It’s a good idea to clean up your smartphone regularly — both inside and out! Here’s how:

Back It Up

  • Run a backup to the cloud on your phone, or connect it to your computer and follow the backup prompts.
    • Do this first to avoid losing anything precious.
    • Update if needed.

Delete Apps 

  • Get rid of any applications you haven’t been using. You can reinstall them later if a need arises.
    • Apps take up storage space and deleting them will make your phone run faster.

Transfer Photos

  • Use an online storage service — such as Google Photo or Amazon Photo (fees may apply) — to save your images automatically.
    • Then delete them from your phone.
    • Amazon Photos: Amazon Photos offers unlimited full-resolution online photo storage and 5 GB free video storage to Prime members.
  • Print photos from the Walgreens or CVS apps, then delete the digital copies.
  • Go through and periodically delete photos you no longer need.

Kill Old Texts

  • Change the settings to auto-delete any messages older than a year.

Make History, History

  • In the browser settings, clear your history and web cookies.
    • Clearing web data will free up temporary space in your phone and make apps and other processes run faster.

Give It A Wipe Down

  • A study in the journal Germs found that some phones had 17,000 bacterial bugs lurking on the outside of smartphones.
  • Viruses and bacteria can survive on surfaces for hours, days, or even weeks depending on the strain, and can transfer from a phone onto your hands and then onto new surfaces in your home and office.
  • Do not use bleach or spray anything directly on your phone, and remember to remove and disinfect the case.

CDC Guidelines

The CDC recommends the following:

  • For electronics such as cell phones, remove visible contamination if present. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products.
  • Consider use of wipe-able covers for electronics.
  • If no manufacturer guidance is available, consider the use of alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol to disinfect touch screens. Dry surfaces thoroughly to avoid pooling of liquids.
  • To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the CDC recommends cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces like cell phones daily. Visit cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cleaning-disinfection for more information.

Repeat Regularly

  • Completing these steps regularly will keep your phone running smoothly and reduce the number of microbes and possible pathogens you come into contact with.

– Susie, Reference Specialist