How to Clean Your Phone

Prior to taking photos of your phone, you might want to consider cleaning it first. By cleaning your phone, we mean this in the literal sense, rather than the sorting and disposing of your phone’s data (which you will also want to do before a backup).

The COVID-19 pandemic emphasised the importance of cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and your mobile phone is no exception. Viruses can survive on surfaces for multiple days, therefore it is imperative that you make cleaning your device a regular habit. Cleaning your phone regularly is not only a good hygiene practice to have, but it can also enhance the quality of your device when you take photos of it before sending it to a recycler.

Why Should I Clean My Phone?

Even before preparing your phone to be sold to a recycling company, you should be cleaning your phone regularly. According to recent research, the average phone user touches their phone nearly 3,000 times a day, while some more heavy users are touching it over 5,000 times a day. There was also a study published recently which estimated that mobile phones accumulate a median count of roughly 17,032 bacterial 16S rNA gene copies, which is approximately ten times the amount of bacteria of an average toilet seat. In short, your phone is gross!

When Should I Clean My Phone?

Some experts recommend that you clean your phone daily. While this might seem excessive, it is actually necessary, given that many of us have our phone to hand when we are cooking, eating meals and even while we are on the toilet.

Besides cleaning it every day, you should also ensure that you clean your phone before taking photos of it. This will enhance the appearance of it, making it seem as though your phone has been less frequently used. Moreover, a good clean should ensure that you do not spread bacteria to whoever is handling your device in the recycling process.

How Do I Clean My Phone?

There are a few ways that you can clean your phone which are simple and effective. Apple advises that you use a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox disinfecting wipes. Make sure that you do not use Dettol wipes or other brands that are typically left on a surface for a while, as this could damage your phone.

Alternatively, you can use regular soap and water. To clean your phone using this method, simply add a little soap or washing up liquid to a cloth or paper towel, and wipe your phone. Then, you can wipe this off using a cloth or paper towel that has been moistened with water. Be careful not to use too much water, as this will subject your phone to water damage, which you should do your best to avoid.