Apple says not to use hydrogen peroxide to clean its products
Apple has updated a support document to state that customers shouldn't use hydrogen peroxide to clean its products, but added ethyl alcohol to the list of safe-to-use cleaning agents.
More specifically, Apple has subtly changed the wording in a support document titled "How to clean your Apple products."
The company has added two short lines to the recommendations stating that Apple device owners can use 75% ethyl alcohol wipes safely. It added that hydrogen peroxide, along with bleach, shouldn't be used on iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices.
The previous update to the document was made during the height of the pandemic.
Although aligned with Apple's recommendations, continued use of solvent on a display could result in damage to the oleophobic coating. Because of that, care is recommended.
Apple also recommends that users avoid getting any moisture in device openings and says that its products should not be submerged in any cleaning agents.
Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast -- and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too.If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.
In 2021, Apple introduced its own Apple polishing cloth. While roundly mocked for its $19 price tag, it immediately sold out -- and is good for cleaning screens.
Read on AppleInsider
More specifically, Apple has subtly changed the wording in a support document titled "How to clean your Apple products."
The company has added two short lines to the recommendations stating that Apple device owners can use 75% ethyl alcohol wipes safely. It added that hydrogen peroxide, along with bleach, shouldn't be used on iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices.
The previous update to the document was made during the height of the pandemic.
Although aligned with Apple's recommendations, continued use of solvent on a display could result in damage to the oleophobic coating. Because of that, care is recommended.
Apple also recommends that users avoid getting any moisture in device openings and says that its products should not be submerged in any cleaning agents.
Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast -- and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too.If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.
In 2021, Apple introduced its own Apple polishing cloth. While roundly mocked for its $19 price tag, it immediately sold out -- and is good for cleaning screens.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
1) Shake it off. (Remove battery if possible)
2) Dunk it in distilled water briefly and shake it off.
3) Dunk it in 99% isopropanol and shake that off.
4) Dry slowly with a blow dryer at arm's length in a well ventilated room.
https://www.amazon.com/wisedry-Indicating-Rechargeable-Desiccant-Drawstring/dp/B07QRRHJV3/
IP68 ratings don’t say or imply: “impervious to any liquid”
Second, even if an iPhone comes from the factory with an IP68 rating that is tested to the extent of the rating, it doesn't mean that it will always have that rating. Wear and tear from use, a cracked display, to just the eventual breakdown of seals over time means that you should always take care when submerging your electronic devices. If it's something you plan to do often then get an external water resistant case, but even then water could get inside.
Finally, Apple's recommendation to avoid moisture isn't admitting that their IP68 rating works (and it clearly does by the many stories we see every month), but because it 1) voids the warranty if the Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI) is red and 2) moisture, films, and eventual corrosion in the speaker, microphone, and Lightning housings can affect how well your device functions. Different pH levels and cleanliness will affect the components differently.
Exhibit A: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56879933
Denatured alcohol also usually contains benzene which is a known carcinogen. Denatured alcohol is essentially ethanol with toxins (and carcinogens) added to make it unsafe to drink. In addition to isopropanol, you can use ethanol, which is available in laboratory grade (100%, hard to get) and in the form of grain alcohol (e.g., Everclear), the 190 proof (95%) obviously being better than the 150 proof (75%), although the former may not be available where you live.
It's probably also worth noting that hydrogen peroxide won't sanitize anything unless it has iron to react with. So most of your phone wouldn't be sanitized by hydrogen peroxide anyway, although it might react with and corrode any steel bits. The reason it can be effective in sanitizing cuts, abrasions and other wounds is that it reacts with the iron in your blood.