4 Steps to Disinfect Your Tech During Cold & Flu Season
Like many of you, my family has been battling the flu lately. Whether you’re dealing with the common cold or full-blown influenza, it’s important to disinfect to prevent the spread during cold flu season. Don’t forget to disinfect your tech! Expert Burton Kelso is here to help with 4 steps to make sure your devices are cleaned and ready to go. Take a look…
Want other technology help? Check out our Guide to Screen Time for Kids!
4 Steps to Disinfect Your Tech During Cold & Flu Season
Courtesy of Burton Kelso, The Technology Expert
Cold and Flu season is here with a vengeance. We are in the midst of a flu epidemic and many experts predict it hasn’t reached its peak. Public health experts recommend you stick to the basic steps to avoid the flu such as washing your hands, getting a flu shot, and disinfecting surfaces you touch on a regular basis. One of the most ignored surfaces we touch is our smartphones and our keyboards. We place our smartphones on many surfaces (such as the bathroom counter) that can have many forms of bacteria and viruses. If you come in contact with people day to day, what are the chances you wash your hands every time you sit down at a keyboard? How can you protect yourself? Follow these simple steps to keep your phone and other gadgets clean during cold and flu season.
The most common way that the flu is spread is from person-to-person contact, as well as from dirty hands that come in contact with your face, eyes, nose, and mouth. These areas are points of entry for the flu virus. Did you know the average person touches their face up to 16 times per hour? Even more disturbing is that if you don’t clean your smartphone, computer, or laptop keyboard on a regular basis, it can contain more germs than a toilet. Now you can see the concern. Here’s what you can do:
#1 Use cleaning products designed for technology
You don’t want to use harsh cleaning chemicals on your devices, including water. Remember these are delicate gadgets. While you can use Anti-bacterial wipes on your computer keyboard, you want to avoid using them on your smartphone. They are very abrasive and can leave scratches on your phone. My suggestion is to grab some Touch Screen Wipes or the Tech Armor Cleaning Kit These handy wipes are guaranteed to keep your smartphone and tablet germ-free.
#2 Make Your Own Cleaning Solution To Clean Your Devices
If you want to save a few pennies, you can create your own mixture using You could also make your own cleaning solution using a 50-50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and distilled water. When wiping down the surface of your keyboard, smartphone, or tablet, always use a microfiber cloth. Never use paper towels or other standard cleaning clothes.
#3 Get Some Tech that Will Clean Your Tech
If you want a high-tech solution for sanitizing your phone, consider the PhoneSoap Charger (www.phonesoap.com). This device will make your smartphone and tablets germ-free and charge them all simultaneously. It might be a little pricey, but PhoneSoap will also clean things such as keys, credit cards, and watches.
#4 Get a Cover that Will Minimize Germs on your gadgets
Use a surface cover or case for your smartphone or tablet that has antimicrobial protection. One of the best products you can get is from BioArmor (www.bioarmortech.com). These products offer 24/7 protection from the germs your tablet and smartphone encounter.
Some more things to consider during cold and flu season:
- Do not share smartphones with others. If you do, wash your hands before handling your device or use a hand sanitizer to kill germs.
- Keep your smartphone out of the hands of your children. You take the risk of infecting your child and they can be a major factor in spreading the flu to you |
- Consider using your phone ‘hands-free’ or using earbuds for phone conversations.
Following these tips can help keep you and your family safe from germs during cold and flu season.
Do you have tips to disinfect your tech devices, drop me a line and let me know? Please share this information with everyone.
Check-in with Integral on social media at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin, YouTube, for more tips on helping you get the most out of the technology you use in your home or office.
From iFamily to Yours,
Burton
Burton Kelso is a Kansas City based Tech Expert and the Chief Technology Expert at Integral, providing on-site and remote support for computers, tablets, smartphones, routers, printers, and any device that connects to the internet. I regularly appear as a guest tech correspondent on ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS on shows such as Kansas City Live, Better Kansas City, and FOX 4 Morning Show, offering viewers easy tips on technology, Internet lifestyle, Internet security, and gadgets. You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and watch great tech tip videos on my YouTube channel. I can be reached at 888-256-0829 or by email at [email protected]
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