Technologies

Your Phone’s a Germ Magnet. How to Disinfect It Properly

Want to keep your iPhone or Android germ-free? Follow these phone cleaning tips.

Your phone goes everywhere with you — on your commute, your lunch break, even the bathroom (don’t lie). But for something that spends so much time in your hands and against your face, it’s probably way dirtier than you think. In fact, studies have shown that the average smartphone can carry more germs than a toilet seat. Yeah, really.

All that touching, tapping, swiping and setting it down on random surfaces adds up fast. If you’re not regularly disinfecting your phone, you’re basically carrying a pocket-sized petri dish. The good news? Cleaning it the right way is quick, easy and doesn’t require fancy gear. Here’s how to sanitize your device safely — without damaging the screen or frying your electronics..

The Federal Communications Commission suggests disinfecting your phone daily, but not all cleaning methods are safe. Harsh chemicals and abrasive materials can damage protective coatings and potentially harm your screen. To keep your phone both clean and intact, it’s crucial to use the right cleaning techniques.

We’ll guide you through the best methods and products for keeping your device germ-free, from iPhones to Samsungs, and whatever their level of water resistance may be.

For more cleaning tips, here’s how to clean wireless earbuds and AirPods.

What are the best products for daily cleaning?

After touching surfaces that see a lot of action from the public — such as door handles, seats on public transportation, grocery carts and gas pumps — you might think you need a heavy-duty cleaning agent to use on your phone. However, you should avoid rubbing alcohol or products made of straight alcohol, since they can damage the protective coatings that prevent oil and water from harming your screen.

Some suggest making your own alcohol-water mix, but getting the concentration wrong can damage your phone. The safest option is using disinfectant wipes with 70% isopropyl alcohol. For daily cleaning, consider a UV light product like PhoneSoap, which kills 99.99% of germs and bacteria. We can also turn to phone manufacturers and cell service companies for guidance, too.

Apple now approves using Clorox Wipes and similar disinfectants, which was not recommended before the pandemic since they were thought to be too abrasive on the screen’s coating. AT&T advises spraying a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution on a soft, lint-free cloth and wiping your device down. Samsung also recommends using a 70% alcohol solution with a microfiber cloth. Always make sure your phone is powered off before cleaning it.

What are the best methods for removing fingerprints, sand and makeup?

Sometimes your phone needs a more specific treatment when washing up. The recommended process for daily cleaning may not be enough to remove pesky grains of sand after a beach vacation or tough foundation stains.

Get rid of fingerprints

Fingerprint smudges are inevitable since your skin produces oils. Every time you pick up your phone, your screen will get fingerprints. The safest way to make your screen print-free is with a microfiber cloth. For a deeper clean, dampen the cloth with distilled water (never apply water directly to the screen) and wipe down the surface. This works for the back and sides of your phone as well.

Alternatively, try a microfiber screen cleaner sticker that sticks to the back of your phone for easy wiping.

Remove sand and small particles

Grains of sand and lint can easily get stuck in your phone’s ports and crevices. To remove it, we recommend you use Scotch tape. Press it along the creases and speaker, then roll it up and gently insert it into the ports. The tape will pull out any debris. You can then just simply throw away the tape for easy cleanup.

For smaller speaker holes, use a toothpick gently or a small vacuum crevice tool to suck out the debris. These tools work well for other small appliances or hard-to-reach areas in your car too.

Cleanse makeup off your phone screen

When you wear makeup and skin care products, such as foundation and moisturizers, you’ll leave residue on your phone screen. While makeup remover works for your face, it’s not safe for screens due to potentially harmful chemicals. Instead, try a screen-safe makeup remover like Whoosh, which is alcohol-free and gentle on all screens.

Alternatively, use a damp microfiber cloth to clean your phone, then wash the cloth afterward. Make sure your cloth is only slightly wet to avoid soaking your phone in water.

What if my phone is waterproof?

For waterproof phones (IP67 and above), it’s best to clean the device with a damp cloth instead of submerging or running it under water — even if the phone advertises that it can withstand submersion for a certain amount of time.

Afterward, dry your phone with a soft cloth, ensuring all ports and speakers are patted dry. While your phone can withstand water, submerging it can lead to water in the ports, delaying charging. Remember, water resistance is meant for accidents, not swimming or regular cleaning.

Things to avoid when cleaning your phone

We’ve already covered why you should avoid makeup remover and rubbing alcohol, but those aren’t a comprehensive list of harmful cleaning agents. Here are a few other items and products you should never use to clean your phone:

Hand sanitizer: Fragrances and ethyl alcohol found in many sanitizers can harm your phone.
Window or kitchen cleaners: Harsh cleaners can strip the protective coating on your phone and leave it more vulnerable to scratches.
Paper towels: Paper can shred, making the debris on your phone much worse, and the rough texture can leave scratches on your screen.
Dish and hand soap: Most soaps require you to combine them with water, and since you should keep water away from your phone, it’s best to stick to a damp cloth.
Vinegar: Like cleaners and alcohols, vinegar will strip your phone screen’s coating.
Compressed air: Blowing intense and direct air into your phone’s portals can cause damage, especially to your mic. Apple specifically warns iPhone owners not to use compressed air.

For more cleaning tips, explore how to clean your Apple Watch.

Technologies

Controversy Brews: US Government Targets Banning Top Wi-Fi Router

Federal departments and agencies are joining forces in an effort to ban TP-Link routers due to concerns about national security risks.

TP-Link routers might not be available for much longer in the US, according to a Washington Post report last week. A potential ban is looking increasingly likely, as more than half a dozen federal departments and agencies back the proposal,

The news first broke in December of last year, when The Wall Street Journal reported that investigators at the Departments of Commerce, Defense and Justice had all opened probes into the company due to national security risks stemming from its ties to China. Since then, news on the TP-Link front has been relatively quiet.

Now, the proposal has gained interagency approval.

Read more: I Asked 4 Cybersecurity Experts If They Would Still Use a TP-Link Router

Why are plans to ban TP-Link routers being pushed?

«Commerce officials concluded TP-Link Systems products pose a risk because the US-based company’s products handle sensitive American data and because the officials believe it remains subject to jurisdiction or influence by the Chinese government,» the Washington Post reported.

TP-Link’s ties to the Chinese government are only allegations. The company — technically called TP-Link Systems — has strenuously denied to me in the past that it’s a Chinese company.

«As an independent US company, no foreign country or government, including China, has access to or control over the design and production of our products,» a TP-Link spokesperson told CNET.

The history of the TP-Link routers

TP-Link was founded in Shenzhen, China, in 1996 by two brothers, Jeffrey (Jianjun) Chao and Jiaxing Zhao. In October 2024, two months after members of the House Select Committee called for an investigation into TP-Link routers, the company split into two: TP-Link Technologies and TP-Link Systems.

The latter is headquartered in Irvine, California, and has approximately 500 employees in the US and 11,000 in China, according to the Washington Post report. TP-Link Systems is owned by Chao and his wife.

«TP-Link’s unusual degree of vulnerabilities and required compliance with [Chinese] law are in and of themselves disconcerting,» the lawmakers wrote in October 2024. «When combined with the [Chinese] government’s common use of [home office] routers like TP-Link to perpetrate extensive cyberattacks in the United States, it becomes significantly alarming.»

The company has become a dominant force in the US router market since the pandemic. According to the Journal report, it grew from 20% of total router sales in 2019 to around 65% this year. TP-Link disputed these numbers to CNET, and a separate analysis from the IT platform Lansweeper found that 12% of home routers currently used in the US are made by TP-Link. More than 300 internet providers issue TP-Link routers to their customers, according to the Wall Street Journal report.

Why are TP-Link routers being investigated?

Separately, the Department of Justice’s antitrust division is investigating whether TP-Link engaged in predatory pricing tactics by artificially lowering its prices to muscle out competitors.

CNET has several TP-Link models on our lists of the best Wi-Fi routers and will monitor this story closely to see if we need to reevaluate those choices.

«We do not sell products below cost. Our pricing is not only above cost but contributes a healthy profit to the business,» a TP-Link spokesperson told CNET.

The potential ban has been through an interagency review and is currently in the hands of the Department of Commerce. According to the Washington Post report, sources familiar with the details of the ban said the Trump administration’s ongoing negotiations with China have made the chances of a ban less likely in the near future.

«Any concerns the government may have about TP-Link are fully resolvable by a common-sense mix of measures like onshoring development functions, investing in cybersecurity, and being transparent,» the spokesperson said. «TP-Link will continue to work with the US Department of Commerce to ensure we understand and can respond to any concerns the government has.»

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How worried should you be about your TP-Link router?

I wrote a few months ago that I wasn’t in any rush to replace my own TP-Link router, and that’s essentially how I still feel today.

When the news first broke last December, I asked four cybersecurity experts whether they would still use a TP-Link router. One gave a strong «no.» Another said there is «risk for a consumer.» And two declined to answer the question directly.

Itay Cohen was one of the authors of a 2023 report that identified a firmware implant in TP-Link routers linked to a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group. He told me in a previous interview that similar implants have been found on other router brands manufactured all over the world.

«I don’t think there’s enough public evidence to support avoiding routers from China outright,» Cohen said. «The vulnerabilities and risks associated with routers are largely systemic and apply to a wide range of brands, including those manufactured in the US.»

I heard a version of that from every cybersecurity expert I spoke with. TP-Link has security flaws, but so do all routers, and I couldn’t point to any that showed collaboration with the Chinese government specifically.

«We’ve analyzed an astonishing amount of TP-Link firmware. We find stuff, but we find stuff in everything,» said Thomas Pace, CEO of cybersecurity firm NetRise and former security contractor for the Department of Energy.

That said, it’s entirely possible that the government is aware of vulnerabilities that the public is not.

For now, I’m still comfortable using a TP-Link router knowing I follow some basic best practices for network security, but my risk tolerance may be higher than it is for others.

How to protect your network if you have a TP-Link router

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who uses a TP-Link router, the news of a potential ban might be unnerving.

A Microsoft report from last year found that TP-Link routers have been used in «password spray attacks» since August 2023, which typically occur when the router is using a default password.

Here’s what you can do to protect yourself right now:

Update your login credentials. A shocking amount of router attacks occur because the user never changed the default login credentials set by the router manufacturer. Most routers have an app that lets you update your login credentials, but you can also type your router’s IP address into a URL. These credentials are different from your Wi-Fi name and password, which should also be changed every six months or so. As always with passwords, avoid common words and character combinations, longer passwords are better and don’t reuse passwords from other accounts.

Use a VPN. If you’re worried about prying eyes from the Chinese government or anyone else, the single best thing you can do to ensure your connection remains private is to use a quality VPN. Privacy-minded folks should look for advanced features like obfuscation, Tor over VPN and a double VPN, which uses a second VPN server for an added layer of encryption. You can even install a VPN on your router directly so that all your traffic is encrypted automatically.

Turn on the firewall and Wi-Fi encryption. These are typically on by default, but now is a good time to make sure they’re activated. This will make it harder for hackers to access the data sent between your router and the devices that connect to it. You can also find these settings by logging into your router from its app or website.

Consider buying a new router. I always recommend buying your own router instead of renting one from your internet service provider. This is mostly a cost-saving measure, but if your ISP uses TP-Link equipment, now might be a good time to switch to another brand. The main thing to look for is WPA3 certification — the most up-to-date security protocol for routers.

Update your firmware. TP-Link’s spokesperson told me last year that customers should regularly check for firmware updates to keep their router secure. «To do this, customers with TP-Link Cloud accounts may simply click the ‘Check for Updates’ button in their product’s firmware menu,» the spokesperson said. «All other customers can find the latest firmware on their product’s Downloads page on TP-Link.com.»

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Saturday, Nov. 8

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Nov. 8.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s the long Saturday one, so you might need assistance. Read on for the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Uber alternative
Answer: CAB

4A clue: Red-headed character in the «Scooby-Doo» franchise
Answer: DAPHNE

7A clue: Not arrive on time
Answer: RUNLATE

8A clue: Label on a green U.S.D.A. sticker
Answer: ORGANIC

9A clue: Prestigious engineering school in Pasadena
Answer: CALTECH

10A clue: Prepares to be knighted
Answer: KNEELS

11A clue: Parts of a city grid: Abbr.
Answer: STS

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Fashion brand with an interlocking «C» logo
Answer: CHANEL

2D clue: Silly behaviors
Answer: ANTICS

3D clue: Tree with smooth gray bark
Answer: BEECH

4D clue: Kevin ___, 15-time N.B.A. All-Star
Answer: DURANT

5D clue: They’re measured in degrees
Answer: ANGLES

6D clue: Division of the earth’s crust
Answer: PLATE

7D clue: Ice, in bartending lingo
Answer: ROCKS

Technologies

Spotify Brings Wrapped Energy Year-Round With Friend-Sharing Stats

The music service introduced new ways for music nerds to share their listening habits with friends.

It can be a long wait for Spotify Wrapped, the end-of-year promotion that allows Spotify users to view and share their listening habits. Now, users can keep an eye on those stats daily, plus share their listening habits with friends.

You can view your Spotify usage statistics every 24 hours and share your updates via social media services, such as Instagram Notes or Spotify Messages. The new share icon gives you access to eight different services where you can post your stats.

Every week, you’ll get updates on your top artists and songs from the past month, and Spotify will recommend new playlists. The app also gives you a «special highlight» based on a specific artist or song.

To access your personal musical data, click on your profile in the top left corner of the app and scroll down to «listening stats.»

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The new features are somewhat similar to Spotify Wrapped, the service’s annual end-of-year review of users’ listening habits, which is designed to be shared. Every year, Spotify adds extra details to Wrapped, such as assigning users a listening personality or a city that supposedly reflects their music tastes. It’s been the most popular way for Spotify users to view and share their music listening in the past. A number of third-party services do the same thing, including Volt.fm.

Read more: Best Music Streaming Services

Spotify is the world’s largest music streaming service, offering 100 million tracks and serving more than 713 million users. In addition to its $12-per-month subscription service, Spotify also offers a free, ad-supported option.