Top Tips For Deep Cleaning Your Electronics

Every appliance and device in your home eventually gets dirty and dusty, including your electronics. While you can easily wipe down counters and furniture with a wet rag and use various household cleaners, electronics require special care. To ensure you don’t ruin these devices when you clean them, there are a few tips to remember.

Before cleaning any electronic device, you must turn it off, unplug it from its power source, and allow it to cool. Never use wet rags or spray cleaning products directly on an electronic, as this can damage the wiring. Use compressed air and Q-tips to clean hard-to-reach gaps and crevices in keyboards and remotes. Always use a microfiber cloth, and avoid using tissues, paper towels, or anything abrasive.

Over time, your keyboards, remotes, and screens get dusty and grimy. You should clean them, as dust and dirt can lead to bigger problems, but you need to do it carefully. If you’re nervous about damaging your electronics while cleaning them, then keep reading. Below is a list of all the things you should (and should not) do when cleaning electronics in your home.

Tips To Remember When Cleaning Electronics

1. Turn Devices Off

Before you reach for any cleaning supplies, shut off the electronics you want to clean. When the device is off, you are less likely to damage it if it gets wet. Leaving it on while cleaning it can also irritate components, especially remotes and keyboards. Keep your device off the entire time you clean it, and allow ample time before turning it back on.

2. Unplug Or Remove Batteries

In addition to turning off your device, remove it completely from its power source. If it plugs into the wall, unplug it. This ensures the product is completely off power, and it is safest to clean. If your device runs on batteries, remove them to ensure there is no power running through the device. It also allows you to clean inside the battery port, which can sometimes get dirty.

3. Use A Microfiber Cloth

One of the most important cleaning tips for any electronic device is to be mindful of the rag you use. Microfiber cloths are the best (and often the only) material for cleaning most electronics. These cloths are great for several reasons. They are soft and non-abrasive so that they won’t scratch screens, and you can use them to buff out smudges and dirt.

They also don’t leave lint or residue behind as other rags and towels do. The result is a perfectly clean surface with no lingering lint. 

4. Allow Time For Your Device To Cool

If you are cleaning a television, computer, or any device that tends to run hot when it’s turned on, allow it ample time to cool. If you try to clean electronics when they are still hot, you can damage internal components. Also, whatever cleaning product you use for the surface will evaporate so quickly, it can leave residue or become ineffective. Always allow time for your devices to cool to room temperature before cleaning.

5. Use Compressed Air For Dust And Dirt Buildup

Compressed air is a great tool for removing dirt and dust from hard-to-reach places. It contains no moisture, making it a safe option for electronics with lots of wiring. It is also the best way to get dust and dirt out of keyboards, charging ports, and other tiny crevices that a microfiber towel and other tools can’t reach.

6. Make A Cleaner Using Isopropyl Alcohol

In many cases, you don’t need any cleaner to wipe down electronics. A microfiber cloth and a bit of patience can do the trick. If, however, you have a stubborn stain or something crusted onto a device, you can make a cleaner with isopropyl alcohol and water. Mix equal parts filtered water and isopropyl alcohol. Apply a conservative amount to your microfiber cloth. This solution will help remove any tough smudges and grime. The alcohol disinfects and also quickly evaporates, helping keep your sensitive electronics dry.

7. Use Q-tips For Hard-To-Reach Spots

Q-tips aren’t just great for cleaning your ears; they can also be effective tools for cleaning electronics. These cotton-tipped swabs are ideal for detailed cleaning of an intricate device. They are great for keyboards, remotes, and other devices with buttons and small gaps that a microfiber towel can’t reach. 

What You Should Not Do When Cleaning Electronics

1. Never Use A Wet Rag

A wet rag is one thing you should never use to clean an electronic device. It might be tempting, since you clean most surfaces with a wet rag, but moisture can destroy electronics. Even with the cleaning solution listed above, the rag should be only mildly damp, not soaking wet. Whenever possible, use a dry microfiber rag, and never a wet one.

2. Don’t Use Napkins Or Tissues

One cleaning mistake to avoid when polishing up your electronics is using the wrong cleaning tool. Paper towels are great for cleaning all sorts of household items, but not your electronics. Paper towels, napkins, and tissues can all leave lint and tiny paper remnants when used to clean surfaces. While this isn’t a big deal for countertops, it is a problem when you’re wiping down a TV screen or laptop. Microfiber cloths are the best option, so if you don’t have any handy, head to your local home goods store and purchase some.

3. Never Clean When A Device Is On Or Plugged In

Cleaning your electronics is something you should plan rather than do impulsively. You may notice smudges on your screen when it’s turned on, but always ensure your device is turned off before cleaning it. In addition, remove its power source. Simply turning off a television doesn’t stop power from running through it.

4. Don’t Use Household Cleaner Or Pre-Treated Wipes

Regardless of how loyal you are to a particular cleaning spray, only compressed air or an isopropyl and water mixture to clean most electronics.  It can be tempting to use Windex to clean a TV screen, but it can do more harm than good. Save your cleaning products for their intended uses, and avoid exposing electronics to these harmful chemicals.

5. Never Use Abrasive Sponges

Sponges and other abrasive cleaning tools are great at removing grime from dishes, but they can ruin your electronics. Screens and the sleek surfaces of modern electronics are fragile. Sponges and brushes can scratch your devices, rendering them useless.

6. Don’t Aggressively Shake Or Prod At Your Electronics

As you clean a keyboard or remote, you might hear something moving inside. While it can be tempting to dig around and get every last piece of dirt out, resist this urge. You can lightly shake a device to remove loose particles, but avoid aggressive shaking or prodding with sharp objects. These actions can damage wiring and cause your device to break.

7. Don’t Spray Liquid On Your Device

Lastly, never spray cleaner directly onto an electronic device. Electronics and moisture don’t mix, and spraying an electronic with cleaning solution is akin to poisoning it. Instead, apply a minimal amount of solution to a microfiber cloth so you can control where the moisture goes and how much you use.

Summing Up Tips To Remember When Cleaning Electronics

You don’t want your $2,000 laptop or expensive TV to look dirty and old, which is why you need to clean your electronics regularly. When doing so, remember there is a right way and a wrong way to clean electronics. Before starting, always turn them off, remove the power source, and allow them to cool for a long time.

Use a microfiber cloth to wipe surfaces, and a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol to remove stubborn stains. Compressed air and Q-tips are great at reaching tight spaces and crevices. Never spray cleaning solution directly on your electronics, and avoid using paper towels, tissues, and abrasive sponges to clean them.

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