How to clean your Electronics

Your electronic gadgets mean everything to you. After all, they are your go-to devices for just about everything — social media, gaming, browsing the Internet and of course, phone calls and text messaging. Unfortunately, with all the usage they get on a daily basis, they can become quite dirty and even seeped with nasty substances you may not even be able to see. Bacterium, E-coli, dirt and even fecal matter can be hidden on your electronic devices. Therefore it is important to clean your electronics.

Although this knowledge may make you want to gag, it’s a part of life. Tossing your gadgets into a bucket of bleach is not the answer, either. However, there are safe and effective ways to clean your electronics so that they’re practically sparkling. Keep in mind that certain devices have special requirements for cleaning. Here are the ways you can sanitize your electronics.

Smartphones and Tablets

Unfortunately, smartphones and tablets tend to be the grimiest devices of them all because it’s not unusual to bring them into the bathroom with you.  Smartphones tend to have ten times the amount of bacteria of toilet seats. When you clean the screen of a phone or tablet, you have to be very careful because they usually contain an oleophobic coating to resist fingerprint staining, which can be wiped off if you use harsh chemicals. If a tempered glass screen protectors cover your device, you should be equally cautious as they too contain an oleophobic coating. If you are worried about damaging the screen or the device in general, use water and a microfiber cloth to clean it. You can get into the smallest areas of your phones and tablets, such as the edges and nooks, by wiping at them with a cotton swab. You can also use a mixture of water and alcohol in a spray bottle and wipe down the devices with a microfiber cloth.

Always take care and only spray water or cleaner onto the microfiber cloth and never directly onto your smartphone or tablet. Of course, you should always remove the case and clean that as well in the same manner. Dry it thoroughly before putting it back on your device.

There are also wipes that are specifically made to clean your electronics. These are gentle on the screens of phones and tablets and can eliminate all the grime and grit they accumulate.

Laptops

Laptops can quickly pick up plenty of dirt and even germs, especially if you tote it on occasion. However, you can clean your electronics like laptops rapidly relatively to start by first picking it up, turning it upside down and shaking it out. This will eliminate any crumbs and dirt that may have snuck into the keyboard. Another good option is to use a can of compressed air to blow all the debris out.

Unplug the laptop and, if possible, remove its battery for the next step. Spritz some screen cleaning spray onto a microfiber cloth and rub the screen and all the surfaces of the device. You may also want to go over the keyboard as the last step in cleaning it in case the other measures weren’t completely effective.

Since LCD screens are particularly sensitive, you might want to use a special cleaner to prevent getting streaks that other cleaners leave in their wake. If your laptop has a touchscreen, you can use water, or an eyeglass cleaner sprayed on a microfiber cloth. There are also cleaning wipes made for cleaning laptop and tablet screens that can clean your electronics very effectively.

Desktop Computers

Another good way to clean your electronics involves applying alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to your desktop’s keyboard. These components  can get dusty and dirty over time, especially if you have a habit of eating or drinking at your computer. Turn the keyboard upside down and shake out any crumbs and other debris that might have gotten stuck in the keys. You can also use compressed air to push it out. If the keyboard is sticky, you can use alcohol mixed with water or a combination of water and hydrogen peroxide to scrub it down.

To clean your monitor, you should only use cleaners made explicitly for LCD screens. You can also use water or eyeglass cleaner on a microfiber cloth to gently wipe it down. Avoid using cleaners like Windex, which can damage the screen. However, plastic components that surround the screen can be used with Windex. Otherwise, plain water works as well. Plain distilled water is one of the best substances with which to clean your electronics.

TV Sets

Since TV screens are made from LCDs, you have to take care when cleaning them. Clean your electronics that consist of LCD screens by using distilled water or a particular screen cleaner. Spritz it onto a microfiber cloth and gently wipe the screen. However, in addition to the screen, you’ll also want to clean your remotes. They can get sticky, dusty and filled with crumbs if you eat while using them. Canned air and a water mixture can make them look like new.

Game Consoles

It’s only natural for your game console to become full of dust over time. Dust can have a negative impact on your game performance and can make the console act wonky in general. To clean your electronics of this variety, you should start by dusting them with a duster or microfiber cloth. You can also use a tiny bit of water on a clean cloth to clean it. Use a cotton swab dipped in water to clear out any crevices as well. Avoid going into ports.

You can also clean your controllers using special wipes. They can effectively get rid of germs and clean away any sticky gunk that might have built up over time.

It’s important to know how to clean your electronics and do it every so often correctly. These actions can help make your consoles last longer and not hinder the performance.