Which cleaners are safe for electronics, and how to use them
About 6 minutes to read. Published . By the House & Hedge team.
Phones, tablets, earbuds, game controllers and cables collect fingerprints, skin oil, dust and crumbs in the places people touch most. Most of it comes off with a dry cloth. The trouble starts when someone reaches for a household spray, a paper towel or a damp cloth that pushes liquid into a port. Electronics tolerate very little liquid, and the damage often shows up days later as a flaky port or a device that turns off for no obvious reason.
The rule that covers almost every device is simple. Dry first. Damp second, on a cloth and never on the device itself. Liquid never directly. The rest of this guide covers the details for each kind of device and the products to avoid.
Before you start
Switch the device off and unplug it from the charger. For a phone or tablet, power it down fully rather than putting it to sleep. For earbuds, take them out of the case and leave the case closed while you work on the buds. Remove any case or cover that traps moisture against the body, and clean the case separately.
Work on a dry towel, so that any stray drop of liquid has nowhere to run. Keep the cloth away from the ports until you reach them.
What to use
- A microfiber cloth, clean and lint-free
- Compressed air, in short bursts, with the can held upright
- A soft, dry brush, such as a clean paintbrush or a brush made for electronics
- Cotton swabs, for grooves and corners
- A wooden or plastic toothpick, for lint in a port, never metal
- Distilled water, for a lightly dampened cloth
- 70 percent isopropyl alcohol, for hard, non-porous surfaces only, and only when the maker allows it
What to keep away from electronics
Some household products strip coatings, dull finishes, damage seals or leave a residue that attracts more dirt.
- Glass cleaners and window sprays, which often contain ammonia
- Bleach, and disinfecting wipes that contain bleach
- Acetone, nail polish remover and other solvents
- Vinegar and citrus cleaners, which are acidic and can etch coatings
- Abrasive powders, scouring pads and paper towels
- Any spray aimed directly at the device
Be careful with alcohol too. It is a sensible choice for hard, glossy surfaces, but it can dull some painted finishes and make some rubbery coatings sticky or brittle. Test a small hidden area first, and check the maker’s guidance.
Phones and tablets
Wipe the screen and the back with a dry microfiber cloth. For fingerprints, dampen a second cloth with distilled water, wring it out until it is barely damp, and wipe. Buff dry with a clean, dry cloth.
Take the case off if you can. Wipe the case with a cloth dampened in warm, soapy water, rinse it with a damp cloth, and dry it fully before you put it back on the phone. Dirt trapped between a case and a phone can scratch the glass, and it holds moisture against the frame.
The charging port collects lint from pockets, and the lint packs down into a dense plug that stops the charger seating properly. Shine a light into the port, then use a dry, soft brush or a wooden toothpick to loosen the lint. Finish with a short burst of compressed air, held a little way from the port. Never push metal into the port, and never put liquid into it.
If the phone has been wet, switch it off and leave it off. Do not charge it while it is wet. Dry the outside with a towel, and leave it in a ventilated spot away from heat. Rice does not dry a phone well, and it can leave grains and dust in the port. If the phone was submerged, take it to a repair service even if it looks dry, because corrosion can start after the water has gone.
Earbuds and headphones
Earbud grilles collect wax and dust, and that debris can block the sound. Use a dry, soft brush to sweep the grille gently, moving outward from the center so you do not push debris deeper. For stubborn wax, use a dry cotton swab. Many makers supply a small cleaning tool for the grille, and that is the right tool to use.
Silicone ear tips can be washed in warm water with a little mild soap. Rinse them, then let them dry fully before you fit them back on. Do not put the tips in the dishwasher or the dryer.
Headphone earcups with leather or protein-leather pads can be wiped with a cloth dampened with water, then dried. Do not soak the pads, and do not use strong cleaners on them. Keep the cups and the headband dry at the joints, where moisture can reach the wiring.
Game controllers and remotes
Controllers and remotes collect grime in the gaps around the buttons and the thumbsticks, and that grime makes buttons sticky or slow. Wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth, then dry them. Use compressed air to blow dust out of the gaps around the buttons.
For a sticky button, dampen a cotton swab with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and clean the edge of the button, working carefully so that no liquid runs into the body. Keep the swab barely damp. Let the controller dry fully before you use it. If the button still sticks, the switch under it may need replacing, and a repair service can do that.
Do not wash the battery compartment, and do not let liquid reach the battery contacts.
Cables and chargers
Unplug the cable, then wipe it with a dry cloth. Check it for fraying, kinks and exposed wire near the plugs. A damaged cable is a fire and shock risk, and replacing it is cheaper than repairing it. Do not clean a charger with liquid, and do not let liquid reach the plug pins.
Speakers and grilles
Speaker grilles and microphone holes collect dust that muffles the sound. Use a soft brush and a short burst of compressed air. Never spray liquid into a grille, and never poke into it with a hard object that could tear a membrane.
After cleaning
Give any damp item time to dry before you turn it on or connect it to a charger. An hour is usually enough for a lightly dampened surface. A device that has had liquid inside it needs much longer, and often a repair.
A simple routine
Once a week, wipe the screen and the back of each device with a dry cloth. Once a month, check the ports and the grilles, and clear out lint with a brush. Twice a year, look over the cases and cables, and replace anything worn. Keep a small kit in a drawer with a microfiber cloth, a soft brush, a few cotton swabs and a can of compressed air. The cleaning then takes minutes instead of an evening.
When to get help
Take a device to a repair service if liquid has reached the inside, if the screen is cracked, if a port has bent metal, or if a battery swells. A swollen battery can break the screen or catch fire. Stop using the device, keep it away from anything flammable, and take it to a service.
