Using alcohol wipes to clean smartphones can damage the display’s protective coating, reports BGR.
According to a study by the University of Arizona, a smartphone’s surface may harbor significantly more bacteria than a toilet seat. As a result, many users regularly wipe down their device’s body and screen with alcohol wipes, but this cleaning method isn’t always safe.
Experts advise against using harsh chemical agents, including bleach, ammonia, and solutions with high alcohol concentrations. Such substances can harm the oleophobic coating on the display, which reduces fingerprints and shields the screen from dirt.
However, specialists note that in certain cases, it’s permissible to carefully use wipes containing 70% alcohol. These recommendations were previously published by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The safest way to clean a smartphone, the article’s authors suggest, is a soft cloth lightly dampened with warm water and a small amount of soap solution. This method removes dirt without damaging the screen’s protective coating.
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