Keeping Your Devices Clean & Sanitized: A Fool-Proof Guide

As a team of experienced IT professionals, the pandemic has kept us busy. Mostly, many of our clients have been working to adapt to remote work arrangements and new virtual platforms. However, there’s another thing that has kept us busy; we’ve been getting more questions about device sanitization than ever before.

With everyone on high-alert and keen to prevent another lock-down, our clients have asked us about the best and safest ways to keep their work computers clean and disinfected. Because computers are such high-touch surfaces, we understand that our clients want to go above and beyond to ensure the spread of germs is minimized and work environments are kept safe and clean.

Since we’ve been getting so many questions about computer sanitization best practices from our clients, we’re convinced that many other professionals and individuals are looking for answers too. So, whether you’re hoping to keep your home work station clean or play your part in keeping your team office disinfected, this step-by-step guide will help ensure your hardware stays regularly sanitized.

Step-By-Step Instructions For Cleaning Every Part of Your Computer

Here’s the thing – sanitizing computers is not as simple as wiping down a counter or some other standard appliance. Computers contain a lot of intricate elements that are sensitive to moisture, chemicals, and excessive pressure. That’s why it’s so critical to understand the basic ‘best practices’ involved in keeping the different parts of your computer sanitized.

We’ve included one comprehensive set of instructions that contains tips and tricks for cleaning display screens and all other surfaces on your computer. Be sure to read these instructions carefully and always check in with a team of IT professionals if you plan to deviate from any of these best practices or have other questions.

Step-by-step instructions for sanitizing your computer:

• Whenever you’re ready to clean your computer, be sure to turn off the device and unplug it from the power outlet. This is very important – you should never clean a device powered on or connected to power in any way.
• Next, be sure to disconnect all external devices and remove the batteries from wireless devices like mouses or keyboards.
• To clean properly it’s a good idea to:
  • Wear disposable gloves.
  • Use a microfiber cloth – any other material could cause damage.
  • Use a DIY disinfectant that’s 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% water. Other products are very harsh and will cause damage to device surfaces.
• To start cleaning, dampen the cloth with the solution and be sure to ring out any excess liquid before you begin wiping device surfaces. Remember to never spray liquids directly onto device surfaces.
• Start with the display screen. Wipe in one direction, starting from the top of the screen and working your way toward the bottom.
• Next, start cleaning keyboards and other surfaces like mouses, external drives, or docking stations. Gently wipe these surfaces uniformly.
• Remember: be careful not to let any excess liquid or moisture drip into areas like USB ports, gaps between keyboard keys, and display panel edges. Any moisture that gets inside can cause internal damage.
• Don’t forget that excessive wiping or pressure can also cause damage to sensitive surfaces, so be sure to go in with a gentle hand.
• Once everything has been sanitized, be sure to let all surfaces air dry before reconnecting external devices and batteries, connecting devices to power outlets, or powering devices on. There should be no visible moisture on any device surfaces when you restore power.
• Dispose of your gloves and wash your hands promptly after the sanitization process is complete.

Final Tips, Tricks, & Reminders

As we mentioned, when it comes to sanitizing devices, being careful and proactive is the best policy. The steps we’ve listed above are great instructions for computers and tablets, and smartphones. To add an extra touch to our device sanitization guide, check out some final tips, tricks, and reminders below.

• If you’re not able to use the recommended disinfectant of 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% water, remember to carefully read the labels of branded cleaning products before using them to know exactly what is in them. Particularly, make sure you avoid using the following chemicals which will cause permanent damage to device surfaces:
  • Any chlorine-based cleaners, such as bleach
  • Any peroxide-based cleaners, including hydrogen peroxide
  • Solvents such as acetone, paint thinner, benzene, methylene, chloride, or toluene
  • Ammonia and any cleaners containing ammonia like Windex and ethyl alcohol
• Using disinfectant wipes is a convenient way to wipe down device surfaces like mouses and keyboards, but never use them on display screens and always read the labels before using as directed above. Remember to use a new disinfectant wipe for every new surface you clean.
• When cleaning your display screen, you can start by wiping it with a dry microfiber cloth to remove dust before disinfecting. You can also use a dry microfiber cloth to remove any streaks leftover after disinfecting. Remember to wipe gently and only to use a fresh microfiber cloth at each step.
• When in doubt, never hesitate to reach out to a team of technology professionals for additional guidance about device sanitization instructions, materials, and best practices. Professionals have the expertise and experience necessary to help you keep your home or onsite devices sanitized and safe – always reach out for help if you need it.

If you need help coming up with a reliable way of keeping computers and devices clean and sanitized, reach out to us anytime at (803) 619-1414, or visit our website at www.servcomusa.com to chat with a live agent.