My iPhone is always in my hands. I bring it with me pretty much everywhere I go—the subway, restaurants, bathrooms. I try not to think about how many germs gather on its surface, but deep down, I know my phone is gross. After all, experts have admitted that your cell phone is actually 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat—just let that sink in for a second. Even though I clean my iPhone religiously when I get off an airplane, I know I’m not cleaning it nearly as often as I should be.
To keep it free from bad bacteria, you should clean your phone every day. But as important as it is to wipe your device down, it’s key to use the right products to avoid causing any damage. According to the analysts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, there are certain products you should never clean your phone with, and ones you should use instead.
What the wrong cleaners can do to your phone
I’m guilty of wiping my phone down with whatever cleaner is closest and most convenient, whether that’s Windex, Lysol wipes, hand sanitizer, and even just some soap and water from an airport bathroom. But according to GH Cleaning Lab Analyst Noah Pinsonnault, you need to pay more attention to what chemicals and cleaners you’re putting on your device.
Not only can the wrong cleaner cause damage to your phone’s screen or the device itself, but it can also remove all types of coatings, including fingerprint-resistant, scratch-resistant, and anti-reflective coatings. Damage can show up as clouding of the screen, scratches, and discoloration, and you’ll often notice it once it’s too late.
When cleaning your phone, Pinsonnault stresses that you should always follow the manufacturer's care instructions, as well as use products specifically made for cleaning electronic screens, like screen cleaners.
Which phone cleaners should you avoid?
❌ Conventional glass cleaners
One of the most common glass cleaners is Windex, and while Windex is harmless on glass, you should avoid cleaning your phone with it. Its formula contains ammonia, which can damage the coating of your phone’s screen. All ammonia-based cleaners should be avoided on electronics, especially those with screens and displays.
What I’d recommend instead: Whoosh Screen Cleaner
Our Lab experts love this alcohol- and ammonia-free formula, which is safe on all types of screens. According to the brand, it’s gentle enough to avoid damaging sensitive surfaces or protective films. Plus, each kit includes a microfiber cloth designed for screens.
❌ Disinfecting wipes containing alcohol
While disinfecting wipes that are made with alcohol are convenient and tend to be effective at killing germs, they aren’t the best choice for cleaning your phone. I personally bring Lysol Disinfecting Wipes To-Go packs (a 2026 Good Housekeeping Travel Awards winner) on every trip I take, and I use them to wipe down plane screens as well as my phone after long flights. That said, our Cleaning Lab pros recommend using them sparingly and to always check the product label first (alcohol-free ones are preferred).
What I’d recommend instead: Weiman Screen Cleaning Wipes
For an even safer option, we recommend these screen-cleaning wipes that are a Good Housekeeping Seal holder. Pre-moistened and ready-to-use, they allow you to disinfect and clean without any harsh ingredients that could damage your phone’s delicate screen. The brand claims that the formula cleans and kills up to 99.9% of germs and bacteria. In Cleaning Lab tests, our pros found that they were effective at removing dust, fingerprints, and other greasy smudges, and screens dried quickly and without leaving any excess moisture, streaks, or residue behind.
❌ Vinegar, bleach, degreasers, and rubbing alcohol
Vinegar is one of those superpower ingredients that every household should have since it can be such an effective cleaner. But it doesn’t come without drawbacks. According to our pros, vinegar is very acidic, which can be harsh on screens and coatings. Other common household cleaners that should be avoided on phones include bleach, degreasers like dish soap (it can break down coatings), and rubbing alcohol.
What I’d recommend instead: Zeiss Mobile Screen Wipes
A renowned brand when it comes to high-end cameras, binoculars, lenses, and more, you can count on Zeiss when it comes to cleaning your screens. These gentle wipes are pre-moistened and individually wrapped so you can keep a few in your purse, desk, or car, and they’re excellent at removing dirt, dust, fingerprints, and greasy smears without any alcohol or ammonia.
❌ Abrasive cloths, sponges, paper towels, napkins
Though phones have become more and more scratch-resistant over the years, they’re still delicate surfaces that should be cleaned with non-abrasive materials. Even the softest paper towel could potentially cause damage to your phone screen over time, causing micro-abrasions on the surface while slowly stripping its coating.
What I’d recommend instead: E-Cloth Personal Electronics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
Instead of cleaning your phone with whatever cloth you have around, our pros advise investing in soft materials, like microfiber cloths, that are designed specifically for cleaning screens without scratching the phone’s surface. Our Cleaning Lab likes this Electronic Cloth from E-Cloth, which picks up and locks in dust particles within its microscopic structure and has done a great job at cleaning all types of screens in Lab tests, including gaming monitors and TVs.
