Top 9 important things to remember when cleaning your smartphone properly

It's also crucial to avoid spraying water or cleaning solutions directly onto your phone during the cleaning process. Do not use commercial chemical cleaners for smartphones, including regular soap, and especially avoid products containing alcohol, ammonia, or other abrasive substances. These common household cleaners can damage the delicate touchscreens of smartphones.

Cleaning products designed for household use (even natural ones like vinegar and lemon juice) can erode the protective coating on the screen and strip the paint from the phone casing. Therefore, it's best to purchase and use cleaning solutions specifically formulated for phones. Note: When buying a phone cleaning solution, be sure to consult with the seller and carefully read the manufacturer's details to select the one that is suitable for your phone, as each type of cleaner is intended for specific screen types.

Although you've chosen a specialized phone cleaner, never spray it directly onto your phone, as even filtered water can dampen certain sensitive areas of the device. Instead, lightly spray some cleaner onto a cloth (avoiding excess moisture) and gently wipe your phone.

Moisten (but do not soak) one corner of the cloth with cold water. Be sure to avoid getting water on the phone and only wet the cloth. Otherwise, you risk damaging the device. You must also be cautious about using your phone in overly humid environments, such as near swimming pools, saunas, or steam-filled shower rooms. High humidity can harm the internal components of your phone.

To protect your phone, it's important to always use a screen protector. However, this protector cannot offer complete protection for your device. Use a small plastic brush to gently remove the dust from the screen protector, and consider replacing it after about a year of use.

If your screen collects too much dust, a soft brush or air blower can help remove it from the surface. Otherwise, dust could smear across the screen and cause scratches. For phones with physical keyboards, use a cotton swab to clean between the keys, and utilize an air blower and soft brush to sweep away the dust in the keyboard crevices. This requires some patience, especially with QWERTY smartphones that have more keys than numeric ones.

The USB ports, headphone jacks, and small openings on your phone are tricky to clean. To effectively clean these areas, use a cotton swab for gentle wiping. This will help keep your phone clean without causing damage, improving the connection quality. Lightly wipe the surface of your phone with a damp cloth, but be cautious with the touchscreen and avoid cleaning inside the connection ports, headphone jacks, speakers, or camera areas.

For these components, use a cotton swab dampened with a small amount of water for careful cleaning. Alternatively, you can try an interesting method: use a dental floss stick, which has tiny bristles that fit the size of a mm jack, to easily remove any dirt from inside the headphone port.

To start cleaning your smartphone, the first thing you need to do is disconnect all connections and charging cables from the device. Remember, it's important not to clean your smartphone while it is still plugged into any charging, headphone, or data cables. Therefore, the first step is to unplug everything. This will ensure the safety of your phone during the cleaning process.

If your phone has a removable back cover and battery, take them off and clean the inside as well. Use a soft brush or air blower to clean the areas. For hard-to-reach spots, you can use a cotton swab to wipe them, then clean with a damp cloth before reattaching the battery and back cover.

Most high-end smartphones today are equipped with IP68-rated dust and water resistance. However, if you are using a more budget-friendly or mid-range device, extra caution is needed to avoid damage. Using tape to cover openings like speakers, microphones, charging ports, and headphone jacks can prevent cleaning fluids or water from getting inside and harming your device.

You can also use tape to clean your phone's speakers. Roll a piece of tape into a tube with the sticky side facing outward. Then, insert the tape tube into the speaker hole. Dust and debris will stick to the tape gently. Replace the tape if it gets dirty.

Cleaning a smartphone is relatively simple, but you should never rush into it as it can be risky. To ensure safety during the cleaning process, make sure to disconnect all cables and charging devices from your phone. Also, remember to only clean your phone after turning it off.

The very first and most important step is to turn off your phone before cleaning it. If you're unsure how to turn it off, ask Google or a friend, as each phone model has a different method. After cleaning, avoid turning the device back on immediately. Leave it off for about 10 minutes to allow it to dry completely before powering it on again.

Many still believe that water can be used to clean certain parts of the phone's exterior. However, this is a mistake. Moisture from water can shorten the lifespan of the device.

Stop using water to wipe the screen or the phone body, even if your phone is water-resistant. Protect your device, as no repair center will offer warranty coverage for water damage.

When cleaning your phone, you should opt for a dry, soft cloth or a microfiber fabric. Typically, microfiber cloths are made from synthetic fibers and have a very smooth surface, making them safe for your screen. These can be easily purchased at stores selling computer or camera accessories. Such cloths are often included in eyeglass cases. They are designed for cleaning glass, screens, and can also remove fingerprints and other smudges from your phone.

Note: Avoid using rough fabrics or tissues with sand particles for cleaning, as these can not only fail to clean your device but also cause scratches and add more dust.