By Alison Bowen

Chicago Tribune

Beyond our faces, what do we touch all the time? Our phones.

While the coronavirus most frequently spreads among close contacts via respiratory droplets and transmission to people from contaminated surfaces has not been documented, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health officials encourage cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces because the virus can remain viable for hours to days on a variety of materials. This includes your phone.

The agency recommends using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe to disinfect your phone.

Sheila Leen, an advanced practice nurse at Rush University, pointed out that we take phones everywhere, including to the bathroom.

“At least toilet seats are usually receiving a regular cleaning,” she said in an email.

Sanitize once a day, and clean it an extra time if dropped, placed on a public surface or coughed on. She suggested smartphone wipes, a damp and soft microfiber cloth with 60% water and 40% alcohol, or the product PhoneSoap that says it uses UV light to clean 99.9% of germs.

Wipe back and sides, she added, and remove from its case at least once a month to clean that too.

Apple Inc. has issued specific recommendations for cleaning its products.

All products, according to Apple, can be gently cleaned with the a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox disinfecting wipe. Wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces, like the display, keyboard or other exterior surfaces.

The key to remember: Do not use bleach. And avoid getting moisture in any openings of the phone. Do not submerge the product in a cleaning product.

Apple also notes that excessive wiping could cause damage.