Can you wipe your phone with a wet wipe?

Author: Antoinette Rowe PhD  |  Last update: Friday, January 16, 2026

Do unplug and turn off your phone first. Do use disinfectant wipes with 70% isopropyl alcohol or a similar disinfecting spray, spritzed onto a clean microfiber cloth. Do spray any cleaners onto a soft cloth, not directly onto your phone. Do wring out the wipe or cloth before using if it's too wet.

Can I use a wet wipe to clean my phone?

Not a good idea, since baby wipes often contain moisturizing ingredients (baby oil, or other oils). You'll likely have smears all over your screen. I would recommend a spritz of window cleaner ON A CLEAN COTTON (or microfiber, which I detest, but that's another story) CLOTH. Do NOT spritz your phone.

Can I wipe my screen with a wet wipe?

Wet wipes are not recommended. The wet wipes are usually not pure water, which may affect the screen. Generally use a slightly damp soft cloth to wipe, and then use a clean cloth or a good quality paper towel to dry. If you need to use a cleaning solution, you can buy a 3m screen cleaning solution.

What is the best thing to use to clean your phone screen?

Use only a soft, lint-free cloth, like microfiber, to wipe away smudges. Abrasive materials, such as rough cloths, towels and paper towels, could scratch the glass and damage the oil-repelling coating on the glass screen. Let everything air dry before you pop your case back on.

Can I wipe my phone screen with a wipe?

The safest bet is to use disinfectant wipes that contain 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean your phone screen. Before the pandemic, we were instructed to not use disinfectant wipes on our phone screens, but Apple says it's OK to use Clorox Wipes and other disinfectant wipes with similar concentrations.

Apple: It’s OK to wipe your iPhone with Clorox wipes

Is it safe to clean an iPhone with wet wipes?

Using a 70-per cent isopropyl alcohol wipe, 75-per cent ethyl alcohol wipe or disinfectant wipes, you may gently wipe the exterior surfaces of your iPhone. Don't use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don't submerge your iPhone in any cleaning agents.

Are alcohol wipes safe for phones?

If no instructions are available from the manufacturer of the device, CDC suggests using alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70 percent alcohol to disinfect touch screens.

How to deep clean your phone?

Turn off your phone and unplug headphones, charging cables, and other accessories. Remove the case or protective cover. Wipe down your phone's surfaces with a damp microfiber cloth sprayed with a solution of one part distilled water and one part 70% isopropyl alcohol.

What are the best wipes for phone screens?

70% isopropyl alcohol wipe: Apple, Samsung, and Google all recommend using isopropyl alcohol–based cleaning wipes on their devices. Apple also says you can use 75% ethyl alcohol wipes or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. Samsung additionally suggests 50- to 80-ppm hypochlorous acid–based solutions.

What is safe to wipe screen with?

Use a microfiber cloth or an anti-static screen cleaning wipe to gently remove dust and smudges. 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.

Can I wipe my phone with water?

Make sure the phone is powered off and unplugged from any charging cables. Then, use a damp (not wet) microfiber cloth to gently wipe the screen. Avoid letting any water drip into the phone's ports or openings. Immediately follow up by thoroughly drying the screen with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.

Is it okay to wipe with wet toilet paper?

Some people opt to wet their toilet paper for a more thorough clean – though you may find with this technique that the paper will start to break down and doesn't work as well. Instead, think about pairing Cottonelle® Brand Toilet Paper with Cottonelle® Flushable Wipes, infused with the gentle cleansing power of water.

Can I clean my screen with a wet wipe?

Don't use household disinfecting wipes on your computer screen. The same goes for your old T-shirts that you've saved from the last time you had to help a friend paint their walls. Save that for the next time you have to wipe down the bathtub, not your computer screens.

Can I wipe my iPhone with baby wipes?

To clean your iPhone, use a soft, lint-free cloth (a clean t-shirt will do in a pinch) slightly moistened with water, and that's it. No glass cleaner, baby wipes, soap, or anything.

Can I use a Clorox wipe on my phone?

Keeping your phone clean and sanitized with Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes and periodically disinfecting it when needed is easy and helps prevent the spread of illness during cold and flu season and all year long.

How to deep wipe a phone?

Open "Settings" on your Android device. Scroll down and tap on "System" or "General Management," depending on your device. Select "Reset" or "Reset Options." Choose "Erase all data (factory reset)" or a similar option.

How to clean phone viruses?

How to get rid of a virus from an Android phone
  1. Clear your cache and downloads. Open Settings, go to Apps & notifications, and select Chrome. ...
  2. Restart your Android device in safe mode. ...
  3. Find and remove malicious apps. ...
  4. Activate Google Play Protect. ...
  5. Install anti-malware software.

What should I use to clean my phone?

Do use disinfectant wipes with 70% isopropyl alcohol or a similar disinfecting spray, spritzed onto a clean microfiber cloth. Do spray any cleaners onto a soft cloth, not directly onto your phone. Do wring out the wipe or cloth before using if it's too wet.

Is it OK to clean phone with sanitizer?

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. Do not use hand sanitizer on your phone screen, but do sanitize your hands before touching your phone.

How often should I wipe my phone?

Health experts say that mobile phones are significantly dirtier than toilet seats – and advise cleaning them at least once per day.

How to completely wipe an iPhone?

Go back to Settings and tap General > Transfer or Reset [device] > Erase All Content and Settings. If you turned on Find My [device], you might need to enter your Apple Account and password.

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