Simple and safe tips to clean smartphone screens

Your smartphone screen faces daily impacts, from fingerprints, dirt to bacteria that accumulate over time. These factors not only reduce the transparency of the screen but also pose a potential health risk. Regular cleaning not only makes the screen brighter and more beautiful but also contributes to maintaining cleanliness and safety.

However, if you clean it incorrectly, you can accidentally damage the screen. To help you protect your smartphone, this guide will provide simple but effective methods to ensure that your phone screen is always clean without causing damage.

Turn off your smartphone

Before you begin cleaning, make sure your phone is completely powered off. This will prevent accidental touches to the touchscreen while cleaning, and reduce the risk of electrical shock or damage from moisture.

Also, unplug all cables, including chargers, headphones, or any other accessories. If your phone has a case, remove it to make it easier to clean the entire surface, especially the corners where dirt tends to accumulate.

Use a microfiber towel

Microfiber cloths are ideal for cleaning phone screens, as they have a soft surface that helps remove dirt and fingerprints without scratching. These cloths are designed with extremely small fibers that can effectively absorb dust and grease, while leaving no lint on the screen.

Avoid using paper towels, tissues, rough cloths, or old clothes to clean your screen, as these materials may contain hard fibers or small dust particles that can easily scratch your screen. Additionally, some paper towels may leave behind paper dust or cause the screen to become blurry after wiping.

If your phone screen only has a little dust or light fingerprints, you can simply wipe it gently with a dry microfiber cloth to clean it without using a cleaning solution.

Lightly moisturizemicrofiber towels

For a more thorough screen cleaning, lightly dampen a microfiber cloth with distilled water or a specialized cleaning solution designed for phone screens.

Be careful to only dampen the cloth enough, do not let the cloth get too wet, as excess water can drip and seep into the openings on the phone, such as the speaker, charging port or microphone, leading to damage to internal components.

Never spray water or any cleaning solution directly onto the screen, as this may cause the liquid to spread and penetrate sensitive components.

Instead, pour a small amount of the solution onto a microfiber cloth, then gently wipe the screen in a circular or top-down motion to avoid streaking.

If using a screen cleaner, make sure it doesn't contain harsh ingredients like alcohol, ammonia, or harsh detergents, as these chemicals can damage the anti-fingerprint coating on your phone's screen.

Wipe gently in circular motions

Start the cleaning process by gently wiping the surface of the screen with a microfiber cloth in a circular motion. This method effectively removes dirt and fingerprints without leaving streaks.

Pay special attention to areas that are frequently touched by your hands, such as the center of the screen or the corners, where fingerprints and oils tend to accumulate more. If there are stubborn stains or build-up that is difficult to remove, you can repeat the process several times with light pressure, instead of pressing down hard on the screen.

Avoid using too much force when wiping, as this may put pressure on the panel underneath, affecting the display or even causing unwanted damage such as dead pixels or smudges on the screen.

Clean edges and corners

The edges and corners of your phone are areas that are prone to accumulating dirt, sweat, and grime over time, especially around the screen and small crevices. To effectively clean these areas, use a corner of a microfiber cloth and gently wipe along the edges and corners of your phone to remove any embedded dirt.

For hard-to-reach areas, like speaker slots, charging ports, or the narrow bezel between the screen and chassis, you can use a cotton swab lightly dampened with distilled water or a screen-safe cleaning solution.

Make sure the cotton swab is only slightly damp, not wet, to avoid water leaking into the internal components. Move the cotton swab in a vertical or circular motion gently to remove dirt without damaging the device.

If you need to clean the speaker slots or microphone holes, you can use a soft brush or a gentle blast of compressed air to blow away the dust without damaging your phone. Doing so carefully will give your device a cleaner look without damaging important components.

Disinfect the screen

If you want to disinfect your phone, use a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution or specialized alcohol-based wipes. These products are designed to be safe for most modern phone screens, effectively removing bacteria and viruses without harming the device.

When using, apply a small amount of the solution to a microfiber cloth instead of spraying it directly onto the screen to avoid moisture from seeping into the phone's crevices. Gently wipe the entire surface, focusing on areas that are frequently touched by hands, such as the screen and edges.

Absolutely avoid using harsh chemicals such as bleach, ammonia or abrasive cleaners, as they can damage the anti-fingerprint coating and reduce the durability of the screen over time. Proper cleaning will not only keep your phone germ-free, but will also maintain its durability and long-term display quality.

Dry the screen

Once you have finished cleaning, use the dry part of a microfiber cloth to gently wipe away any remaining moisture on the screen. This will not only help the surface dry faster, but will also prevent water from pooling and damaging the internal components.

Before powering on or reconnecting accessories, make sure your phone is completely dry. If necessary, leave your device in a cool, dry place for a few minutes to allow any moisture to evaporate completely, which helps ensure safety and maintains optimal performance.

Consider using a screen protector

To keep your smartphone screen clean and scratch-free, consider using a screen protector. This protective layer not only helps keep out dirt, fingerprints, and other external impacts, but also reduces the risk of damage from accidental drops or collisions.

In addition, when using a screen protector, cleaning is also easier, because you can wipe the surface without worrying about affecting the original screen. Choosing a high-quality protector, such as tempered glass or anti-fingerprint film, will help maintain transparency and smooth touch for a long time.