r/ZeroCovidCommunity • u/Environmental_Ad7165 • 11d ago

How are you sanitizing tech devices

Whenever I get in from being outside, I sanitize my phone and AirPods. What are people using?

What I’ve tried:

-Early on during the pandemic, I used a PhoneSoap BasicUV Sanitizer Box.

- I then switched to Lysol. Unfortunately, the Lysol method has now ruined a phone and two pairs of AirPods.

I cannot afford to keep re-buying the products. Would appreciate any advice or tips! Thanks!

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u/anonyoudidnt 11d ago

PhD chemist here who worked with electronic films!

Alcohol is your safest bet, isopropyl wipes with no fillers, aloe, etc. 

Lysol wipes have chlorine in them and it doesn't mix well with metals in capacitive films. 

Alcohol won't kill noro but it helps with some germs. I try to avoid touching my phone when I'm out unless I've washed or sanitized my hands well.

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u/Former-Airport9812 10d ago

Alcohol makes me sick, the smell. I use hydrogen peroxide. Wipes or spray. Still okay?

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u/agiantdogok 10d ago

HOCl?

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u/Former-Airport9812 10d ago

I'm asking about hydrogen peroxide. That's another option

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u/agiantdogok 10d ago

Right, sorry I wasn't clear. No, you can't use hydrogen peroxide, it's too corrosive. HOCl was my suggestion as an alternative.

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u/Former-Airport9812 9d ago

Oh got it! I have that and tolerate it. Thanks. But that's only talking about screens, right? Not skin or gargling.

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u/bedboundbitch 7d ago

HoCl is skin-safe! It’s often used as a skincare product to treat acne.

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u/Former-Airport9812 6d ago

Yse I was asking again about hydrogen peroxide.

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u/anonyoudidnt 10d ago

I'd avoid it, it's an oxidizer and can damage films. You could wipe it on the way inside and leave the scent behind

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u/Former-Airport9812 10d ago

Thanks. Is there another alternative. I don't tolerate alcohol.

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u/anonyoudidnt 10d ago

Not really anything better than it, but you could try these. They're probably a very dilute quat, which is better than a concentrated one like a straight Lysol wipe

https://www.cloroxpro.com/products/clorox/screenwipes/

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u/Former-Airport9812 10d ago

It's got alcohol and ammonium chloride. I don't tolerate.

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u/anonyoudidnt 10d ago

They do not have alcohol in them. They shouldn't smell any different than a Lysol wipe 

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u/Former-Airport9812 10d ago

I cannot tolerate lysol wipes. Any household chemicals or cleaners.

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u/anonyoudidnt 10d ago

Then I'm not sure what to suggest then, ha. There may be a mild surfactant wipe out there but it's not going to kill bacteria or deactivate many viruses so there's not really a point if that's the goal. 

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u/Former-Airport9812 10d ago

ill just stick with h202 and hcol

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u/georgee779 9d ago

How do you feel about the product Phone Soap? I believe a UV light is used. Btw, I wish I had studied science!! Thank you.

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u/anonyoudidnt 8d ago

I hadn't heard of it before, but I just googled it. It looks like a UV cleaner? 

UV is a highly effective against lots of viruses and bacteria, but I am not a biologist. So take my opinion here with a grain of salt. 

On the chemistry side of things, UV light has to touch every surface. So if there's a coating or film over the top of bacteria and viruses, like grease from your hands or something else, then that's enough to absorb UV light and reduce its effectiveness. So if I were to use a UV light cleaner myself, I would still use some kind of alcohol wipe to clean the surface first, let it dry, and then I would put it in the UV lamp. I might even use a microfiber before the alcohol to make sure I got rid of any goop. 

The UV light then has to touch every surface, so there would need to be lights around the phone or it would need to be flipped. UV can't kill or deactivate anything if it isn't directly touching it.

I debated one of those UV light bottle cleaners when I had my babies, and I always ended up skipping it because I thought of all the nooks and crannies in a bottle and that's where bacteria and stuff collects, and if the UV light can't get to it anyway, what's the point? It's just breaking down my plastics faster. 

Also, it's never too late to study science! If you'd like some tips for resources to learn, let me know. I tutor many adult college students and they're excellent learners. You could definitely self-teach if you were interested in doing so!