Engadget Guide Urges Buyers to Deep-Clean Secondhand Tech Before Reuse

According to the guide, finding a working secondhand item — a vintage record player, a still-usable smartphone or a film SLR camera — saves money and extends the life of a product that might otherwise sit unused. It advises readers not to rely on a seller's assurance that an item has already been thoroughly cleaned, and to do the work themselves.

The first steps are basic. After bringing an item home, unplug it and turn it off, then wipe it down with a soft microfiber cloth, which the guide says is preferable to other fabrics that can scratch screens and delicate surfaces. A little mild detergent and warm water is acceptable, but liquid cleaners containing chlorine, peroxides, solvents or ammonia should be avoided because they can damage internal components or protective coatings such as the layer on a screen.

For screens and general surfaces, the guide points to specialty products including Whoosh! screen cleaner and Tech2Clean, described as safe on any surface, as well as monitor wipes intended for televisions, cameras and phones.

Devices with small crevices need more attention. For a laptop or keyboard, the guide recommends turning the item over and shaking it lightly to release loose debris, then using compressed air to clear dust from ports and vents. For equipment with intricate parts, such as turntables with delicate needles, it suggests dedicated cleaning kits and brushes or a small brush with soft bristles.

To remove caked-on gunk, the guide recommends a soft cotton swab carrying a few tiny drops of alcohol. It notes conflicting advice about using alcohol but says a very small amount of isopropyl alcohol on a soft swab should generally be fine, provided the cleaning is done with gentle strokes. Earbuds require particular care because dirt and grime collect inside their acoustic vents, and the rubber ear tips should be cleaned thoroughly as well. Items should air dry completely in a safe place before being switched back on.

The guide also calls for wiping the back, sides and underside of a device, and for cleaning accessories such as headphone or camera cases, chargers and cables if they are not going to be safely recycled.

Smartwatches are singled out as collectors of grime on the underside when worn around the clock. Removable fabric bands on a smartwatch or fitness tracker can potentially go into a washing machine on a gentle cycle, though the guide says buying a new band is ideal because bands are usually swappable and cheap third-party options are available.

For smaller gadgets, the guide describes portable ultraviolet sanitizers from brands such as Phonesoap and Homedics, which use ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses and became more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are designed mainly for phones, which the guide says can be ten times dirtier than a toilet seat, but compact items such as earbuds, smartwatches, keys and credit cards can also be placed inside.

Beyond the initial deep clean, the guide recommends a regular maintenance schedule: a laptop should be deep cleaned every three to six months, a phone weekly with daily wipe-downs, earbuds at least once a month, and a television screen or monitor every two to four weeks.

Editor's Summary

Engadget's September 12 guide tells buyers of secondhand electronics to clean and sanitize devices themselves rather than trust a seller's assurances, recommending microfiber cloths, mild cleaners and compressed air while warning against chlorine-, peroxide-, solvent- and ammonia-based liquids. It suggests portable UV sanitizers for small items and sets out a maintenance timetable ranging from weekly phone wipe-downs to quarterly laptop deep cleans. The advice is aimed at consumers extending the life of used gadgets for both cost and environmental reasons.