Smartphones 16 June 2021

Best ways to keep your phone looking like new

Clean Phone Photo by Jess Bailey Designs from Pexels

If you’re like most people, then your cell phone goes everywhere with you. It accompanies you to work, to parties, and even into the bathroom. Such a well-traveled device is likely to pick up the occasional battle scar and eventually show its age. As a cell phone owner, however, there is plenty you can do to keep your device looking its best. Just like you take care of your body to stave off the effects of aging, you can take care of your phone to make sure it looks like it just came out of the package, even after years of use. Take these five tips to heart if you want to keep your phone looking like new.

Invest in a Case

In its “natural” form, a smartphone is an extremely fragile piece of equipment. A short fall or an unexpected bump can do significant damage. No matter how careful you are with your phone, you can never account for every possibility. That’s why you’re better off taking the preventative measure of buying a case.

Think of your phone as a hermit crab that needs its shell to survive. While your device still won’t be indestructible, with a case it will emerge from most accidents unscathed. The case will also give you some serious peace of mind. Suddenly you won’t feel your heart in your mouth every time your phone slips from your pocket. If you’re used to the “naked” phone’s sleek, lightweight feel, don’t worry. You’ll get just as accustomed to the case in no time.

Leave the Phone Outside the Bathroom

Whether to listen to music in the shower or browse social media while- ahem- doing our business, many of us like to take our phones into the bathroom. And as much as we might like bringing the vastness of the web into our private sphere, it really isn’t the best idea if we want to maximize our phone’s life expectancy.

Water is among the most common causes of smartphone damage. In the bathroom, this perilous substance is literally everywhere. Taking a phone into the bathroom is like bringing your pet gerbil to visit the cat lady. The dangers are everywhere. From the toilet to the sink, from the bath to the shower, the potential pitfalls for your phone are just too numerous in the bathroom for it to be worth the risk. If you’re in public and you simply must take your phone with you, keep it in your pocket where it will stay out of harm’s way.

Watch Where You Carry Your Phone

When traveling with a baby, do you toss it in the trunk with the golf clubs and fishing poles? Of course not! You strap the little angel into its car seat all by itself, where it can enjoy the journey without being subjected to bumps and bruises. The same line of thinking applies to your smartphone.

If you put your phone in the same pocket as your keys, the screen is likely to get scratched. If you toss it into a purse or backpack along with lots of other junk, it is almost sure to get damaged. Instead, find a snug spot for your phone to travel alone, keeping it safe and sound. Try sticking the device in one pocket and putting your keys in the other. If you’re carrying a bag, designate a special “phone pocket.” Don’t forget that your smartphone is almost always the most valuable and the most fragile item you’re carrying with you. Be sure to treat it accordingly.

Clean Your Phone With Care

No matter how careful you try to be, you’re bound to touch your phone from time to time with fingers that are far from perfectly clean. This can give the screen a nasty, grimy feel. It can also cover the surface with countless germs and bacteria. To return the shine to your screen and keep the germs at bay, you should give your phone a regular cleaning.

Remember that a phone is a fragile device and needs to be cleaned with care. Avoid using antibacterial wipes, as their chemicals tend to corrode and scratch the smartphone’s screen. Opt instead for a simple cleaning solution you can make at home, consisting of water and isopropyl alcohol. Wiping the screen and buttons with a cloth dampened in this solution will rid the surface of germs and grime without harming the screen.

Declutter the Information in Your Phone

Sometimes a phone shows its age just as much on the inside as it does in its exterior. Is your old phone cluttered with years of contacts, apps, notes, and pictures? All of this can make your phone feel too busy, and you might long for that fresh-out-of-the-box emptiness you enjoyed when you first got your phone.

Luckily, this is a relatively easy problem to solve. All you need to do is set aside some time, sit down with your phone, and get deleting. Any app you haven’t used in three months should go. This will significantly clean up your home screen. Then take a look at your contacts. Sure, keep your close friends and family. But the pizza guy in the town you moved away from a year ago? Delete! You can also work your way through old pictures, text conversations, notes, videos, and voicemails. When you’ve finished decluttering, choose a different background image, layout, and font setting. Next thing you know, you’ll be convinced you’ve got a brand new phone!

Like cars, people, and houses, smartphones tend to show their age as the years pass by. But also like those other things, there are some simple measure to take that will slow the aging process. From wiping down the screen to keeping your phone out of the bathroom, be sure to stay vigilant. With just a small amount of care, you can keep your phone looking like new.