Given the current climate with the coronavirus, it’s more vital than ever to keep the gadgets you use every day properly clean and sanitized — and your smartphone and smartwatch should be number one and two on that list. In light of this, Apple just updated its “How to clean your Apple products” page and, surprisingly, after years of telling iPhone users that they shouldn’t be cleaning their gadgets’ touchscreens with disinfecting wipes, it is now giving the green light.
On the company’s updated product page, it answers the question ‘Is it OK to use a disinfectant on my Apple product?’ directly. It now states: “Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the display, keyboard, or other exterior surfaces. Don’t use bleach. Avoid getting moisture in any opening, and don’t submerge your Apple product in any cleaning agents. Don’t use on fabric or leather surfaces.”
Previously, Apple had warned customers to not clean their iPhones with anything other than water. The fear was that substances like alcohol or other disinfectants would harm the oleophobic coating on the iPhone’s touchscreen. However, Apple has seemly just debunked this myth.
As to how to properly clean your smartphone, check out our how-to guide below. All you need is a microfiber cloth, water and vinegar. Instead of water and vinegar, you can now use isopropyl alcohol and disinfecting wipes. Another good idea is to buy a gadget, like one of PhoneSoap’s products, which can sanitize your iPhone or other gadgets by blasting it with germ-killing UV light.
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