Connect with us

Technologies

Your Phone Is Dirtier Than a Toilet Seat. Now Clean It the Right Way

Using the wrong products can damage the screen and protective coatings. Here’s the safest way to clean your grimy phone.

Americans spend more than 5 hours a day on their phones, according to a December 2024 survey. With that much handling, it’s no surprise your phone becomes a hotspot for bacteria — in fact, it’s often dirtier than a toilet seat. Since you hold it constantly and press it to your face, making regular phone cleaning part of your routine is more than just smart, it’s necessary for your health.

The FCC 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.

Luckily, there are safe and effective ways to sanitize your phone without causing any damage. We’ll guide you through the best methods and products for keeping your device germ-free, no matter if you have an iPhone or a Samsung or whatever its level of water resistance.

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

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Monday, July 28

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for July 28.

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.


I love to grill, but the answer to 5-Down was a little challenging for me. It’s legit, but it’s just not the way I typically use that word. That’s on me! Need a helping hand with today’s Mini Crossword? Keep reading. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. 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: Courtroom prosecutors, for short 
Answer: DAS

4A clue: Fails to mention
Answer: OMITS

7A clue: Finished the season on a hot streak
Answer: WONOUT

9A clue: Subtle distinction
Answer: NUANCE

10A clue: See 1-Down
Answer: RIGHT

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: With 10-Across, completely and utterly
Answer: DOWN

2D clue: Love, in French
Answer: AMOUR

3D clue: Mount where Moses received the Ten Commandments
Answer: SINAI

5D clue: Grab from the grill with a gripper
Answer: TONG

6D clue: «There’s no ___ thing!»
Answer: SUCH

8D clue: Vietnamese New Year
Answer: TET

Continue Reading

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for July 28, #778

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for July 28, #778.

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


Today’s NYT Connections puzzle features another movie category, so cinema fans, dig in. Need more help? Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group, to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Out front.

Green group hint:  It suggests something.

Blue group hint: A hobby.

Purple group hint: Cinema genres.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Foremost.

Green group: Indication.

Blue group: Item in a collection.

Purple group: ____ movie.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is foremost. The four answers are first, initial, original and primary.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is indication. The four answers are evidence, hint, sign and trace.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is item in a collection. The four answers are coin, comic, record and stamp.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ movie. The four answers are buddy, cult, date and silent.

Continue Reading

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for July 28, #308

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 28, No. 308.

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


I learned enough during gym-class track days to ace today’s Connections: Sports Edition green category. Need an assist with the game today? Read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.  

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: These players win championships.

Green group hint: Team effort.

Blue group hint: Sobriquet.

Purple group hint: On the diamond.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Football defensive positions.

Green group: Relay race terms.

Blue group: Nicknames of NBA legends, with «The.»

Purple group: _____ run.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is football defensive positions. The four answers are cornerback, defensive end, linebacker and safety.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is relay race terms. The four answers are anchor, baton, changeover and exchange zone.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is nicknames of NBA legends, with «The.» The four answers are Admiral, Answer, Glove and Truth.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is _____ run. The four answers are earned, home, insurance and pinch.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © Verum World Media