Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Amid Coronavirus Outbreak, Apple Confirms That It's Okay to Clean Your iPhone With Disinfectant

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
69,446
40,548



Apple today updated its support document on cleaning Apple products with new information that confirms it's okay to to use a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes for the purpose of cleaning germs from your devices.

iphonedisinfectingwipes.jpg

Prior to now, Apple's cleaning guidelines have recommended against all cleaners, warning that the chemicals have the potential to damage the oleophobic coating on iPhone and iPad displays. Apple still warns against aerosol sprays, ammonia, window cleaners, hydrogen peroxide, bleach, compressed air, and abrasives:
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.
Click to expand...
Apple also says to avoid spraying cleaners directly onto your devices and to avoid getting moisture into the openings.

Apple's updated guidelines come as the coronavirus continues to spread around the world. Given that most people use their iPhones and other devices constantly, it's important to be able to disinfect them to cut down on virus spread through surfaces.

It's not entirely clear how long the virus lasts on surfaces, but various studies have found that it can survive on glass or plastic for as little as two hours or as long as nine days.

The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern tested Apple's new guidelines over the course of the last week. Using a new iPhone 8, she wiped the display 1,095 times with Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, the estimated equivalent of the number of times an iPhone might be cleaned over the course of three years.

After all the wiping, the oleophobic coating on the iPhone's display was in good condition with no perceived damage.

Article Link: Amid Coronavirus Outbreak, Apple Confirms That It's Okay to Clean Your iPhone With Disinfectant
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/03/09/apple-okays-cleaning-iphone-with-disinfectant/
  • Like
Reactions: ClearandConvincing, MrUNIMOG and jasonj566
I would worry about the isopropyl alcohol harming the lipophobic and anti-glare coatings. Also those wipes are slightly abrasive, which can further degrade the coating.

My question to the experts is: Does cleaning an iPhone with a drop of dish soap on a wet towel sufficiently remove germs?
 
How important is is to wash your phone if nobody else ever touches it?

I can't remember the last time anybody other than my wife touched my phone for any reason whatsoever.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Barron
Am I the only one that washes the iPhone with soap as I wash my hands?

..................

icrude said:
Ha how many morons are washing their hands but not their phones...
Click to expand...

Guess not, haha

iBluetooth said:
Do you wash your keys, credit card etc. ?
Click to expand...

Yes, I "wash" my credit cards with wet wipes, but not keys, they stay in my bag all day and barely ever get used. Credit cards are mostly in Apple Pay now, so not that many physical ones to handle.
 
Last edited:
  • Wow
  • Like
Reactions: Septembersrain, FriendlyMackle, Bsgreubel and 3 others
shamino said:
How important is is to wash your phone if nobody else ever touches it?

I can't remember the last time anybody other than my wife touched my phone for any reason whatsoever.
Click to expand...

Do you go out and place your phone on tables? For example, when you go to MacDonald and place the phone on the table... then it is infected with whatever...
[automerge]1583777144[/automerge]
thadoggfather said:
yeah that seems like a terrible idea with ant-reflective coating

they cant even bode well against the oils on the keys that press against them when the laptop is closed and stored
Click to expand...

For that, use a damp cloth with mild soap if needed
 
  • Like
Reactions: Complex757
shamino said:
How important is is to wash your phone if nobody else ever touches it?

I can't remember the last time anybody other than my wife touched my phone for any reason whatsoever.
Click to expand...

I think the point is your hands get dirty. And you use your iPhone. Then you remember to wash your hands but then start using your iPhone again, re-contaminating yourself.

arn
 
  • Like
Reactions: CarpalMac, ChinaRye, FriendlyMackle and 16 others
I think Apple is trying to provide a bridge of reasonable ground for those concerned about cleaning. They would prefer you didn't use any harsh chemicals on your devices, but if you feel you must, they want to provide some guidance. Taming the panic.

The best course of action is to wash your hands after touching shared surfaces and don't touch your mouth. That will limit transmission.

Our bodies need to be exposed to bacteria and known viruses to build immunities, so there's a risk of our personal worlds becoming "too clean" and making future outbreaks even worse because our bodies are not ready. Don't clean too much, just be reasonable.
[automerge]1583777894[/automerge]
Screenslayr said:
Since October 2019 between 20,000 – 52,000 have died from the Flu. BUT LETS CREATE MASSIVE PANIC AND HYSTERIA ABOUT CORONAVIRUS!!!! Such a joke... all politics and if you don't think so, reevaluate yourself.
Click to expand...

Please stop with the downplaying. It's a serious situation with a lot of unknowns still. You'd re-evaluate yourself if you or a family member got seriously ill with the virus. Suddenly everything would look very different to you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chrixxa, Eagle1337, FriendlyMackle and 18 others
shamino said:
How important is is to wash your phone if nobody else ever touches it?

I can't remember the last time anybody other than my wife touched my phone for any reason whatsoever.
Click to expand...

There used to be this one barista who worked at Starbucks who would take your phone instead of just scanning it with the wand like everyone else. It really annoyed me.

But yes, occasionally people take my phone. I had to give it to Nike for a store return.
 
MacRumors said:



Apple today updated its support document on cleaning Apple products with new information that confirms it's okay to to use a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes for the purpose of cleaning germs from your devices.

iphonedisinfectingwipes.jpg

Prior to now, Apple's cleaning guidelines have recommended against all cleaners, warning that the chemicals have the potential to damage the oleophobic coating on iPhone and iPad displays. Apple still warns against aerosol sprays, ammonia, window cleaners, hydrogen peroxide, bleach, compressed air, and abrasives:Apple also says to avoid spraying cleaners directly onto your devices and to avoid getting moisture into the openings.

Apple's updated guidelines come as the coronavirus continues to spread around the world. Given that most people use their iPhones and other devices constantly, it's important to be able to disinfect them to cut down on virus spread through surfaces.

It's not entirely clear how long the virus lasts on surfaces, but various studies have found that it can survive on glass or plastic for as little as two hours or as long as nine days.

The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern tested Apple's new guidelines over the course of the last week. Using a new iPhone 8, she wiped the display 1,095 times with Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, the estimated equivalent of the number of times an iPhone might be cleaned over the course of three years.

After all the wiping, the oleophobic coating on the iPhone's display was in good condition with no perceived damage.

Article Link: Amid Coronavirus Outbreak, Apple Confirms That It's Okay to Clean Your iPhone With Disinfectant
Click to expand...
The other option is to get glass cover and clean that one with Clorox. As the glass cover gets damage, just replace it with another one in 6-12 months. Your original screen is untouched :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: FriendlyMackle, J.J. Sefton, SantaFeNM and 1 other person
Screenslayr said:
Since October 2019 between 20,000 – 52,000 have died from the Flu. BUT LETS CREATE MASSIVE PANIC AND HYSTERIA ABOUT CORONAVIRUS!!!! Such a joke... all politics and if you don't think so, reevaluate yourself.
Click to expand...

I really wish people would passing this around.

You think you're being smart, when you're really not. The coronavirus has existed for approximately three months.

The flu doesn't have between a 2 and 5% mortality rate. The flu's mortality rate is around 0.1%. The coronavirus has been closer to 5% here in America, largely due to Washington.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: chrixxa, brgjoe, upintheclouds and 12 others
Screenslayr said:
Since October 2019 between 20,000 – 52,000 have died from the Flu. BUT LETS CREATE MASSIVE PANIC AND HYSTERIA ABOUT CORONAVIRUS!!!! Such a joke... all politics and if you don't think so, reevaluate yourself.
Click to expand...
Yeah. People on here are cracking me up. Pretending this is the plague or a zombie apocalypse or something. lol. A few people have died, big deal. There are many far more realistic threats, but yeah, lets pretend a virus that has killed a few thousand people out of over 7 billion is a big deal.
 
  • Disagree
  • Like
Reactions: PickUrPoison, Moonlight, JBGoode and 12 others
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back