CLEAN AND GERM-FREE PHONE

With the pandemic looming over our heads, we are starting to look back at those tiny things we never thought required proper cleaning. Besides, these ‘unprecedented’ times – yes, we are just as tired of hearing that – have indeed made us dependent on one such tiny thing - our mobiles!

We touch our mobile phones the most, on average, in a day. It comes in contact with our face the most and no matter how many Whatsapp articles tell us otherwise, we still sleep with it lying next to our head. Add a plethora of apps for everything under the sky, it has become our companion for almost every activity. It wakes you up, you work out with it, just add social media to the mix and you find yourself hooked for hours on end. Chances are, you’re reading this on one right now.

So, surprise surprise! You’re not alone in spending time on your phone, it is also a breeding ground for many bacteria and viruses. A study posted by The Atlantic stated that 1 in 6 phones are bound to be contaminated with E. coli. Now, what is E. coli you ask? The answer’s not very appetising so be warned. It is a bacteria of fecal origin that's associated with stomach upsets and serious cases of food poisoning. 

Then there is an alarming presence of Staphylococcus aureus, a big bad word from the scary world of biology, as found by a study conducted over nursing students in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of infections and can cause a wide range of (usually) purulent infections, ranging from skin and soft tissue infections to endocarditis. Unfortunately, influenza isn’t far behind either.

So in these trying times, where sanitising everything around us has become a priority, mobile phones cannot be left behind. 

Here are some important tips to clean your phone the right way. 

• Unplug your phone/Switch off power
• Remove the cover. You can clean the cover separately. 
• Spray a bit of Koparo’s Natural All-Purpose Cleaner onto a Microfiber cloth till its slightly damp 
• Gently wipe up and down the screen and then the back. Avoid using the wet cloth around the ports of your phone.
• Let it dry for 5 minutes 
• Wipe away any excess moisture with a dry part of your cloth

Microfiber cloth is always preferred over any other washcloth or even paper towels which can be abrasive. It does a better job of trapping grime, grease, and dirt. 

Remember to never spray any disinfectant directly onto the surface of your phone and absolutely avoid using water.  Koparo’s Natural All-Purpose Cleaner has no ammonia which makes it an excellent cleaner for phones and tablets. 

How to Clean Ports and Corners 

To champion those tough spots on your phone - such as corners and the ports, a Cotton Swab will come extremely handy. As amazing as Microfiber cloth is for your phone they might not be able to properly reach these areas, crumbs and dust specs might persist. 

Strictly avoid sharing your phone a lot (or at all), as this is one of the main sources of disease spreading. And well, wash your hands often, but that of course goes without saying. The frequency of cleaning your phone should vary according to the level of exposure to the outside world and personal usage.

It’s advisable to read any cleaning instructions provided by your phone manufacturer. For iPhone users out there, we’ve cut your googling time in half as these are some instructions Apple put out recently.

Once this is done and dusted, let the unending Instagram scroll and Netflix binge continue!