Screen Sprays and Cloths

What a screen needs

Every touch leaves a little oil on a phone screen, and the face leaves more during calls. Most screens have a thin oil-repelling coating that helps fingerprints wipe off, and looking after that coating is the reason to be careful with what you use. Apple and Samsung both recommend a soft, lint-free cloth: Apple suggests a lens cloth, Samsung a microfibre cloth. A dry cloth deals with most fingerprints. For anything more stubborn, Apple says the cloth can be slightly damp with water, and Samsung suggests a little distilled water on the cloth.

The kinds in this range

• Spray and cloth sets. A small spray with a microfibre cloth, sized for a bag or pocket. On some the cloth is part of the case; some options come with liquid only, so check the one you choose.
• Refillable spray bottles. A small empty-and-refill bottle with a microfibre cloth. Filled with distilled water, it gives the light dampness Samsung describes.
• Screen wipes. Packs of individual wet and dry wipes, alcohol-free, for phones, tablets, laptops, monitors and camera lenses.

Using them the way the makers advise

Turn the phone off and unplug it. Apple says not to spray cleaning products straight onto a device, so spray the cloth, lightly, never the phone. Wipe in light, straight strokes, keep the damp part of the cloth away from the earpiece and the openings at the edges, then dry the screen with a clean part of the cloth. Pressing hard does not help, and grit on a cloth can scratch, so shake it out first.

Apple warns that cleaning products and abrasive materials wear down the oil-repelling coating. So for the phone's own screen, a dry cloth or plain water is the makers' first choice, and a cleaning spray is better kept for a glass screen protector, a laptop or a monitor. Alcohol-free wipes clean, but they do not disinfect: for that, Apple allows a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe gently on the outside of an iPhone.

Wash microfibre cloths now and then without fabric softener, which leaves a film that smears back onto the screen. The guide to cleaning your phone safely covers the rest of the phone.

Questions people ask about screen sprays and cloths

Can I use glass cleaner on my phone?

No. Household cleaners are made for worktops and windows, not coated glass, and some contain bleach, which both makers rule out.

Can I clean camera lenses with the same cloth?

Yes. A smudged lens is the usual reason photos look hazy; wipe it with a clean part of the cloth. See camera lens protectors too.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• All cleaning and care
• Phone cleaning kits
• Tempered glass screen protectors
• Anti-glare screen protectors
• Camera lens protectors
• Guide: Phone case materials: silicone, TPU, polycarbonate and leather
• Guide: Screen protectors explained: glass, privacy, anti-glare and film