Cleaning and disinfecting cell phones: This is how smartphones become hygienically clean

Even regardless of colds and the corona pandemic, the mobile phone should be properly cleaned regularly. xiaomist shows you how to clean and disinfect smartphones without damaging them.

Corona virus and mobile phones: which means are suitable for disinfecting?

Apple has updated its iPhone cleaning information page amid the ongoing spread of the coronavirus. Here you can find specific information about which cleaning agents are suitable for disinfecting iPhones:

Use a cloth with 70% isopropyl alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol) or Clorox disinfecting wipes to gently wipe the exterior of your iPhone. Don't use bleach. Avoid getting moisture in any openings and do not submerge your iPhone in cleaning products.

According to the Robert Koch Institute, isopropanol 70% by volume for hand disinfection is classified as "limitedly virucidal" with an exposure time of 30 seconds. "Limitedly virucidal" means "effective against enveloped viruses". The corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) is one of the enveloped viruses (see Deutsche Apothekerzeitung).

When I was looking for a surface cleaning agent that works against the corona virus and is also classified by the manufacturer as "suitable for cleaning smartphones", I came across the "Sterillium Protect & Care" product range. According to the manufacturer Hartmann, these products work "against bacteria, yeast fungi, enveloped viruses as well as norovirus and rotavirus" and are "for the rapid disinfection of sensitive and vertical surfaces, e.g. g. PCs, smartphones and touch screens". Important: Onset of action no earlier than 30 seconds, up to 5 minutes (Norovirus). However, the "Sterillium Protect & Care" product range is currently occasionally sold out.

The Süddeutsche Zeitung has meanwhile published an article that classifies the disinfection of the smartphone with chemical agents as not urgently necessary. According to the medical director of the German Advice Center for Hygiene (BZH) quoted therein, it is more important "to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly."

Cell phone hygiene: Tips from the accessory provider

The accessories manufacturer Zagg provides two simple pieces of advice in the course of the spread of the coronavirus, which xiaomist also endorses:

Clean your smartphone twice a day . The use of Bluetooth headphones or headsets also minimizes the risk of spreading, since the smartphone is not constantly pressed against your cheek when making calls.

Mobile phone disinfection with UV light instead of chemicals: The Fraunhofer Institute is researching it

It looks similar to a microwave and does not use any chemical agents: The researchers at Applied Systems Engineering (AST) at the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation (IOSB) have developed a machine that irradiates cell phones with UVC light freed from bacteria and viruses such as "SARS-CoV-2". The disinfection should be carried out in "just a few seconds". According to the scientists, the areas of application for the device range "from the clinical area to private and commercial use to the event market".

Amazon already has UV disinfection devices for cell phones ("UV cell phone sterilizers") that promise a disinfection effect based on the principle described. So far, however, there has been a lack of evidence of its effectiveness through independent tests. But the price is temptingly cheap at less than 30 euros:

Cleaning your cell phone normally: Which cloth, which cleaning agent?

The most important rule first: No aggressive cleaning agents and no scouring agents! These endanger the grease-repellent display coating of modern smartphones. The ingredients contained in abrasive cleaners (e.g. quartz flour) can even scratch the screen forever. If you want to be on the safe side, only use a lint-free cloth moistened with water (not wet!) when cleaning your smartphone, e.g. B. a lens cloth . This cleaning method is recommended by the iPhone manufacturer Apple, for example.

However, it is not so easy to get rid of grease stains and fingerprints without any cleaning agents. It becomes easier with the help of suitable cleaning agents . I recommend paying attention to the manufacturer's description: is the product expressly suitable for cleaning smartphones? If this is not clearly identifiable, it is better to use a different cleaner.

I have had good experiences with the expensive but high-quality cleaning products from the German lens manufacturer Zeiss. These are available as a comprehensive complete set, including a practical blower for removing dust:

Smartphone cleaning cloths are suitable for quick cleaning in between:

Glass cleaner or washing-up liquid: Can you use it to clean cell phones?

The use of conventional glass cleaners and detergents from the household is generally not recommended. There is too great a risk that it contains ingredients that could damage the cell phone (especially the anti-grease coating of the display).

Some smartphone users still swear by it and use the comparatively inexpensive Sidolin multi-surface cleaner to clean the smartphone display. According to the manufacturer, this product is suitable for cleaning "screen surfaces" - but there is no mention of smartphones in particular. So try this tip at your own risk . I have cleaned an iPhone 8 in this way several times in the past and have not noticed any negative effects.

Cleaning your cell phone: 3 steps to a clean smartphone

The best way to clean the display and the back of a smartphone is to clean your glasses properly. Before the actual cleaning, you should make sure that there are no coarse dust or grains of sand on the mobile phone. Also important: Switch off the mobile phone before cleaning and unplug the charging cable .

Our recommendation:

Slightly moisten a clean microfibre cloth with a suitable cleaning agent or water (do not spray directly onto the mobile phone!). Wipe the cell phone completely with the damp part of the cloth. This can lead to streaks - this is the dissolved grease dirt. Take a dry spot or a second, dry microfiber cloth and remove the loosened dirt with circular wiping movements until no more streaks can be seen.

This way you can also get the camera lenses clean. In the end, a visual check with the naked eye helps: hold the cell phone up to the light at different angles and move it slowly. The surface (or the camera module) is only really clean when spots or streaks are no longer visible from any position. Even a slight veil on the lens can be noticeable in the case of mobile phone photos due to blurred images.

Properly clean cell phone jacks and speaker openings

A particular challenge are the places where the mobile phone is "open". This includes the jack socket for headphones, the openings for the speakers and the connection for charging (Micro-USB, USB-C or Lightning). A stubborn and difficult-to-remove dirt of dust and sebum accumulates here for months, which cannot be removed with the surface cleaning described above. These points must be addressed separately and with suitable "tools".

A dry, soft brush is suitable. Cotton swabs (slightly moistened with water) and toothpicks can also be used to clean hard-to-reach places on the cell phone. Specially shaped cleaning tools can also be found on Amazon.

But: This should only be done with the utmost caution, otherwise damage will be caused. Many small movements without pressure are better than single, hectic pushes. When using cotton swabs, make sure that no fibers come loose and get caught on contacts or speaker grilles. I also strongly advise against using metal objects such as knives, tweezers or needles.

Mobile phone disinfection: hygiene starts with the smartphone

Many mobile phone users are not aware that they touch a source of germs with their hands several times a day. On average, significantly more bacteria can be found on mobile phones than, for example, on a toilet seat. That's no reason to panic - but a reason to keep your own smartphone clean. According to TÜV Rheinland , only one in four Germans thoroughly cleans their cell phone on a regular basis. Every eighth clean
never even his mobile phone.

"Mobile phones, especially smartphones, should be cleaned and maintained regularly. It's not just a question of aesthetics. Mobile phones can transmit germs , and regular cleaning of displays and keyboards makes sense, especially now that colds are common," says Bitkom expert Bernd Klusmann. also dr Wiete Schramm (doctor at TÜV Rheinland) recommends cleaning smartphones and tablets regularly. "There is an increased risk of infection (...) for people with a weak immune system or during cold waves. (...) If you use a cell phone or tablet while eating, tiny bits of food can remain, which then serve as the perfect breeding ground for more germs."

The display cleaner from "Ag+", with a silver-surfactant combination against germs, is well rated by Amazon customers:

Even simply cleaning the surface with a microfiber cloth reduces the risk - microbiologists at the University of Furtwangen discovered that germs can be reduced by up to 80 percent in this way. So: A freshly cleaned mobile phone not only looks better, but is also advantageous from a hygienic point of view.