How to clean your iPhone without wrecking it 📱

If you think putting your iPhone in the dishwasher at 60 degrees is the only way to disinfect it, think again. There is a much better (and safer) way to clean it and so lower the chance of contact with the new coronavirus.

We know that, with the numbers rising so fast, you feel like dropping your iPhone in a bucket of bleach every time you get home. But before you wreck your phone completely, try these simple tips to disinfect it safely.

Start by taking off the case

Most iPhone users have a protective case, which is probably just as dirty as the phone itself, if not dirtier. So the first step is to take the case off. If it doesn't come off easily, search for the brand and watch a tutorial on how to do it without breaking it.

If you have a screen protector, consider removing it too. The space between that film and the iPhone's glass, however tiny, is a breeding ground for germs.

Wipe off the dust

Before you move on to disinfecting, grab a microfibre cloth and wipe the whole surface of your iPhone. Don't use tissues: they may not look it, but they are quite abrasive.

In the same way, don't use toilet paper. As well as not picking up dirt properly, right now it costs as much as a brand-new iPhone.

While you are doing this first clean, make sure the phone is not plugged in. Otherwise, dirt can build up around the cable. It is also important that the cloth is completely dry.

Even if your iPhone is waterproof, putting liquid on any of its surfaces can push dirt or dust into the charging port or the microphone.

Most importantly of all: don't blow on it, and certainly don't use compressed air! That will only push the dirt further into the openings.

Use mild cleaners

Now it is time to use a cleaner on your iPhone. But don't use sprays, bleach or any other equally harsh liquid. Even if you think your bathroom cleaner does a great job of disinfecting (and you are right), these products will only strip the coatings of the device and, in the end, wreck it too.

Apple recommends using 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes or Clorox disinfecting wipes. Use them to wipe the whole iPhone and the case, if it is made of hard plastic. Don't get your phone too wet, and definitely don't try to clean the openings, as you may end up clogging them with fluff, damp dirt or even more dust.

Check the state of your case

You may not have to throw it away, but take a good look at your case. If it is more than a month old, or maybe two, it most likely already has a few cracks and signs of wear. And it is exactly those small gaps that let germs and bacteria get in, perhaps viruses too, and that stop the wipes from cleaning deeply.

If your iPhone case is leather or fabric, don't use any alcohol-based wipe on it, or you will end up damaging it. Apple advises using clean water and a mild soap to clean the surface gently, then drying it with a dry microfibre cloth.

Even so, the brand admits the case will most likely lose its original colour.

Something else to consider is that COVID-19 does not survive long on hard surfaces. So if you are really worried about catching the virus or spreading it this way, simply take off the case, clean it and leave it somewhere out of the way.

In the meantime, if you feel you really need protection for your phone, buy a hard plastic case that you can clean with alcohol-based wipes.

That way, with regular cleaning, you can protect your phone without worrying about catching or spreading the new coronavirus.

Do it often

Just like washing your hands often, cleaning your iPhone should become a habit. That is exactly why it is important to use the right cleaners: harsher products combined with frequent cleaning will end up damaging the very device you are trying to disinfect.