Yes, but you need to be careful with the type of wipe you use.
Even though pre-moistened baby wipes seem convenient, they're really not a good idea. This is how we suggest you clean your phone: Make sure your phone is turned off and to disconnect it from any external power sources. This will make it easier to see the dirt on your screen and reduce the risk of a short circuit.
Disinfect your phone safely using 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, or a microfiber cloth lightly sprayed with a 70% alcohol solution. Gently wipe hard surfaces, avoiding ports, and use a UV light sanitizer for a chemical-free option. Never use bleach, harsh sprays, or submerge the phone.
Do not use window and kitchen cleaners, as they may damage the protective coating on your screen. Do not use rubbing alcohol, paper towels, compressed air, dish soap or vinegar. All of these can damage your phone: Paper towels can scratch your screen, and vinegar could damage its coating.
The safest way to "clean" a phone depends on whether you need to disinfect the physical hardware or free up digital storage space. Both tasks can be done safely using trusted, manufacturer-recommended methods.
Many people believe that the bathroom is the dirtiest thing they regularly come into contact with; however, a cell phone can house up to 10 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
Yes, you can use lens cleaner, but you must do so cautiously. Never spray liquid directly onto the device. Instead, lightly mist a microfiber cloth or use a pre-moistened, electronics-safe wipe to prevent harsh chemicals or moisture from degrading your screen’s protective coating or damaging internal ports.
The 20-minute rule in cleaning (often combined with the 10-minute break as the 20/10 Rule) is a productivity method where you set a timer and clean as quickly and intensely as possible for 20 minutes. When the timer goes off, you immediately stop cleaning and take a mandatory 10-minute break.
Avoid using paper towels or regular cloths, as they may scratch the screen. For stubborn stains, lightly dampen the cloth with water or a 50/50 mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol. Do not spray liquid directly on the screen. Wipe the screen in a circular motion and let it dry before turning the monitor back on.
Use a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with soap and water. Don't spray cleaners directly onto the device. Avoid aerosol sprays and cleaning solutions that contain bleach or abrasives.
Apple, Samsung, and Google all recommend using 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes to safely sanitize your smartphone. Major manufacturers and top-rated pre-moistened wipes safely remove 99.9% of bacteria without stripping your phone's protective screen coatings:
“It's always very hard to pinpoint the exact source where you got the bacteria or virus,” Shumate tells Fortune. Some pathogens can also live on your phone for as long as five months, according to Shumate—but most viruses like norovirus and rhinovirus can only live on surfaces for about a week, she adds.
Sanitizing means reducing germs to a level acceptable by public health standards. It only takes 10 seconds for Clorox™ Disinfecting Wipes to sanitize a smartphone. If there's obvious dirt, wipe it away first, then give the phone a quick wipe down and make sure it stays visibly wet for 10 seconds.
Use a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth. Gently wipe the screen in circular motions. For stubborn marks, use a damp cloth slightly moistened with distilled water. Ensure the cloth is not overly wet to prevent moisture from seeping into the edges of the screen.
Cleaning a room with ADHD is all about hacking your brain to overcome executive dysfunction. To beat the overwhelm, break tasks into micro-steps using the "Rule of 5" (pick up exactly 5 items) or set a 10-minute timer. Always use the "Body Doubling" trick—clean while on the phone or having a friend in the room with you.
The 12-12-12 rule is a simple, highly manageable decluttering strategy that prevents you from feeling overwhelmed. The goal is to walk around your space and locate exactly:
So don't wait any longer - try out some of these tips today and start enjoying a fresh-smelling home!
Apple does not recommend or endorse third-party cleaner apps for storage, as iOS is designed to be self-maintaining. Instead, optimize your device using native built-in iOS features or third-party apps, while using specific hardware-approved cleaners for the screen.
The best overall phone screen cleaner is Whoosh! Screen Shine, widely known as Apple's official cleaning partner. For a budget alternative, the Onn. Screen Cleaning Kit is a highly rated, affordable choice available at local retailers.
The officially recommended and utilized screen cleaner by Apple is WHOOSH! Screen Shine. It is the product used by employees across all Apple Stores to clean display devices.
Scientifically speaking, yes. The human mouth is generally considered "dirtier" in terms of raw bacterial quantity, harboring 100 million microbes per milliliter and over 700 different species. In contrast, an average toilet seat has only about 50 colony-forming units (CFUs) of bacteria per square inch.
Cell phones are 146% dirtier than the minimum hygiene standard of 250. Although still failing the minimum standard of cleanliness, the average card is 38.4% cleaner than your phone.
Restaurant menus have about 100 times the amount of bacteria that is found on a toilet seat.