While some people are technological whizzes, not all of them know how to safely clean the gadgets they rely so heavily on. Televisions, mobile phones, laptops and other items of modern gadgetry are relatively fragile, so great care needs to be taken when cleaning them.
Avoid these seven common cleaning mistakes people make, and your gadgets should remain safe, sound and very clean.
1. Wiping screens with cleaning agents
The screens on phones, TVs and computers are fragile, and they’re often very susceptible to streaks. Spraying multipurpose cleaner or polish on screens always does more harm than good, and can leave the picture blurred and obscured — particularly in sunlight. If you can keep hands of TV and computer screens, all you’ll ever need to do is dust with a microfibre cloth. If you need to remove greasy marks or spillages, however, you’ll need to buy some dedicated screen wipes.
2. Ignoring remote controls
The average remote control can harbour millions of potentially harmful bacteria. And it’s not surprising, given that they’re constantly handled by people every day. When you’re cleaning your gadgets, spare a thought from your remote controls. A quick wipe-down with an antibacterial wipe should be enough to keep the worst of the bacteria at bay.
3. Not taking things apart when you can
If your gadget has removable casing, remove it to clean behind it. If you don’t, grease, dirt and bacteria can build up over time. Eventually, there’s a chance that such an accumulation will interfere with the gadget’s operation.
4. Only cleaning what you can see
Cleaning the outer casing of your favourite gadgets will only deliver cosmetic benefits. If you want to keep the inner-workings of some of your favourite items of tech in a healthy condition, you might need to take a few of them apart. Take a coffee maker or a shallow fryer, for instance. Gadgets like these collect small particles, grease and dirt deep within their working parts. The only way you can access them is to dismantle them — before cleaning each individual part separately.
5. Not drying your gadgets
It’s never a good idea to leave your gadgets wet — wherever in the house they’re stored. If you need to use water or a fluid to clean an item of tech, make sure it’s dry when you put it away. If you don’t, there’s a chance that moisture could penetrate the inner-workings of the gadget. Or in the case of an electric toothbrush, mould can form within just a few hours.
6. Not washing blender blades individually
Too many people simply rinse out their blender jugs after using them. However, you can never be sure that you’ve removed all of the food debris from them — unless you wash the blades individually. Food that is left on the underside of a blade, for example, could become bad. There’s also a chance of mould or bacteria growth.
7. Forgetting about crumbs
A lot of gadgets live on desks and workstations these days. And because many of us work through our lunch these days, the risk of crumbs finding their way into crevices is high. This is a particular problem in keyboards, mouses and printers. The very minimum you should be doing is tipping the gadget upside down to allow crumbs to fall out.
Tip: Use cotton buds and paper to remove food debris from in between keys on a keyboard.
Your gadgets need to be clear of dust, dirt, grease and food debris if they’re going to work properly and enjoy a long life. Avoid these common cleaning mistakes, and your tech should live a long and productive life.