How to Clean Your Phone, Laptop, Keyboard and Earbuds Safely

The gadgets you touch most are some of the grimiest things you own, and cleaning them is easy to get wrong. A window spray can strip a screen's coating, a soaked cloth can send liquid into a speaker grille, and a paperclip can damage a charging port. The safe method is simple: power down, use a soft cloth and a mild, approved cleaner, keep moisture away from openings, and go gently. Here is how, device by device.

The basic kit (and what to leave under the sink)

You need very little to clean almost everything on your desk:

• Microfiber cloths. Lint-free and soft enough for screens. Keep one dry and one for damp work, and wash them without fabric softener.
• 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes. Many manufacturers, including Apple, say these are acceptable on hard, nonporous exterior surfaces. Stick to what your maker names rather than assuming stronger is better, and check its support page first, because some finishes and screens have their own rules.
• Plain water. For most screens, a microfiber cloth barely dampened with water is all you need.
• A soft brush. A dry soft-bristled toothbrush or small paintbrush reaches speaker grilles, keyboard gaps and controller seams.
• Wooden or plastic toothpicks. For lint in ports, never metal.
• Compressed air, for keyboards and vents only, used correctly (more on that below).

What never to use on electronics:

• Glass and household cleaners with ammonia, which can damage anti-glare and oil-repellent coatings.
• Bleach and hydrogen peroxide, which can discolor plastics and attack finishes.
• Abrasive powders, scouring pads, paper towels and tissues, which can scratch screens and leave fibers behind.
• Sprays aimed at the device. Spray the cloth, never the screen or keyboard.
• Any liquid in ports, grilles or vents. Moisture is the main thing that turns a cleaning session into a repair.

First step every time: power off and unplug

Before cleaning anything, turn it off and disconnect power and accessories; a dark screen also shows smudges better. Remove phone cases, unplug laptops and monitors, switch off wireless keyboards and mice, and let anything warm cool down.

Phones and phone cases

1. Power the phone off and take it out of its case.
2. Wipe the screen and back with a dry microfiber cloth to lift loose grit first.
3. For fingerprints and grime, use a cloth very lightly dampened with water, or a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe if your phone maker permits it. Wipe gently; do not scrub.
4. Keep moisture away from the charging port, speaker grilles and microphone holes, even on water-resistant phones. Water resistance is not designed for cleaning chemicals and can weaken over time.
5. Use a dry soft brush on speaker grilles.
6. Let the phone dry fully before turning it on.

Cases: plastic and silicone cases can usually be washed with mild soap and water, then dried completely before the phone goes back in. Leather and fabric cases typically need a dry or slightly damp cloth only; follow the case maker's instructions.

Charging port: if your phone charges intermittently or the cable will not seat fully, pocket lint is a common cause. With the phone off, use a flashlight and a wooden or plastic toothpick to lift debris out along the walls of the port. Avoid metal, liquids and blasting air into it. For the other habits that keep charging healthy, see our guide to making your phone battery last longer.

Laptop screens and keyboards

Screen:

1. Shut the laptop down and unplug it.
2. Wipe with a dry microfiber cloth in straight, light strokes.
3. For stubborn marks, dampen a corner of the cloth with water, wipe, then dry. Some makers allow alcohol on certain screens and warn against it on coated ones, so check before using anything stronger than water.
4. Never press hard; laptop panels can be damaged by pressure.

Keyboard and trackpad:

1. With the laptop off, hold it at an angle and use short bursts of compressed air across the keys.
2. Wipe key tops and the trackpad with a cloth lightly dampened with water or an approved alcohol wipe, wrung out so nothing drips.
3. Do not pry off keycaps on a laptop unless the manufacturer explicitly says you can; many laptop keys break easily.

Vents: dust buildup can make a laptop run hot and loud. With the machine off, use short bursts of compressed air at the vents from a slight distance. Do not let the airflow spin the fan freely, and if the laptop is still under warranty, leave internal cleaning to the manufacturer or an authorized shop.

Desktop keyboards and mice

Desktop keyboards collect the most debris. Unplug the keyboard (or switch it off and remove batteries), turn it upside down and tap it gently to release crumbs. Follow with compressed air between keys and a soft brush.

On many mechanical keyboards the keycaps come off with a keycap puller, so plastic caps can be washed in warm soapy water and dried completely before refitting. Check the manufacturer's guidance first, and never immerse the keyboard itself.

For a mouse, wipe the shell with an approved alcohol wipe or slightly damp cloth, clean the sensor window gently with a dry cotton swab, and scrape built-up grime off the feet carefully with a fingernail or toothpick.

Earbuds and charging cases

Earbuds deserve regular cleaning because earwax buildup can muffle sound and affect fit.

1. Take the earbuds out of the case and remove any silicone tips.
2. Wipe the earbud bodies with a dry, soft cloth, or one lightly dampened with water, avoiding the speaker mesh.
3. Use a dry soft brush or a dry cotton swab to lift debris from the mesh. Do not push into it, and do not use sharp objects, liquids or compressed air on the mesh.
4. Silicone tips can usually be rinsed in plain water, then dried fully before refitting. Foam tips typically should not be soaked; follow the maker's instructions.
5. In the charging case, use a dry cotton swab or soft brush around the wells and a dry cloth on the exterior. Keep liquids away from the charging contacts and the case's port.

If you are shopping for a new pair, fit and tip options matter as much as sound; our guide to choosing wireless headphones and earbuds explains what to look for.

TVs and monitors

TV and monitor screens are often more delicate than phone glass.

1. Turn the set off and unplug it; let it cool.
2. Dust with a dry microfiber cloth using light, sweeping strokes.
3. For smudges, use a cloth very lightly dampened with water. Never spray anything onto the panel, since liquid can run down behind the bezel.
4. Avoid alcohol, ammonia and window cleaners on TV screens unless the manufacturer's manual specifically allows a product.
5. Wipe vents on the back with a dry cloth or soft brush.

Game controllers

Controllers get sweaty, sticky and dusty. Turn them off, unplug the charging cable and remove batteries if they are replaceable. Wipe the shell, grips and buttons with an approved alcohol wipe or a slightly damp cloth, then use a soft brush or a toothpick to clear gunk from seams and around buttons and sticks. Do not let liquid seep under the buttons or into the charging port.

Quick reference: what is safe and what to avoid

How often to clean

There is no official schedule, but a sensible routine looks like this:

• Phones: a quick wipe of the screen and back every few days, and a fuller clean with the case off about once a week.
• Earbuds: wipe weekly; check the mesh and tips whenever sound seems muffled.
• Keyboards, mice and controllers: a weekly wipe, with a deeper clean monthly or whenever keys start to feel sticky.
• Laptop and monitor screens: whenever smudges bother you; dust gently weekly.
• Vents and ports: check every few months, or sooner if a device runs hot or charges unreliably.

When devices are shared or someone in the house is sick, wipe high-touch surfaces more often, using only disinfecting products your device maker approves.

Keep a clean microfiber cloth near your desk and bookmark each device's support page. Five gentle minutes keeps screens clear, buttons responsive and ports working, without risking a repair bill.