhone XR ( $749 at Amazon ), have a protective coating that resists > water and oil, which can wear out over time. > Using harsh cleaners can strip the coating and could leave your phone more > vulnerable to scratches. James LeBeau, an associate professor of materials > science and engineering at MIT, told us that any cleanser with an abrasive > agent will likely scratch the surface, so those should be avoided entirely. > Kitchen cleaners > A screen's scratch-resistant properties won't get ground down by cleaning > agents, but stripping that protective coating is still a problem. That's why > Apple also suggests not using household cleaning products to clean your > iPhone. Bar Keepers Friend, for example, states that its abrasive formula > may harm the protective layer. Bon Ami states not to use on glass with > coatings. > > Paper towels > They may be the go-to for cleaning your desk, but keep them away from your > phone. The paper can shred, making the debris on your phone much worse. > Paper towels can even end up leaving scratches on your screen. > Rubbing alcohol > Since many newer phones have a protective coating, rubbing alcohol can wear > it away quicker over time, causing your phone to be more prone to scratches. > Make sure to check for alcohol in product ingredients on any "safe to use" > phone screen cleaners. Apple says to avoid alcohol when cleaning its > devices. > Makeup remover > Some makeup removers may have chemicals that can be harsh to an electronic > screen. LeBeau suggests avoiding makeup remover and instead use a soft cloth > with a little bit of water. > > Compressed air > Your phone is delicate, so blowing an intense amount of air into its portals > can cause some damage, specifically to your mic. Tech companies, like Apple, > specifically warn not to use compressed air. > Dish soap and hand soap > While your dish and hand soaps may be gentle, the only way to use them is to > combine them with water. Most phone companies suggest to keep water away > from your phone, so again, stick to a damp cloth. > Vinegar > This is a no-no. Vinegar will strip the screen's coating. You could, as > Lifehacker suggests, use a very diluted vinegar to cleanse other parts of > your phone. Android Central suggests a 50/50 mix with distilled water for > cleaning the sides and back. > Disinfectant wipes > The warning label on these reminds you to wash your hands after each use, so > using them to clean something that touches your face often isn't a great > idea. According to MIT's LeBeau, these wipes typically contain alcohol that > will strip off the oleophobic (oil-repellant) and hydrophobic > (water-repellent) coatings. > > How to clean fingerprint smudges from your screen > Fingerprint smudges are hard to prevent because your skin constantly > produces oils. That means that every time you pick up your phone, it's bound > to get fingerprints all over it. > The safest and most effective way to clear your screen is with a microfiber > cloth. If the screen is in desperate need of cleaning, use distilled water > to dampen the microfiber cloth and then wipe down your screen -- avoid > squirting the water directly on the screen. This method can be used on the > back and sides of your phone, too. > You can also try Swipe Wipes, which you stick to the back of your phone and > can pop off when you need to give it a wipe-down. > Check out Samsung's tips on cleaning your phone, too. > Remove sand and lint with this trick > Lint and sand can get stuck in the small ports of your phone and in the > crevices where the screen meets the body. > The best solution for removing sand and lint is Scotch tape. You can lay it > along the creases and speaker, and roll it up and gently place it in the > ports. The tape's stickiness will pull out any lint or sand that may be > stuck in your phone. > For the smaller speaker holes that tape can't reach, use a toothpick or try > to vacuum the debris out with a small crevice tool. These tools can also be > used for other small appliances or hard-to-reach areas in your car. > Disinfect your phone from contact with raw meat > If raw meat touches your phone -- say if you're reading a recipe on your > device -- you may immediately think to clean it with alcohol, but as > mentioned above, don't. It can strip the oleophobic and hydrophobic > coatings. Other sites suggest using a mix of alcohol and water, but they > have warning notes, so we suggest staying away from that to be on the safe > side. > Alcohol and detergent can damage your screen because they're so caustic. > Instead, use the (say it with me now) damp microfiber cloth, or invest in a > UV light, like PhoneSoap. This UV light company claims to kill 99.99% of > germs and banishes bacteria. > > Remove makeup safely > When you have a full face of makeup and need to make a call, guess what that > foundation is about to stick to? That's right, your phone screen. And while > you may use makeup remover to take off your makeup every night, you > shouldn't use it as a screen cleaner due to some chemicals that could be > lurking in the ingredients. Organics.org explains the chemicals that could > be in your makeup remover. > Instead, you could get your phone its own makeup remover, like Whoosh. The > company claims it's safe for all screens and contains no alcohol, chlorine, > ammonia or phosphates that could damage the various screen coatings. > You can also use a damp microfiber cloth to clean it -- and then throw that > cloth in the wash. Make sure you use a spray bottle to spritz the cloth, > rather than running it under water. The less water, the better. > > Can you wash waterproof phones? > If you have a water-resistant phone, rated for IP67 and above, you can rinse > it with water. Although these phones, like the iPhone 7 ( $170 at Walmart ) > and newer and the Galaxy S phones, can withstand submersion for up to 30 > minutes in up to 3 feet of water, it's a much better idea to use a damp or > wet cloth to clean your phone. Then dry your phone with a dry, soft cloth to > remove the water. Make sure to pat dry all speakers and ports. > Dunking the phone in water or running it under a faucet will get water into > the ports, which means you won't be able to charge it until they're dry, and > that can take time. Remember that having a water-resistant phone is more > about peace of mind than it is about purposely taking your phone for a swim. > > > Original Article at: > https://www.cnet.com/how-to/your-phone-screen-is-gross-heres-how-to-clean-it > /#ftag=CAD-09-10aai5b > > > -- > The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. > > If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if > you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or > moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. > > Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: > [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at > [email protected] > > The archives for this list can be searched at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "VIPhone" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/001201d5e6db%2402499260%2406dcb720%24%40edu. -- The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at [email protected] The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VIPhone" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/6C3CAAED-0D3B-4783-B250-53A5368C01B7%40gmail.com.
