How to Safely Clean Your iPhone With Disinfecting Wipes

Apple now says that it is okay to make use of disinfecting wipes to clean your iPhones. In the past, Apple was against using disinfecting wipes on its products while the CDC said it is a very good idea to protect against COVID-19.

Why Did Apple Recommend Against Disinfectants?

Normally, manufacturers of devices like Apple goes against harsh disinfectants because those disinfectants can wear away the oleophobic coating on their smartphone’s screen. This is an oil-repelling coating that helps prevent fingerprints and smudges from sticking to your smartphone’s screen making it look rough.

This coating would naturally and slowly wear away as you make use of your phone, but harsh cleaners can cause them to wear away quickly.

How to Safely Disinfect an iPhone With a Wipe

On Mar. 9, 2020, Apple updated their official cleaning guide to say that disinfecting wipes are an acceptable way to clean your iPad, iPhone, MacBook, and other Apple products.

Apple Specifically says that you should make use of “a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes.” Do not use anything that has bleach in it.

Apple recommends disinfecting the wipes and not disinfecting the sprays. If you have a spray, you should spray it on a soft, and lint-free cloth (like a microfiber cloth) and use that to wipe your iPhone screen or other Apple product instead of spraying it directly. Apple said that you should “avoid using abrasive cloths, paper towels, towels or similar items.” Never in any situation submerge your hardware in any cleaning solution.

With your wipe, “you may need to gently wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the keyboard, display, or other exterior surfaces.” In other words, take your iPhone out of its case and wipe clean its exterior: The screen, sides and back.

Be very certain to gently wipe and “avoid excessive wiping” to protect the coating as much as possible. A single wipe with a disinfecting wipe should be ok.

While wiping, be sure to “avoid getting moisture in any of its opening.” Do not let any of the cleaning solution enter into any speaker grill or the iPhone’s Lightning port, for example. This can damage your device hardware.

Apple goes against making use of cleaning solutions on fabric or leather surfaces. For example, if you have an Apple leather case for your iPhone, you should clearly avoid making use of the disinfecting wipe on that. This can damage the material. However, if you have a case that can handle the disinfecting wipe, such as a plastic or silicone case, for example, you should wipe it as well.

While you’re at it, be sure to clean your AirPods regularly, too.

What About the Oleophobic Coating?

The disinfectant solution would probably wear away at the oleophobic coating on your screen a little bit. But everything does the same. It will slowly wear off over time as you use your finger on your smartphone’s screen.

With this latest update, Apple is accepting that disinfecting wipes are a good way to clean the grime dirts from your iPhone screen. Just don’t overdo it. You are not required to wipe the phone over and over.

A soft, damp cloth without any cleaning solutions is much safer on the screen, but a disinfecting wipe will kill more dangerous viruses and bacteria. Consider avoiding the disinfecting wipe when you are unconcerned  about disinfecting your iPhone.