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saintforlife

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 25, 2011
1,045
329
Is there something better than a wet paper towel to clean iPad/iPhone screens?
 
Last edited:

Newtons Apple

Suspended
Mar 12, 2014
22,757
15,254
Jacksonville, Florida
Just a dry micro fiber cloth. Disinfecting is not really required unless you are loaning out your device to strangers or which I do not think is a good idea. You phone will harbor many germs and bacteria but most will not cause any harm if they came from you.

Most chemicals would need to be applied wet and stay on the surface wet for a minute of so to kill everything. Not good.:apple:
 

s2mikey

Suspended
Sep 23, 2013
2,490
4,255
Upstate, NY
Just a dry micro fiber cloth. Disinfecting is not really required unless you are loaning out your device to strangers or which I do not think is a good idea. You phone will harbor many germs and bacteria but most will not cause any harm if they came from you.

Most chemicals would need to be applied wet and stay on the surface wet for a minute of so to kill everything. Not good.:apple:

Agreed. I wipe my iPad screen daily with a soft cloth and a little of my own breath. I've used warm water lightly on a sponge for bad fingerprints but that's it. Looks brand new.
 

smallcoffee

macrumors 68000
Oct 15, 2014
1,667
2,208
North America
I recommend buying a box of electronic cleaning wipes. I think they work better than a microfiber cloth, and you can also use them on other things, like eyeglasses or computer screens.
 

MBHockey

macrumors 601
Oct 4, 2003
4,052
300
Connecticut
Just a dry micro fiber cloth. Disinfecting is not really required unless you are loaning out your device to strangers or which I do not think is a good idea. You phone will harbor many germs and bacteria but most will not cause any harm if they came from you.

Most chemicals would need to be applied wet and stay on the surface wet for a minute of so to kill everything. Not good.:apple:

disagree. you can certainly pick up nasty bugs that will live a long time on your gadgets' screens/surfaces depending on what you do for a living (which does not require "loaning it out to strangers"). I'm an ER physician and I clean my iphone with purrell after each shift.
 

Newtons Apple

Suspended
Mar 12, 2014
22,757
15,254
Jacksonville, Florida
disagree. you can certainly pick up nasty bugs that will live a long time on your gadgets' screens/surfaces depending on what you do for a living (which does not require "loaning it out to strangers"). I'm an ER physician and I clean my iphone with purrell after each shift.

If I worked in ER, I would too.

I wash my hands several times a day and now they tell us the hand soap is killing us. Go figure. Generally I never "loan" out my phone. I also never go into a restaurant bathroom just to wash my hands before eating. I have never disinfected my phone and bet that it would be a seething Petri dish of horror if checked, but then are so many things we touch day in and day out.
 

radtechy

macrumors newbie
Nov 9, 2014
22
0
disagree. you can certainly pick up nasty bugs that will live a long time on your gadgets' screens/surfaces depending on what you do for a living (which does not require "loaning it out to strangers"). I'm an ER physician and I clean my iphone with purrell after each shift.


I'm an MRI/CT tech I only use a lifeproof case and wipe it down with the "purple wipes" which are those wipes that kill everything
 

klo6

macrumors member
Oct 14, 2014
44
1
Ohio
I'm a phlebotomist at an OB/GYN office... I don't even want to imagine what could get on my iPhone and iPad! I use the purple PDI wipes or alcohol pads on both everyday before I leave.

Did you know hepatitis can live on a surface for up to 2 weeks?!?!?! :eek: Ewww!!!
 

powerbook911

macrumors 601
Mar 15, 2005
4,003
383
I use Meguiars Quik Interior Detailer. The stuff is about $4 for a 16oz. Spray bottle.

I spray one microfiber with the liquid, wipe the device, and then dry with another microfiber. I don't go crazy with the solution of course.

This stuff can be used on car nav screens, leather, plastic, wood trim In cars, etc. so it's mild but works.

No guarantees, but I haven't had the product hurt my devices or car yet. Don't use in the sun though. Again, it is suppose to be very mild.
 

Fattytail

macrumors 6502a
Apr 11, 2012
902
242
The problem with the wipes and sprays you guys are mentioning is that they're all solvents. Unless you've got a screen protector on, you're going to deteriorate the oleophobic coating.
 

powerbook911

macrumors 601
Mar 15, 2005
4,003
383
The problem with the wipes and sprays you guys are mentioning is that they're all solvents. Unless you've got a screen protector on, you're going to deteriorate the oleophobic coating.

Do car screens never have an oleophobic coating? Just curious, since Meguiar's might factor that in when developing their product.

I honestly try to use microfiber only, but eventually I feel you need to do a shiny clean especially the Air 2 that holds onto the fingerprints more.
 

Royksöpp

macrumors 68020
Nov 4, 2013
2,404
4,018
Just breathe on your screen and clean it with a microfiber cloth. For the times it feels really dirty I use iKlear.
 

wakinghour

macrumors regular
Jul 16, 2012
140
62
don't use any liquid to clean your screen if your screen has oleophobic coating, it will diminish it's ability to evade oil. just use a dry microfiber cloth like people said.

also, those anti-bacterial cleaners just cause bacteria to be more resistant. avoid those.

if you absolutely must clean something dirty off (this shouldn't be frequent) of it use a light dab of alcohol based cleaner. very little is needed. you don't want liquid rolling into your ports or anything.
 

thedeejay

macrumors 65816
Aug 16, 2012
1,338
51
Toronto, Canada.
Just a dry micro fiber cloth. Disinfecting is not really required unless you are loaning out your device to strangers or which I do not think is a good idea. You phone will harbor many germs and bacteria but most will not cause any harm if they came from you.

Most chemicals would need to be applied wet and stay on the surface wet for a minute of so to kill everything. Not good.:apple:

Microfibre cloth works great. I also have a disinfectant solution that Monster sells for electronics which was around $10 when I bought it.
 

neutrino23

macrumors 68000
Feb 14, 2003
1,881
391
SF Bay area
Is there something better than a wet paper towel to clean iPad/iPhone screens?

A good idea is to get a cleaning solution from iKlear.

https://www.klearscreen.com/detail.aspx?ID=109

You can use the enclosed cloth alone most of the time. Once a week or so use the cleaning solution. If you just use a cloth it tends to just push the cruff around. A cleaning solution actually removes the dirt and grease and such.
 

adamhenry

macrumors 68000
Jan 1, 2015
1,621
611
On the Beach
A good idea is to get a cleaning solution from iKlear.

https://www.klearscreen.com/detail.aspx?ID=109

You can use the enclosed cloth alone most of the time. Once a week or so use the cleaning solution. If you just use a cloth it tends to just push the cruff around. A cleaning solution actually removes the dirt and grease and such.

Thanks for the link. It looked like a decent product and the price was OK for a try so I ordered some.
 
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