With all the thought we put into insuring the safety and security of our digital devices through cases, covers and secure lock boxes, I think too often we forget some other important security measures we should be taking with our tech– cleaning and disinfecting! I mean, how often do you disinfect your frequently used devices with antibacterial cleaners? Well, in case you are someone who does so infrequently, I have made up a sort of how- to guide for cleaning your everyday tech devices so that you keep them clean and bacterial free, securing your health from your favorite toys!
iPod Earbuds
I think ipods might be one of the most popular tech toys on the market today, but I bet there are few of us who take the time to disinfect those iconic white ear buds of ours. You know, those little guys go from our bags, to our ears, to our pockets, back to our ears, to a friends ear and then settle again in a dark pocket or bag, collecting dirt, dust and bacteria and then allowing it to multiply- yuk! So, it is very important that we keep those things clean for our own sake- I mean, hello, they go in our ears!! Luckily, cleaning ear buds is super easy. Just use a q-tip dipped in hydrogen peroxide or alcohol and rub all over the little guys until you are sure you have sufficiently covered them with enough liquid to kill the germs, but not so much that you’re going to cause them damage. Definitely don’t dip your ear buds into any liquid or use any of those antibacterial gels to clean them! Make sure to dry off any excess liquid with a napkin or tissue, and viola- clean ear buds!
Mouse
As someone who owns an Apple Mighty Mouse, I know how important it is to keep your peripherals clean in order for them to function properly. For those of you know do not understand this reference, what I am suggesting is that the Mighty Mouse, because of the small rubber scrolling ball in the center, frequently stops working because it essentially becomes clogged with dirt and debris. So, basically, I am used to cleaning my mouse from time to time, as we all must, however, do we just clean off the visible dirt or do we take the time to disinfect. Luckily, cleaning a mouse is a bit easier than cleaning a delicate piece of tech such as ear buds. Basically, you can do one of two things to disinfect your mouse; 1) spray it with a disinfectant such as Lysol or 2) use a disinfectant wipe or soapy paper towel to wipe it clean. Because mice are usually made of thick plastic, rubber, or metal they can hold up to a bit more moisture, so you don’t need to worry about liquid seeping into small crevices and causing electrical issues with your device, which is particularly useful because we put our dirty hands all over those mice day in and day out!
Keyboard
Our computer keyboards are another piece of tech that we have our hands on A LOT! I think everyone has heard the horrible and disgusting facts about how much bacteria is on the human hands daily and we are just constantly moving that bacteria to our keyboards. Now, keyboards are another piece of tech that I would deem a little too delicate for copious amounts of disinfecting liquids or sprays, but a disinfecting wipe should be just enough moisture to clean the keys and keyboard area without causing drainage into the innards of the device. Keyboards are one of those things that can really be ruined by too much liquid, but a little can go a long way in terms of cleaning and removing bacteria without causing circuit board issues or eroding electrical parts!
{This has been reposted from blackalligator.blogspot.com}