Engadget to Phone Owners: Skip Bleach and Harsh Sprays, Clean With a Damp Microfiber Cloth

The report cites the range of places phones are used — living rooms, conference rooms, parties and bathrooms — to explain why the average smartphone carries roughly 10 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Cleaning the device, according to Engadget, is nonetheless a straightforward task.

The problem with aggressive products is chemical rather than cosmetic. Engadget said harsh cleaners strip the oleophobic coating on a display, removing the fingerprint-resistant, oil-repelling properties that keep the glass smooth to the touch. The two approved options are a lint-free microfiber cloth dampened with soapy water, wrung out so it is damp rather than wet, or a dedicated 70 percent isopropyl alcohol solution or wipe, which should be sprayed onto the cloth rather than the phone.

Engadget's instructions begin with powering the phone off and removing its case. The damp cloth should then be wiped thoroughly across the device, including between the camera lenses and around the side buttons, with slower and more careful movements around openings such as the USB-C port so that moisture does not get inside. The same method applies to the screen and the back glass.

Cases need attention too. Since most people keep a phone in its case almost constantly, Engadget reasons that the case is likely to be as dirty as the phone or dirtier. Silicone and plastic cases can be cleaned with the same soapy water or alcohol wipe used on the handset. Leather is the exception: alcohol dries it out and can cause cracking, so Engadget advises a damp cloth with mild soap.

Even with suitable materials, the report lists several mistakes that can prove costly. One of the most common is applying liquid directly to the phone; any liquid that lands on the device can seep into the small openings around the screen, buttons or ports and cause water damage even on a waterproof handset. Cleaning a phone while it is plugged in is another error, since moisture and electricity should not be combined. Engadget also warns against over-cleaning with alcohol wipes, saying repeated unnecessary use gradually breaks down the oleophobic coating even at the recommended 70 percent concentration. Rough fabric and paper towels are abrasive at a microscopic level, according to the report, and produce small scratches that grow larger and more visible the more those materials are used; microfiber cloths are soft and non-abrasive by comparison.