We tend to avoid cleaning our electronic devices because we’re not sure how best to do it. What do we do when something spills on a device or keyboard? Here are a few tips and tools to consider when you decide to clean your mobile devices.
It’s a fact that most of us prefer to ignore. Our mobile devices accumulate dirt and grime during everyday use, and can do with the occasional (well, OK, regular!) cleaning. We take great care to clean other tools, clothing items, utensils and surfaces we use less frequently, but most of us have not yet adopted the habit of cleaning our electronic devices.
Most of our customers use our field sales app and are therefore entirely dependent on mobile phones and tablets to complete their daily business activities. These customers don’t just handle their devices all day long but expose them to more dirt than the average user. Devices are used on the go to capture and retrieve relevant information as they visit building sites, factories, farms and various other potentially grubby places.
It’s not only mobile devices that are in need of cleaning, but also office-based electronic devices (PCs, laptops, Kindles), often handled by multiple users.
Most of us put off cleaning our devices because we’re not sure how best to do it. Below are a few do’s and don’ts and other tips and tools you need to make sure your devices are clean and ready for use.
We recommend having a cleaning kit containing appropriate tools and substances available in your office or in your car if you’re mostly on the road. Once you compiled a kit, you’re more likely to clean your devices more regularly.
You need no more than these four things:
Never…
… clean a display screen with abrasive chemicals
… clean a device connected to a socket
… stuff cotton wool into spaces where it can get stuck in a device
… expose your device to water, unless cleaning it with moistened microfibre cloth
… take a device apart to clean it, unless you’re certain about what you’re doing
Note: check manufacturer instructions before using any cleaning substances on your device; resulting damage could lead to annulment of warranties.
Getting into the habit of cleaning your mobile phone or tablet surfaces daily is a good idea and takes very little effort: simply wipe it off with a dry microfiber cloth.
For a less regular, more thorough clean:
Claims that smartphones and tablets are more germ ridden than toilet seats are unfortunately not just filthy rumours. A further option, therefore, is to occasionally disinfect your devices. Follow the same steps as above, but:
It’s a good idea to also wash your tablet cover from time to time. This can be done using dish soap and a microfibre cloth:
Even though they’re not touchscreens, you’d be surprised how many smudge marks accumulate on computer and laptop screens. An occasional screen clean is not a bad idea. Here’s how to clean your computer or laptop screen in a few simple steps:
Whether you work in an office or remotely from home or a coffee shop, it’s likely that you snack or eat your lunch while working on your computer. Crumbs, hair and dust are bound to get lost between the keys that already show evidence of grime build-up. Here’s a simple approach to cleaning your computer or laptop keyboard:
Accidents do happen, as we hear from our customers who use their devices on the road, visiting customers in industrial and outdoor settings. All is not lost, act quickly and do the following:
Do you have any cleaning tips or device-saving stories you’d like to share with us and other readers? Let us know down below.
Sources:
https://www.merrymaids.com/cleaning-tips/quick-tips/how-to-clean-and-disinfect-electronic-devices/
https://www.maketecheasier.com/clean-electronic-devices/
https://www.mom4real.com/clean-tablet-screens-cell-phones/
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-clean-your-smartphone-or-tablet/