It has been proven that this virus can live on your devices for more than 96 hours. So these also became a vector for the disease. It will only stop being so if they are cleaned regularly.
How to clean and disinfect your smart watch or smart bracelet?
In case your smartwatch (smartwatch) or smartband (smartband) is a fitness tracker or a communication device, which you even use to pay your bills. If you are one of those who use it in all places and you accept calls, it is much easier for him to get infected. Also, if you do not perform proper cleaning, you could be carrying a large number of germs.
With the arrival of the pandemic, it was discovered that the devices could carry microorganisms to live for up to three days at a time. Which could make you sick, so cleaning and disinfection is absolutely necessary.
As for Apple devices, this company has updated its cleaning guidelines. Where it says the best way to do this is to use isopropyl alcohol, with some rubbing around 70% concentration. Similarly, disinfectant wipes containing said solution can be used.
This solution kills most microorganisms simply by contact with them and quickly evaporates from the device, leaving a clean surface free of bacteria or viruses. Plus, it adds more shine and makes stains disappear.
Steps to clean your smart watch or smart band
Given these claims, cleaning your digital watch will be a fairly simple task. You will first need to remove the watch strap from the main unit. If it is waterproof, you should rinse it with warm water to remove as much dirt and grime as possible before disinfecting it.
Dirt can catch germs and other harmful microbes. It is therefore necessary to make sure to remove everything and then disinfect it very well. You can fill a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol to remove any stubborn dirt.
After that, you used alcohol or similar disinfectant wipes to disinfect the watch all over. You should clean the smartband in accordance with your device manufacturer’s instructions; be sure to clean the leather without saturating it. You can also clean it with rubbing alcohol.
We point out that it is very unlikely that alcohol will damage these products, whether they are made of leather, metal or silicone. The nylon straps are not certain to be damaged, although Apple suggests not cleaning them with alcohol. You can run a small tester and check if any damage occurs. After the whole procedure, you just have to wait for the alcohol to evaporate and that’s it, you can use your watch.
Fitness trackers are very similar to a smartwatch, only trackers were designed to be worn longer. In the case of Fitbit, these present their specific recommendations to be able to clean and disinfect the devices. Just like Apple, for these, isopropyl alcohol is used to perform the disinfection.
In this case, Fitbit does not recommend the use of soap-based cleaners, as these types of products could get stuck in the band and cause some sort of skin irritation. So your first guideline is to use soap-free cleansers to which you should add a good rinse to make sure the dirt is completely gone.
This type of physical activity trackers are designed for those who perform physical exercises on a daily basis and of course when they do them they sweat. A rinse in the shower will therefore be a solution in principle, but as you well know, this does not kill germs or viruses, so something else will be needed.
To disinfect it, the procedure is very similar to that applied to the smartwatch. You will first remove the strap from the device, if you can. Taking into account that the tracker is waterproof, you can rinse it trying to remove as much dirt as possible. Then you should clean with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab to loosen the tougher areas.
When you get your tracker to be visibly clean, you can disinfect it with alcohol or disinfectant wipes made from said product. You should clean the strap according to the manufacturer’s instructions, because in Apple’s case, Fitbit also has official guidelines. Once all the alcohol has evaporated, you can use your tracker.
You must not forget your other connected objects
Smartwatches and fitness trackers don’t end up being the only devices you use regularly and need to categorize. Anything you use outside your home should be disinfected as it is exposed to potentially harmful germs. This will include your jewelry, badges, portable cameras, as well as your headphones or earphones.
The same will happen with your cell phone, your desktop computer and all the parts that make it up.