Handled all day long, sometimes abused, and too rarely cleaned, your smartphone screen deserves a little attention if you want it to go through time without a hitch and without accumulating bacteria.
Smartphones have it tough. We often store them haphazardly in the first available pocket, we carry them around in bags in the middle of other objects, we draw them at the first opportunity by catching them as best we can, we handle them with fingers that are not always very clean, we misplace them, we lay them flat with the glass side up on a table, a desk, a chair, a sofa… Day after day, they have to absorb our way of life. And we are surprised to see small scratches, fingerprints, grease or other unknown mixtures appear on the screen. Not to mention the impressive amount of bacteria it collects through handling by your own hands or those of relatives to whom you can lend it… and which come to rest on your face when you make a phone call. However, a few good reflexes and accessories are enough to keep a clean screen and protect it from the small shocks of everyday life.
The first instinct when you notice that the mobile screen is covered with fingerprints is often to rub the device vigorously against your jeans. It’s a start but not necessarily very effective because your jeans themselves may not be as clean as you think. It is therefore possible to spread the traces rather than to remove them. Several methods are much more effective.
Wipe the screen with a microfiber cloth
These little rags that you find for a few euros can clean your screen even if it has many greasy traces. Do not hesitate to rub vigorously and remove the protective shell if your smartphone has a curved screen so that cleaning can be effective everywhere.
Wipe the screen with eyeglass wipes
If you wear glasses, maybe you have these little wipes soaked in isopropyl alcohol. They can also be used on the mobile screen and allow you to overcome stubborn traces while eliminating a good number of bacteria. However, do not use 70% or 90% alcohol. It could damage the protective film on the screen glass.
Wash the screen with soap and water
Does your smartphone benefit from IP certification? This means that it can withstand water, from simple projection (rain) to total immersion according to the indicated standard. Thus, after making sure of its degree of sealing, you can pass it under water by rubbing it gently with soap. A good way to get rid of bacteria that can lodge there. If your smartphone does not resist immersion, you can clean it with an absorbent paper soaked in soapy water and rinse it with a second sheet simply soaked in clean water and then dry it.
Attention : Do not use toothpaste to clean the screen of your smartphone. Toothpaste has abrasive properties (to effectively clean tooth enamel) that are not at all suitable for the glass of your smartphone. This generally incorporates several layers of materials including an anti-reflective coating which resists this attack poorly. If toothpaste is a common trick to remove micro-scratches on car bodies or car headlights, for example, it is contraindicated on smartphone windows.
Protecting the glass of a smartphone means ensuring a longer lifespan by sparing it scratches, micro-scratches or even cracks. A few minutes of handling and a handful of euros spent can save you a lot of money afterwards by avoiding having to change the glass or the entire screen of the mobile if it becomes unusable after a fall. In addition, a smartphone with an impeccable glass will resell at a better price if you want to part with it. Don’t wait too long before applying protection. Despite the progress of manufacturers, especially with Gorilla Glass Victus, a bad fall can still be fatal.
Protect the screen with a flip cover.
We often think of protecting the smartphone by inserting it into a silicone or leather shell. Its edges, its angles and its back are thus sheltered but the screen remains exposed. A flap shell will protect the mobile on all sides. Some of them have a window, lined with transparent plastic, to appreciate the notifications that may appear. There are flip cases for virtually every brand and model of mobile. Just enter “coque flap” followed by the name of your smartphone in your favorite search engine to find what you want.
Protect the screen with a self-healing film
For those who do not like flip covers and prefer to have immediate access to the entire screen of the smartphone once out of the pocket, several solutions exist. The first is to apply a protective plastic film over the entire surface of the glass. Today, these adhesive films are very easy to apply. Manufacturers deliver a guide system that not only properly wedges the film on the surface, but also prevents the appearance of air bubbles. In addition, many are made of a healing material. If the film were to be slightly scratched, it repairs itself in less than 24 hours to eliminate the scratch. In addition, the film does not alter the brightness of the screen and is compatible with the fingerprint reader placed below. These films are usually sold in pairs for a few euros. To find the one that suits your smartphone, simply type “protective film” followed by the model of your mobile in your search engine.
Protect the screen with a tempered glass pane
The other way to protect the screen is to stick over a second very resistant pane made of tempered glass. Here too, the glass, rigid, arises in a few seconds impeccably on the entire surface of the screen thanks to the guide provided in the box. It adheres to the original glass without creating the slightest air bubble. From then on, it is she who will suffer all the affronts of the daily life of your smartphone. If it becomes too damaged, it will be easy to change it without damaging the device. Be careful, this one is not unbreakable. However, it offers a touch similar to what the glass of the mobile screen offers. To find the protection that suits your smartphone, simply type “glass protection” followed by the model of your mobile in your search engine.