I know it sounds dramatic, but filthy computer/phone screens and/or keyboards are a job hazard.
Why?
First off, you can’t see clearly with smudges all over the glass/plastic, which makes your job harder to do. Second, if it gets really grimy, touchscreens, and keyboards don’t operate correctly.
On top of it, food in your keyboard, dirt in-between the keys, and sweat on your screen (and who knows what else) is just well … gross!
I admit I’m a little bit of a clean nut – not that this stuff keeps me up at night – but I can’t stand dirty screens and keyboards, so I’m always searching for the best way to keep them spick-and-span without damage. Tech can be fragile and if you use harsh chemicals, you may (and I’ve done all of these before) accidentally scratch their surfaces or remove printing on keys.
Making things even more frustrating, many of the products claiming to work don’t.
My biggest issue is with screen cleaners which cause streaking. They make me go in circles buffing for hours with no success. Keyboards have irritated me over the years as well because it can be painstakingly slow to remove debris once it burrows into those little crevices.
I suppose I should probably stop eating at my desk and make sure my fingers are clean when I use touch screens. But then again, I always seem to be behind and it’s either take lunch while I work or forgo eating. So that’s not really an option for me. I suspect many of you are in the same boat – multi-tasking on your computer while eating a turkey sandwich at the same time.
Therefore, I’ve made it my quest to find the safest and best way to clean your screens and keyboards. Read below for four simple solutions.
Screen Cleaners
- For lenses on cameras, you don’t want to use any chemicals whatsoever. A successful photographer advised me that the best thing to do is to use your own breath and an anti-static cloth. Simply breathe on the glass to create a fog and use the cloth to wipe up.
- For computer and phone screens – this is bar none the best item I’ve used – Screen Mom. It comes with a micro-fiber cloth which works great, and you’ll want to spray the solution on it (not the screen) then clean your surface.
Keyboards
- Easiest fix? Get a plastic overlay for your keyboard – see this example. You can then remove it and wash it directly in the sink and air dry. They come in all different colors, sizes and shapes, so get the right one for yours. That solves all your problems.
- If you hate the feel of an overlay, compressed air is a must have. Then you can use a damp cloth (lint free) with water or alcohol to gently clean the keys. DAMP – the key word here is damp, not wet. I’ve also used Q-tips which can really get into those small places.
So, whistle while you work, it’s easy to keep your tech looking nice and performing well with a little elbow grease and the right products.
Main Photo credit: iStock.com/Lubo Ivanko
Second image: iStock.com/Bigtunaonline
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Alyssa Collins hails from Minnesota, where snowy days were the perfect excuse to stay warm inside and write. Over the years, she turned that joy into a career and has authored numerous articles for various publications (under pen names). Email Alyssa via alyssa@ynot.com.
