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Writer's pictureBurton Kelso, Tech Expert
Feb 1, 20225 min read

How To Disinfect Your Smartphone And Other Devices To Stay Safe From Covid-19 and the Flu



We are still in the middle of a global pandemic almost two years later. Public health experts r recommend you stick to the basic steps to avoid this virus such as getting vaccinated, washing your hands, getting a flu shot, and disinfecting surfaces you touch on a regular basis. I talked about this at the beginning of the pandemic, but I want to remind all of you that one of the most overlooked items to clean is your technology, especially smartphones. Smartphones are among the dirtiest items that you own. What's worse is our phones are often held up to our eyes, nose, and lips which are key places where the COVID 19 infects your body. If you want to decrease your chances of getting sick, follow these simple steps to disinfect your phone and other gadgets.


There are many ways COVID is spread is as I mentioned above, but the main places are your face, eyes, nose, and mouth. Did you know the average person touches their face up to 16 times per hour? Even more disturbing is the virus can live on surfaces for up to 96 hours. Now you can see why it's important to clean your smartphone, computer, or laptop keyboard and mouse on a regular basis. Here's what you can do to clean those devices:


1. Use cleaning products designed for technology. You don't want to use harsh cleaning chemicals on your devices like those found in Clorox bleach wipes. Remember, your smart devices and computers are delicate gadgets. While it's tempting to use anti-bacterial bleach wipes or sprays on your computers, keyboard, and smart devices, you want to avoid them. The abrasive chemicals can leave scratches on your screens and can wear down the protective coating on your devices. My suggestion is to use Pure and Clean Surface Cleaner (www.pureandclean.us) or other electronic friendly cleaning solutions that are safe to use on all your tech devices without exposing yourself and your devices to the harsh chemicals that are in other cleaning products. If you didn't want to splurge for eco-friendly cleaning products, make your own homemade surface cleaning with 50% water and 50% of 70% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol. When disinfecting the surface of your keyboard, smartphone, or tablet, let the cleaning solutions sit on your devices for no less than 4 minutes to kill the germs and bacteria, and always use a microfiber cloth. Never use paper towels or other standard cleaning cloths.


2. Get Some Tech that Will Clean Your Tech. If you want a high-tech solution for sanitizing your phone, consider PhoneSoap (www.phonesoap.com). Using UV (UltraViolet) light, this device will make your smartphone, small laptops, and tablets germ-free and charge them all at the same time. It might be a little pricey, but PhoneSoap will also clean things such as keys, credit cards, and watches. They also have larger models that will clean small laptops and tablets. If you're unable to get Phone Soap, there are several other tech products that use UV light to disinfect your devices.


3. Get a Cover that Will Minimize Germs on your Gadgets. Use a surface cover or case for your smartphone that has antimicrobial protection. One of the best products you can get is from Tech 21 (https://www.tech21.com/en_us/collections/antimicrobial). These products promise to offer up 99.9% protection from the microbes on the surface of your device. You also get bonus protection from the case that will protect your gadgets from drops or falls.


Some more things to help avoid the Flu and COVID19:


1. Do not share smartphones, computers, and tablets with others. If you do, wash your hands before handling your device or use a hand sanitizer to kill germs.


2. Keep your smartphone out of the hands of your children. You take the risk of infecting your child and they can be a major factor in spreading COVID and the flu to you.


3. Consider using your phone 'hands-free' or use earbuds for phone conversations. The less you touch your phone, the better ... especially since we hold our phones to our faces, which can spread the coronavirus to us.


4. When going to the restroom (and other public places), keep your phone and your tablets in your pockets or purse. I don't the majority of us think about where we place our smart gadgets, but you need to be cautious where you lay them down. If you do place them on an unknown surface, take the steps to disinfect them immediately.

We can't put a ban on our computers, smartphones, and tablets, even if they can be a breeding ground for viruses like the Coronavirus. It's time all of us take time to clean our devices more often, not just when there is an epidemic illness. Like you should with your hands and body, take steps to clean and disinfect your tech on a regular basis.


5. Consider contactless methods for paying for items in retail shops and restaurants. Contactless credit cards as well as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay are the most secure way to make payments. The bonus of using contactless methods is that you limit your exposure to germs that may linger on surfaces of the shops and restaurants you visit.


Keeping your smartphone and other tech devices germ-free only takes minutes a day. Get into the habit of practicing good cleaning habits and you can significantly limit the spread of germs from your devices.


Looking for More Useful Tech Tips? Our Tuesday Tech Tips Blog is released every Tuesday. If you like video tips, we LIVE STREAM new episodes of 'Computer and Tech Tips for Non-Tech People' every Wednesday at 1:00 pm CST on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Technology product reviews are posted every Thursday. You can view previous episodes on our YouTube channel.


Sign Up for Our Newsletter! Click this link to sign-up and subscribe and you will receive every tip directly in your inbox each week.


Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@callintegralnow.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone.


Need computer or technology help? If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.


Please share this with your friends and family! If you found this post useful, would you mind helping me out by sharing it? Just click one of the handy social media sharing buttons below.



Looking for More Useful Tips Tips?

My Tuesday Tech Tips Blog is released every Tuesday. If you like video tips, I LIVE STREAM new episodes of 'Computer and Tech Tips for Non-Tech People' every Wednesday at 1:00 pm CST on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Technology product reviews are posted every Thursday. You can view previous episodes on my YouTube channel.


Sign Up for My Newsletter! Click this link to sign-up and subscribe and you will receive every tip directly in your inbox each week.


Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. 


Need computer or technology help? If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829. 


Please share this with your friends and family! If you found this post useful, would you mind helping me out by sharing it? Just click one of the handy social media sharing buttons below.




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