How should I safely clean a phone that fell into a dirty toilet?
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MellowCedar42
I dropped my Motorola Edge 60 Neo into a dirty toilet. I immediately removed the case, powered the phone off, and rinsed it with water. It is currently sitting on paper towels to dry. I'm more concerned about removing germs and residue—especially from the screen—than about drying it. What is the safest way to disinfect and clean it without damaging the phone?
Answers
Don’t put the phone in a bath of alcohol or any other liquid. Alcohol can get past seals and damage adhesives or coatings. A UV sanitizer is optional and not necessary for normal cleaning; careful wiping with an appropriate disinfecting solution is enough.
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If isopropyl alcohol isn’t available, don’t substitute by soaking it in ethyl alcohol. Use a barely damp cloth and follow the manufacturer’s cleaning guidance instead. Strong or concentrated alcohol can affect screen coatings, plastics, and adhesives, so keep any cleaner on the cloth rather than applying it directly.
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Once the phone is fully dry, wipe the exterior and screen with a soft, lightly dampened microfiber cloth. A small amount of 70% isopropyl alcohol on the cloth is generally suitable, but don’t pour or soak the phone, and keep liquid away from the ports and openings. Clean or replace the case separately. Since it was rinsed and submerged, avoid charging it until it is completely dry, and assume its water resistance may no longer be reliable.
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MellowCedar42: So ethyl alcohol should only be considered as a tiny amount on a cloth, if at all—not something to pour over or immerse the phone in. I’ll avoid charging it until it has had plenty of time to dry.