How to clean your computer & mobile devices safely

Common viruses like influenza and coronavirus can live on hard surfaces for days, and other germs for much longer. So in addition to keeping your care setting clean, It’s important to sanitise your hardware regularly, especially if you share with others.

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Common viruses like influenza and coronavirus can live on hard surfaces for days, and other germs for much longer. So in addition to keeping your care setting clean, it’s important to sanitise your hardware regularly, especially if you share with others.

Water alone doesn’t kill viruses, so you’ll definitely want to choose an alcohol-based cleaning product. Whatever you use should have a minimum of 70% isopropyl alcohol. Alcohol also evaporates quickly, which prevents moisture being left behind and has a higher viscosity than plain water, so it’s less likely to leak down and cause damage to your electronics.

Cleaning products

There are a few different antibacterial products you can use to disinfect your equipment but we recommend using a sanitiser spray. You might already have some lying around, but typically it’s isopropyl alcohol (70%) mixed with purified water (30%). If you don’t have sanitiser spray you can substitute it with an antibacterial wipe, or alternatively you can make your own cleaning spray using 50% white vinegar and 50% water.

Microfibre cloths

The best way to clean your equipment is to apply the sanitiser spray to a microfibre cloth, and to avoid spreading germs, use a different microfibre cloth for each device. Microfibre clothes can be machine-washed at high temperatures to kill bacteria and re-used (but always check the instructions first). If you have large microfibre cloths, you can cut them into smaller pieces to get multiple uses out of them. If you don’t have a microfibre cloth, kitchen towel can be used instead but must be immediately thrown away after use.

What to avoid

Before we start, here are a few things to be aware of.

  • Don’t spray or pour cleaning product directly onto an electronic device.
  • Don’t submerge devices into water.
  • Don’t use normal hand sanitiser or harsh chemicals like bleach.
  • Don’t get the inside of the phone wet, including the charging and headphone ports.
  • Don’t insert anything into a port – clean around the entrance only.
  • Don’t wipe aggressively or use materials with a rough fabric.

How to clean desktops & laptops

To disinfect desktop computers and laptops, we recommend using a sanitiser spray with a microfibre cloth. However, if you have alcohol-based antibacterial wipes, the same method applies.

  1. Shut down the computer and unplug the power cable if it’s connected.
  2. Spray the sanitiser directly onto the cloth (or get a wipe) – it should be damp and not dripping. You may need to do this a few times throughout to keep the cloth moist.
  3. Softly wipe the screen in a circular motion. This is because it’s a more delicate surface.
  4. If dirt has accumulated inside the keyboard, turn it upside down and very gently give it a couple of shakes. Alternatively, you can buy a can of compressed air which is designed to safely blow dust and dirt out.
  5. Gently run the cloth or wipe over your keyboard and mouse.
  6. Leave your equipment to air dry for a minimum of 5 minutes.
  7. In this time, you could also gently clean the exterior of any accessories, like cables or USBs.
  8. Give your desk a quick wipe for good measure.
  9. All done! If there are any wet patches which aren’t drying, give them a quick wipe before plugging your computer back in if you need to and power it back up.

How to clean mobile devices (smart phones & tablets)

To disinfect mobile devices, we also recommend using a sanitiser spray with a microfibre cloth but alcohol-based antibacterial wipes can be substituted again.

  1. Turn the power off to avoid interacting with the touch screen and disconnect any cables.
  2. Remove the case if you have one.
  3. Spray the sanitiser directly onto the cloth (or get a wipe) – it should be damp and not dripping. You may need to do this a few times throughout to keep the cloth moist.
  4. Softly wipe the screen in a circular motion. This is because glass is a more delicate surface.
  5. Move onto the back and sides. You can gently wipe these areas using a back-and-forth motion.
  6. Wipe all around the case, making sure you get in all the corners (plastic and silicon cases only – this method isn’t suitable for leather cases).
  7. Leave the device and case to air dry for a minimum of 5 minutes to let the alcohol evaporate.
  8. In this time, you could also gently wipe the exterior of any accessories, like chargers or headphones.
  9. If dirt has accumulated the inside of the phone, for example in the charging port, gently roll a dry cotton bud in the affected area. Don’t push it inside the phone as this may damage it.
  10. All done! If there are any wet patches which aren’t drying, give them a quick wipe before attaching the phone case and powering the device back up.

CareDocs technical support

In addition to receiving assistance with software queries, CareDocs customers benefit from free UK-based technical support. This includes giving you advice on how to properly clean your equipment, offering solutions to any technical difficulties that might arise and replacing your hardware if in the rare event you find a fault or cause damage to your equipment.

If you have a technical query or require assistance using CareDocs, you can contact our friendly support team by phoning 0330 056 3333 or emailing support@caredocs.co.uk.

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a CareDocs customer and the different supplier service benefits we offer, contact sales@caredocs.co.uk or book a free demo with one of our dedicated Business Development Managers.

Want more information on mobile care recording?
Check out this free ebook: 

Introduction to point of care recording


What is Point of Care Recording - CareDocs

Originally published on July 9, 2021
Article updated on June 1, 2023

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