Cleaning and disinfecting devices is important for ensuring they're safe for students and staff to continue using. Below you'll find instructions on cleaning various electronic devices that are commonly touched.
For all of these, unless specified, a microfiber cloth is recommended, and it should be lightly damp with cleaner. An alcohol based cleaner is recommended.
Note: These are electronic devices, and introducing water to them can and will cause damage when done without care. If you're spraying or otherwise applying liquid, do not apply directly to the device. Instead apply to a cloth to wipe the device down with. Pre-soaked wipes can be useful for this, just be careful about the amount of liquid pooling on the device while cleaning.
Laptops / Chromebooks
- Ensure the device is turned off, and remove the battery.
- Some devices, especially newer devices and Chromebooks, have internal batteries, so don't worry about this step if you don't see a battery to remove.
- For some Chromebooks, the power button is on the keyboard, so don't be surprised if it turns on while you're cleaning
- Take your cloth, which is damp with cleaner, and wipe down the lid, sides, and bottom of the device.
- Open the device and wipe down the keyboard and touchpad with your cloth.
- For the keyboard, ensure you're getting between all the keys.
- For the screen area, instead of the cleaner, use a different cloth that is only damp with water.
- Chemicals found in cleaners can cause damage to the screen, using water here is safer for the device.
- Once the device is wiped down, leave it open for a time in order to dry. Close the device after the keyboard area appears dry.
Desktops
- Shut down the computer and unplug it from the power.
- Wipe down the computer with a microfiber cloth, damp with cleaner.
- Watch around plugs and vents Focus around buttons and other areas where it looks like it would be touched often.
- Allow the desktop to dry completely before plugging back in.
Monitors
- Turn off the monitor and unplug it from the power
- Instead of cleaner, use a damp microfiber cloth with water
- Wipe down the screen carefully. Do not use too much force.
- Focus cleaning the buttons.
Keyboards and Mice
This pertains to peripheral mice and keyboards, not devices built into a laptop. For these, refer to the section above.
- Unplug the mouse and keyboard from the computer.
- Take a cloth, damp with cleaner, and thoroughly wipe down the mouse and keyboard.
- Make sure to get between all the keys of the keyboard
- For the mouse, make sure you spin the middle wheel to clean the entire surface.
- Leave these to dry before plugging back into the computer.
Desk Phones
- Unplug the phone from the wall
- Wipe down the handset in its entirety
- Wipe down the keypad, ensuring you get between all the buttons.
- After letting the phone dry, plug it back into the wall.
- If the phone doesn't light up after being plugged in, remove it from the port you plugged it into and try another one.
Apple Devices
For Apple devices, they have a guide located here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204172
Mobile Devices
iPads and iPods can follow this as well, as it is based off of the guides linked to above.
- Remove the device from its case, if it is in one
- Clean the case separately
- Turn off the device by holding down the power button until it prompts to shut off. Follow the prompt
- With a microfiber cloth, lightly damp with water, wipe down the screen of the device
- Move to the back and sides of the device, wiping it down with the same cloth. Be careful of any holes in it, to avoid allowing water into it.