Can You Clean Your Electronics With Disinfecting Wipes Or Not? Here's The Deal

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It's always a good idea to sanitize your electronics after getting over the flu. Getting rid of the lingering germs from your high-touch surfaces will make your immediate environment more hygienic. But how should you go about it? Do you just wipe them down with a disinfectant wipe and pat your back for a job well done? While that's an option, it's not the the best choice for cleaning your electronics. This is because these seemingly harmless wipes can impair the touch-resistant coating on your smart device's exterior. Simply put, the response rate will be quite slow for specific features.

Moreover, the presence of chemicals like bleach and quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs or quats) makes them a little unsafe for use near kids. So, they might not be the best option for wiping down your child's iPad or computer. This is why you might want to ditch disinfecting wipes and instead use a dedicated screen cleaner to clean your electronics. Just ensure it doesn't contain potentially harmful ingredients. You also want to steer clear of glass cleaners. Although they'll eliminate the fingerprints and greasy stains, they might harm the anti-static or anti-glare coat over your TV, laptop, or smartphone. However, if you prefer wipes to other methods, make sure to get a pack made specifically for such devices, like EVEO's Electronics Wipes Screen Cleaner Streak-Free Wipes.

The biggest pro of using disinfectant wipes to clean electronics is the ease of use. But if you pick a product that contains chemicals like acetone, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, bleach, alcohol, or citrus or petroleum-derived solvents, it could spell trouble for the protective layers on your electronic device. Additionally, if a wipe is too saturated with the cleaning liquid, the excess moisture can seep through the openings and hurt your gadget.

But if you like using them to sanitize your devices, take the requisite safety precautions to minimize the risk of damage. Start by turning off all devices and unplugging them. You also want to wring out the excess cleaning liquid from each wipe, so you don't accidentally introduce moisture inside your TV or laptop. Then, use it to wipe impermeable surfaces, such as the gadget's monitor or keyboard, and keep it away from all openings and ports. Be gentle, since you don't want to end up with dead pixelated areas on your screens. In case it leaves behind streaks or lint residue, let your device air dry before wiping it with a clean microfiber cloth and plugging it back in.

If you don't want to risk damaging your device or its protective coatings, use screen cleaners, like iO CLEAN's Screen Cleaner Spray. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and avoid spraying the device directly since the liquid might venture its way inside your gadget and damage it. Always spritz the solution on a clean microfiber cloth before using it to wipe your gadgets. This will help you get rid of the unsightly fingerprints and stains marring your beautiful devices. Don't forget to turn off and unplug your devices prior to cleaning them. To take care of the stuck food crumbs and debris beneath your keys, get a can of compressed air. Dust-Off's DPSXL Disposable Duster is specifically formulated for electronics and will take care of the dirt and other nasties hidden beneath your keyboard. In case you're on a tight budget, use the dental floss cleaning hack to get into tight spaces.

But you don't necessarily need a screen cleaner. You can achieve similar results with a microfiber cloth dampened (shouldn't be wet; wring it out before use) with water — distilled would be best. Further, don't use paper towels or tissues since they might leave behind residue or scratch up the display. If you want to sanitize your devices, combine water with isopropyl alcohol in a 1:1 or 3:7 ratio, depending on how gross they are. Spritz the solution on a microfiber cloth and gently wipe your electronics. Try moving the cloth in a single direction, like from top to bottom, to keep streaks at bay. Finally, allow the cleaned device to air dry and, then, power it on.