If you're like me who is extra cautious amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, you must have done extra measures to make sure you don't get the virus — washing hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, using 70% rubbing alcohol when soap and water are nowhere in sight, wearing masks and social distancing. But there's one thing that neat-freaks and even the most paranoid person (a.k.a. me) forget to clean — smartphones.
Smartphones are said to be dirtier than a toilet seat which is not that hard to believe given that we're glued to our phones most of the time. It's without question that it carries all sorts of bacteria from everything we touch all-day. Some people even bring their phones in the bathroom, so imagine how gross it can get.
While there's no complete study on how long the COVID-19 can survive on surfaces, the World Health Organization says the virus may last hours or even days outside the body so cleaning your smartphones and other gadgets you use endlessly should be in order. Here are a few useful steps to keep your smartphones, tablets, and laptop virus-free:
1. Remove your device from its case.
2. Make sure your device is powered off or unplugged.
3.1 Grab a microfiber cloth and dampen it with your soap and water mixture. Make sure you wring the cloth to remove excess water.
3.2 Grab a disinfecting wipe (e.g. Lysol, Clorox or any anti-bacterial wipes found in the market)
4. Wipe your device, avoiding all openings.
5. Let it sit and air dry for at least 5 minutes.
6. Grab a clean paper towel or microfiber cloth to completely dry your device.
7. Repeat the same process with your device's case.
Experts say that gadgets should be disinfected at least twice a week. By taking just a few minutes out of your week, you can make sure that the smartphones, tablets or laptops that you use are clean and disinfected. Take note that you should always check your devices' manufacturer’s instructions before doing the steps above.
