How to clean your phone safely without damaging it

We wash our hands, sanitise shopping trolleys and wipe down café tables.

Yet we rarely think about our phones. We handle them dozens of times each day and carry them everywhere - from the kitchen to the dining table and even into the bathroom.

That means phones can pick up all sorts of potential germs. When did you last wipe yours down - and what did you use?

It matters, because using the wrong products or tools can remove protective coatings, weaken waterproof seals, or even interfere with touch sensitivity.

Do phones really need cleaning?

Touchscreens quickly collect fingerprints and smears, so cleaning is useful for both appearance and day-to-day usability.

There’s also a possible health angle. When researchers swab mobile phones for microorganisms, they consistently uncover hundreds of species of bacteria and viruses.

Not all of these will make you ill, but there is clear potential for transmission. We use phones in the bathroom and then bring them close to our mouths, handle them while eating, and share them between people in meetings, cafés, parties and classrooms.

And unlike our hands - which we might wash many times a day - phones are seldom cleaned properly, if they’re cleaned at all.

So if you do decide to sanitise your phone, it’s important to do it in a way that doesn’t cause damage.

Some cleaning products will damage your phone

It can feel tempting to give your phone a quick wipe with a household cleaner or hand sanitiser as a shortcut. But many everyday products can gradually harm your device’s surface - and even its internal parts.

For instance, Apple and Samsung both recommend avoiding bleach, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, aerosol sprays, window cleaners, or high-concentration alcohol wipes (above 70%) on their devices.

Most modern smartphones have an oleophobic coating - a thin layer designed to repel fingerprints and smudges. Strong chemicals, including alcohols, acetone, or ammonia-based cleaners, can wear this layer away. That can leave the screen more prone to marks and reduce touch responsiveness.

Vinegar, often used as a DIY disinfectant, is highly acidic and can corrode aluminium or plastic edging. Bleach and hydrogen peroxide may be excellent disinfectants, but they’re also too harsh for the fine materials commonly used in consumer electronics.

Wipes with very high alcohol content can, over repeated use, dry out plastics and make them brittle.

Put simply: if a product is powerful enough to disinfect your kitchen worktop, it’s likely too aggressive for your phone.

How should I clean my phone then?

The reassuring news is that safe phone cleaning is straightforward and low-cost. The key is to stick to guidance supported by major manufacturers. Before cleaning, you should unplug the device and remove any protective case or accessories.

Most technology companies suggest using 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes (not higher), a soft microfibre cloth, and an anti-static soft-bristled brush - such as nylon, horsehair or goat hair - for delicate areas like speaker grilles and charging ports.

During the COVID pandemic, Apple updated its advice to allow Clorox disinfecting wipes and 70% isopropyl alcohol on iPhones, as long as you use them gently to avoid stripping screen coatings or letting moisture enter the device.

Samsung gives similar guidance: wipe the phone with a microfibre cloth lightly moistened with a 70% alcohol solution, and avoid applying liquid directly to ports and openings.

Prevent accidental damage when using these tips

Don’t spray any liquid straight onto the phone. Moisture can seep into ports and internal components, causing corrosion or short circuits.

Avoid immersing your phone in any cleaning liquid as well - even if it’s marketed as water-resistant. The barriers that keep water out (including rubber gaskets, adhesives, nano-coatings and silicone layers) can deteriorate over time.

Skip paper towels, tissues and abrasive cloths, which can scratch the screen or leave lint behind that blocks openings.

Lastly, don’t overdo it. Too much wiping or scrubbing can gradually wear away protective coatings, leaving your phone more vulnerable to fingerprints, smudges and long-term surface damage.

How often should I clean my phone?

There’s no fixed rule for how frequently a phone should be cleaned, but under typical use, a thorough wipe at least once a week is a sensible approach.

If you often take your phone into higher-risk settings - such as public transport, hospitals, gyms or bathrooms - it’s prudent to clean it more often.

If hygiene matters to you, it’s logical to clean not only your hands but also one of the items you touch most, every day.

Done incorrectly, cleaning can slowly harm your device. Done properly, it’s quick, inexpensive and easy.

Meena Jha, Head Technology and Pedagogy Cluster CML-NET, CQUniversity Australia

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.