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How to clean your phone properly, from UV devices to screen wipes

how to clean your phone
Here's how to clean your smart phone properly so you don't damage it. (Getty Images)

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Six in 10 people (59.2%) use their mobile phone on the toilet. In fact, there's a good chance you're reading this on the loo.

While it seems like a good place to do a bit of life admin, it's a hotbed for germs. And, it's the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the cleanliness of our phones.

Almost one third of us has never cleaned our phones, and with the average person picking theirs up every 12 minutes, that's a lot of germs.

From sitting on the loo to scrolling on the train, your phone puts up with a lot of unsanitary behaviour. It's high time we treat our smart phones to a good clean.

There are rules to follow when it comes to phone cleanliness and we've researched the best ways to scrub your smartphone without damaging it.

From UV cleaning bags to the humble screen wipes, it's time to show your phone some love.

Products to help you clean your smartphone properly

Homedics Portable UV Clean Bag | £29.99 (Was £49.99) from Aldi

This Homedics Portable UV Clean Bag is a quick and easy way to sanitise both sides of your phone in just one minute.

Using the same technology found in hospitals to sterilise medical equipment, this sanitising bag uses four germicidal UV-C LED (ultraviolet light-emitting diodes). The lights help to stop the replication of bacteria and therefore leads to the inactivation of 99.9% of bacteria and viruses on belongings.

This means you can kill the germs on your phone quickly and easily without worrying about any harsh chemicals ruining it. Plus, it doesn't just fit your phone, you can also use it to sterilise your keys, jewellery, dummies, glasses and much more.

Samsung Electronics Qi Wireless Charger & UV Sanitizer | £12.49 (Was £14.49) from Amazon

The two in one device also features UV-C light that effectively kills up to 99% of germs and bacteria. Simply close the lid and press the button to disinfect your phone in 10 minutes.

The box also features a Qi Wireless Charger, so it can double up as a phone charger - that's the kind of efficiency we need.

With 2,000 five-star reviews, the device has been tried and tested with many customers saying they also use to sanitise their keys, TV remotes and more.

Philips UV-C LED Disinfection Mini Box | £49.99 from John Lewis

This Philips Disinfection Mini Box uses the same UV-C LED as the Homedics Portable UV Clean Bag to get rid of germs and bacteria. Philips even recommend thatyou can also sterilise your toothbrush, small children's toys and cutlery in the box too, as well as your gadget essentials.

One five star rating says "This is perfect and easy. no mess no fuss and everything sterilised quickly and easily."

Screen Wipes (Pack of 120) | £9.99 from Amazon

When it comes to screen wipes Apple state you have to be careful what you're putting on your phone, particularly if you've got a protective casing on it. These screen wipes are safe to use on all major smartphones, although it recommends not to swipe them directly on retina displays or directly onto the camera lens.

Betron Screen Cleaner 100ml Cleaning Brush and Fine Microfibre Towel | £9.99 from Amazon

This Betron Screen Cleaner is a one-size fits all cleaner; you can use it for everything from your phone to your laptop keyboard. As with the screen wipes, it's important to be careful what you're putting on your phone and avoid using it on retina display and the camera on your phone.

The thousands of five-star reviews speak for themselves.

Microfibre Cleaning Cloths Pack of 8 | £5.99 from Amazon

Apple recommends using a lint-free cloth on its products, and that's exactly what the Microfibre Cleaning Cloths are.

Regardless of whether you're cleaning your smartphone or a window, it's always handy to have microfibre cloths in the house. They will leave your smartphone looking brand new - and you can reuse them again and again.

Simplehuman Cleanstation | £199.95 from simplehuman

The ultra-luxurious Simplehuman Cleanstation has an omni-lux™ chamber to sanitise the entire surface of your phone, killing 99.9% of germs in just 30 seconds. That's why Simplehuman recommends putting it next to your sink so you can simply sanitise while washing your hands.

This is the product to invest in if you're looking for something slick and aesthetically-pleasing. As one reviewer summarised: "I really enjoyed the 30-second bath my phone gets each time as I watch it go down in this slick machine and gets treated with ultraviolet rays and then lifts up after."

FINTIE Screen Cleaning Pad | £13.99 from Amazon

If you'd like to keep something in your bag for on the go, this FINTIE Screen Cleaning Pad is a great option. While it doesn't remove germs, it will keep your screen clear of finger marks until you can next do a deep clean.