Doctors recommend wiping the phone against germs and viruses, even in "peace" time. And when the coronavirus rages around, gadget sanitation along with hand washing becomes a necessity. Moreover, the more actively you use your smartphone, the more often you need to disinfect it. We learned from experts how to process the phone so that it does not turn into a hotbed of infection.
When and how to wipe the phone?
In the context of a coronavirus pandemic, you need to disinfect your smartphone in the following cases:
- before making a call if you are in a public place and do not use headphones or speakerphones;
- if an outsider touched it;
- after the street.
The disinfection of the phone should be as follows:
- Remove the cover from the phone.
- Lay the phone face down on a paper towel. Put the cover on another napkin.
- Wash your hands or treat them with a sanitizer.
- In your right hand, take the disinfectant and wipe it with the back cover of the phone, as well as the side panels. With your left hand, lift the gadget by the side panels and process the front part (screen and keyboard). Place your phone on a clean surface.
- In the same way, disinfect the cover and place it on a clean surface.
- Throw away the paper towels on which the phone and case were lying, as well as a cotton pad or other disinfectant.
- Wash your hands again or treat them with a sanitizer.
If after sanitation the phone remains wet, you can additionally wipe it with a dry cloth or paper towel.
How to sanitize iPhone, Xiaomi, Samsung and other smartphones?
You can disinfect the phone from the coronavirus without damaging the coating of the case and screen, by various means:
- 70% isopropyl alcohol (sold in construction and some hardware stores, you can also order it online);
- Clorox special disinfectant wipes.
It is strongly not recommended to process the phone with the following solutions:
- regular medical alcohol;
- ammonia-based preparations;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- household cleaners;
- alcohol face lotion;
- cologne.
It is highly likely that after contact with aggressive chemistry, the appearance of the smartphone will suffer.
How to disinfect a phone case?
Leather cases can be disinfected using the same means as a smartphone. Silicone can also be washed under running water, pre-soaped with a bar of soap (toilet or household) and left for 20 seconds.
Fabric covers and those that contain sequins, rhinestones, and beads can not be used during the coronavirus pandemic, since they are difficult to process.
Will the coronavirus die if you wipe the smartphone with cognac or vodka?
The higher the alcohol content, the more actively the agent fights against pathogenic microflora. In alcoholic beverages, as a rule, it is not more than 40% - this amount is not enough to “kill” bacteria and viruses that could potentially harm a person. The desired result can only be obtained using medical alcohol with a strength of 95–96 degrees. If you wipe the phone with vodka, cognac, rum or whiskey, the weakest and most harmless microorganisms will die. But at the same time:
- part of the viruses will simply “wash off” - it will remain on the napkin with which you wiped your gadget;
- alcohol will degrade the surface, and under such conditions, microorganisms do not feel very comfortable. Due to this, their reproduction will slow for a while.
It turns out that strong alcoholic drinks will not make the phone sterile, but will significantly reduce the risk of transmission of infection. The only problem is that together with viruses, they can wash off the paint and oleophobic coating from the phone.
Is it possible to wipe the smartphone “Beliznoy” (sodium hypochlorite solution)?
Sodium hypochlorite is a very effective remedy against bacteria and viruses. However, due to its whitening properties, the appearance of the smartphone may suffer - the paint will be worn off or brighten in places. Silicone covers from "bleach" turn yellow and lose elasticity; leather ones become hard, shapeless and faded. So for regular disinfection of gadgets it is better to use gentle chemistry.
What to do if you need to disinfect the phone, but nothing?
Wash your hands. Take two clean plastic bags. Put one on your hand, take a smartphone with this hand, put it in the second package. After this, remove and discard the bag that was used as a glove, and tie the one containing the phone. It is important that the material the bag is made of is not perforated. The improvised “cover” will not prevent you from making calls, playing, writing messages. Unless you can connect wired headphones or a charger. Of course, this method is only good as a temporary measure.
To reduce the risk of coronavirus infection, you need to properly disinfect your smartphone. You can not lean it against your face during a conversation, if before that you touched the case or screen with unwashed hands.