# Random iPhone question... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 11, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-iphone-question/849293 "2020-03-11T18:54:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-iphone-question/849293/1 "2020-03-11T18:54:13Z")
In a fit of coronavirus caution, I used a wet wipe on my iPhone screen. Only after did it occur to me to check online, and I was told that doing so could damage the coating on the screen. The wet wipe liquid was on the front for a minute or two before I wiped it off. This is my first iPhone (albeit used), so again I’m overcautious. How likely is it that I did any damage to the coating on the screen; I thought maybe it was warning against regular use, and this one mistaken use was fine. If the coating were damaged, how would I tell? Can I fix it? And is water and wiping sufficient for disinfecting a screen, which is what I was going for to begin with? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-iphone-question/849293/2 "2020-03-11T20:41:26Z")
First of all, there is really no point in disinfecting a phone screen. Any process that would do a really good job is a bad idea. Second of all, see the previous statement. For just general cleaning purposes, a microfiber cloth that has a tiny amount of moisture on it will do a decent job. By “tiny” take what you think it a usable amount and cut it down by a factor of 10-50. If you see beads on the screen after the first wipe, you used waaaay too much. (Yes, I know. They sell phone sanitizers. Shades of _Hitchhiker’s Guide_. But they sell a lot of things that are useless or harmful.) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-iphone-question/849293/3 "2020-03-11T20:44:36Z")
Get a screen cover, then you don’t have to worry about any of that. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-iphone-question/849293/4 "2020-03-11T22:32:05Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Get a screen cover, then you don’t have to worry about any of that. That was my first thought. Isn’t a screen cover a good idea for any phone, to help protect it against scratches and cracks? ---
**Author:** ![Saturn\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Saturn\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saturn_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-iphone-question/849293/5 "2020-03-11T22:32:46Z")
Yes, it’s safe to use wet wipes on your iPhone screen. Just don’t dunk it in pure alcohol. > **[How to clean your Apple products](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204172?mod=article_inline)** > > Get recommendations and guidelines for cleaning your Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, display, or peripheral device. ---
**Author:** ![Saturn\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Saturn\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saturn_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-iphone-question/849293/6 "2020-03-11T22:34:10Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Get a screen cover, then you don’t have to worry about any of that. Screen covers get dirty too. And it’s not disinfecting anything. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-iphone-question/849293/7 "2020-03-11T22:37:16Z")
> [@Saturn\_Dreams](#): > > Screen covers get dirty too. And it’s not disinfecting anything. Well, yes, but if you get something on it that damages it, the worst thing that happens is that you need to replace the screen cover. ---
**Author:** ![Saturn\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Saturn\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saturn_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-iphone-question/849293/8 "2020-03-11T22:39:18Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > And is water and wiping sufficient for disinfecting a screen, which is what I was going for to begin with? If it’s boiling, maybe. Using wet wipes or spraying a cloth with 60-70% isopropyl alcohol is much easier and effective. ---
**Author:** ![Saturn\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Saturn\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saturn_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-iphone-question/849293/9 "2020-03-11T22:41:28Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Well, yes, but if you get something on it that damages it, the worst thing that happens is that you need to replace the screen cover. I would think cleaning the screen is faster and more cost effective than having to buy a new scree every time it gets dirty with germs. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-iphone-question/849293/10 "2020-03-12T03:40:09Z")
> [@Saturn\_Dreams](#): > > Screen covers get dirty too. And it’s not disinfecting anything. …Then you clean the screen cover instead of putting liquid on the screen. Or just replace it, they come in 2-4 packs for under $15. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-iphone-question/849293/11 "2020-03-12T03:53:40Z")
I’ve used wet wipes on my iPhone and iPad many times with no issue. Why is it supposed to be problematic? (I use them not for any disinfectant purposes, but because it’s a simple wet cleaning cloth I have lying around.) ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-iphone-question/849293/12 "2020-03-12T05:12:55Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’ve used wet wipes on my iPhone and iPad many times with no issue. Why is it supposed to be problematic? (I use them not for any disinfectant purposes, but because it’s a simple wet cleaning cloth I have lying around.) It’s supposed to damage some kind of special coating on the screen. ---
**Author:** ![Saturn\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Saturn\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saturn_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-iphone-question/849293/13 "2020-03-13T02:06:41Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > It’s supposed to damage some kind of special coating on the screen. It’s called an oleophobic coating, which is oil resistant so that our fingers don’t leave streaks or smudges on the screen. Different manufacturers will use different substances to make their oleophobic compound so some are better than others but most agree that a strong concentration of isopropyl (or ethanol) alcohol will wear away at this coating. However, keeping it at 70% or under will be fine, (read negligible). Keep in mind, it’s only a coating so it will eventually wear off if you keep rubbing your screen regardless of what solvent you use or don’t use, and this includes fingers.