What’s dirtier — your phone or toilet? The answer probably won’t surprise you. Your gadgets get constant use, and this adds to the grime. Here are the top five dirtiest devices.
Apart from spreading germs and turning your stomach, a dirty phone can cause you to question your hearing. We’ll explain below.
Can you hear me now?
Have you been having problems hearing people on the phone? What about playing music or movies through your phone’s speaker? Do things sound muffled?
Before you schedule a hearing test, think of all the places you put your phone every day: in your pocket or purse, on your desk, in your car’s cup holder, or on the dinner table. And though we don’t condone it, the bathroom.
Your phone picks up lint, dust, dirt and grime wherever you go. All that stuff gets into the nooks and crevices, some of which you need to operate the phone.
RELATED: 7 annoying iPhone problems and how to fix them
Your iPhone’s microphones and speakers are located in various areas: at the top-front in the notch, at the bottom and even in the camera array on the back.
They all work together to capture the sound around you when shooting video, to hear people better when you’re on the phone and to provide optimal sound when watching a movie or TV show, listening to music or on a call with the speaker turned on.
If these components get jammed with dirt, you’ll have problems hearing anything, and so will the people talking to you. The simple solution is to clean your phone, right? Yes, but you have to be careful or you can make things worse.
Here are some products to help safely clean and disinfect your phone.
PRO TIP: Unplug all cables and turn off your phone before cleaning it.
Reusable cleaning gel
This goop picks up dust and dirt from deep crevices, including your phone’s speaker and microphone ports. It also safely cleans your keyboard, printer, speakers, camera, TV remote and other electronics.
Simply take a piece of the gel and gently press on the area you want to clean. When you lift it off, the dirt comes with it. The gel is biodegradable and washable, so you can use it repeatedly. Best of all, it won’t leave a sticky residue.
Cleaning kit with all the right pieces
Sharp, hard objects can damage your phone’s surface and internal components. This 17-piece kit from Skylety includes 12 anti-static brushes to get into your phone’s ports safely, speakers and other tiny openings.
There are also two nylon brushes, two dusting films and a cleaning cloth to finish the job.
Strong, minimalist case
A phone case protects your phone from damage when you drop it and keeps the surface scratch-free, but it also helps keep the dirt out.
Spigen is a big name in phone cases and offers a variety that range in price and level of protection. The Ultra Hybrid comes in multiple colors and is compatible with wireless chargers. It’s slim and lightweight but still has military-grade drop protection.
Don’t forget about what’s on the inside. All those apps you have slow down your phone and affect your privacy. Get rid of the ones you don’t use or need. Here’s how to safely run an app audit.
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