Not True: 7 Touch Screen Cleaning Myths Debunked

Let’s face it: our screens can get disgusting after regular use. In fact, every square inch of your phone contains 25,000 germs, making it one of the dirtiest items you touch each day. But before you dunk your phone in a bucket of disinfectant, remember there are specific ways to clean your phone without breaking it.

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry, we have seven touch screen cleaning tips to debunk any myths you’ve heard.

1. Do Not Use Abrasive Chemicals

It’s tempting to turn to chemical cleaners to make our phone screens look shiny and new again. Window cleaners and chemical cleaners, however, (e.g., ammonia-based products) can permanently ruin screens and erode the protective coating that many touch screens have.

Also, many touch screen devices have anti-smudge (or oleophobic) coating to prevent oil build-up from your fingertips on the screen. If you use chemical cleaners, then the screen will lose its sheen and will collect far more smudges.

2. Use a Microfiber Cloth

Microfiber cloths differ from ordinary ones as they have more fibers to grip dirt more effectively. As these fibers are much smaller, they don’t scratch surfaces which are perfect for touch screens. Further, microfiber cloths extract dust and oils from your device’s screen instead of rubbing them around the screen.

Microfiber cloths sound fancy but they’re common and if you wear glasses, this type of cloth would have come with it. You can also use cotton cloth or the corner of a cotton t-shirt but they won’t be as effective.

Sometimes all you need is a dry cloth and a little elbow grease to get out stubborn stains. You should avoid using paper towels, facial tissues or abrasive cloths as they can leave small scratches which can accumulate over time and dull the screen.

3. Do Not Go Overboard

When you get a new phone, it’s tempting to constantly inspect the screen for any grime and find new ways to clean it. You should, however, accept it will get dirty from tapping away at some point. You mustn’t over-clean it with a touch screen cleaner and do more harm than good.

4. Read the Manual for Suggestions

Don’t worry if you don’t know how to clean touchscreen electronics. Every device comes with cleaning suggestions even if you’ve never properly read it before. But it will tell you what kind of coating your device has and tips on how to remove any grime without destroying the screen.

5. Consider a Protective Screen

To ensure your device is safe, it’s always a good idea to invest in a thin, clear screen protector to protect it from dust, grime, and any scratches and cracks. You should do this straight after taking your phone out of the box but if not, you can always get one after a thorough cleaning and disinfecting of your phone’s screen.

But instead of replacing the protector when it gets dirty, use the same method with a microfiber cloth to clean your screen until it removes all smudges.

6. Use Water and White Vinegar

To keep things natural, clean your touch screen gadgets with a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar.

First, turn off your device. Then, spray a microfiber cloth with a small amount of liquid as opposed to straight on the screen, and wipe the grime off in a circular motion. When you’re done, wipe the screen with a clean and dry microfiber cloth and don’t turn on the device until the screen is dry.

Touch screens are resilient so don’t be afraid to press down harder if you have a stubborn spot. For the more adventurous, open up your smartphone to give it a deeper clean if it is filled with dust or dirt.

You may be unsure how to clean a touchscreen laptop but it is like cleaning a smartphone. You need not rub hard to remove any oily spots or fingerprints. Use a lint-free cloth (make it damp for stubborn spots) or screen cleaning wipes to clean the screen.

7. Do Not Use a Large Amount of Water

Although it’s tempting to douse your screen in water or screen cleaning solution, avoid using too much. Liquids can seep in and damage devices that are not water-resistant. If you need to use water, turn off your device first to avoid damage and so the dirty areas are enhanced.

If the cloth is dripping or the surface reveals water spots after wiping, you are using too much water. Be careful and wipe the screen gently with the cloth to make sure water does not get into any jacks or ports.

Let your device completely dry after you’re finished cleaning. This should only take a few seconds unless you have used too much water. Then, turn your device back on and enjoy using a clean screen.

Touch Screen Cleaning? Check

We all hear myths about how to clean our electronics particularly ones with touch screens. As touch screen cleaning is an essential way to keep bacteria at bay, we must be mindful about how to clean our gadgets otherwise they may break. As a rule of thumb, avoid using harsh chemicals or using too much liquid otherwise it could damage the screen and put your gadget at risk.

Invest in a microfiber cloth, be gentle, and never spray water directly onto your device. Good luck!

If you’re in Oakville, ON and are struggling with a broken phone screen or computer, we’d love to help. Contact us today to get a free repair quote.