Cleaning small assistive devices like a remote control is an often overlooked but important household task that can prevent disease transmission between family members. Additionally, it is always a good idea to keep regularly used household appliances free of bacteria. In order to easily clean today's essential accessories, you can use some clever tricks and common home remedies with simple steps. Find out below what these are and how they can make the cleaning process easier.
Prevent dirt from accumulating and clean sticky remote controls
There is no doubt that remote controls make life quite convenient. Many people use remote controls on a daily basis, be it for a television, a stereo, an air conditioner, or even more than one device. Understandably, these frequently touched items can over timebecome dirty and accumulate bacteria. Chances are good that, for example, you only wipe and care for your television remote control every now and then.
However, this should be done monthly if possible and when a pet or family member is sick to avoid the spread of germs and viruses. When you think of dirty and bacteria-infested places in your home, you probably think it's the kitchen or the toilet. But it probably would never occur to you that many of the items you use every day are actually breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses. They are just waiting to find a hospitable host.
So, one of the dirty household appliances that you would never suspect needs regular cleaning is the remote control. That small device you use to stream Netflix has probably collected a lot of sticky dust since you first bought it. With all their tiny buttons, remote controls have hard-to-reach nooks and crannies that require specialized but affordable cleaning tools. In addition, you should also make sure that you use products and cleaning techniques that cannot damage the little helper. Materials such as microfiber cloths, toothbrushes, cotton pads, hydrogen peroxide, hand sanitizer, toothpicks, baking soda, gloves, and white vinegar can make the cleaning task easier.
Use cleaning agents suitable for remote controls
In addition to the home remedies described above, there are of course also commercial cleaning products and disinfectants that you can use for this household chore. This means that viral pathogens can be easily eliminated. There are also numerous approved products that include cleaning and bleaching agents, as well as hygiene products such as Sagrotan®. Conventional household bleach or homemade alcohol-based cleaning solutions can also do the job. For example, if you are using bleach, it is recommended to mix 4 teaspoons of it in a liter of water. This means you can clean the remote control and then wipe it with a damp cloth to avoid damage and discoloration.
If you use alcohol for remote control cleaning, the solution should consist of at least 70 percent isopropyl alcohol. In either case, you should be careful when using the solution near fabric or leather. Alsowhen cleaning and disinfectingyou should always wear disposable or rubber gloves. Additionally, remember to open the windows to ventilate the room where you are applying the disinfectant.
If there is a baby or children in the household
It is an undeniable fact that remote controls are attractive to babies and toddlers. For little ones, there are lots of colorful buttons for them to press and a flashing light to indicate whenever they press one of those buttons. Not to mention that it turns the TV on and off and changes the channel. However, as previously highlighted, remote controls can quickly spread bacteria throughout your home, with children most likely being one of the main reasons for this. Babies and toddlers also have more chances of getting sick as a result.
However, that is not the only danger that this everyday device poses for small children. Remote controls consist of several small parts that can cause choking. They usually also contain batteries, which can be toxic if ingested or leaked. This does theproper cleaningthe accessories are even more important. Without further ado, here are some cleaning methods you can try on your own.
This is how you can clean conventional TV remote controls
When it comes to general cleaning of a remote control, you should check your owner's manual if it is still available. However, the following methods work for most types of remote controls. However, wiping once is usually not enough. Additionally, it may be necessary to disinfect the entire surface without damaging the device. Fortunately, there are options that can help you with this. There are two types of remote controls you will come across – with and without a display. Digital remote controls can have an LCD screen that displays data or a touchscreen that can receive input. However, a remote control without a display is the most common version that you have probably been using since you were a child. The type of remote you have will determine how you should clean it.
- First, remove the batteries from your remote control.
- Then use a toothbrush to remove any debris in and around the buttons. Work your way from top to bottom.
- Next, mix equal parts water and rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle.
- First, spray the cleaning solution onto a microfiber cloth.
- Be sure to tap out excess moisture during the cleaning process.
- Wipe the remote control vigorously several times with the cloth.
- For tight spaces, spray the mixture onto cotton swabs and work the areas to remove dirt and debris.
- Turn the remote over and use the toothbrush again to remove any loose crumbs or dirt from the battery compartment.
- Finally, make sure the remote control is dry before replacing the batteries and testing the device for functionality again.
Use baking soda and clean sticky remote control
Nobody likes sticky plastic, be it headphones, computer keyboards or of course remote controls. To properly address this deeply unpleasant, sticky issue, you can try wiping the remote with rubbing alcohol and see if that gets rid of the stickiness. However, for those who have a harder time removing sticky messes, baking soda can sometimes work wonders.
- In this case, too, make sure to remove the batteries.
- First, create a thick paste of baking soda and water.
- Then use your finger or a cotton swab to apply the baking soda to the sticky area.
- Then work the mixture around with the toothbrush.
- Finally, wipe off the paste and repeat the process if necessary.
- Use a microfiber cloth to gently wipe the battery compartment.
- Also make sure all surfaces are dry before reinserting the batteries.
Use vinegar as a common home remedy for battery leaks on remote controls
What if you open the battery compartment on your remote only to find it full of chalky white debris? The white stuff comes from a battery leak and therefore you should clean your remote control inside and out. However, make sure to put on gloves before you start removing battery corrosion and follow the next steps.
- First, remove the old batteries if they leak and dispose of them properly.
- Then make a 1:1 cleaning solution of water and white vinegar.
- First, dip a cotton swab into the mixture.
- Afterwards, use your fingers to wring the stuff out.
- Now take the cotton swab and use it to scrub away any white residue.
- Pay particular attention to the coils.
- Then check the battery cover and remove any deposits there too.
- Use a dry cotton swab to wipe everything off.
- Allow the compartment to dry before inserting new batteries.
When it comes to cleaning like this, rubbing alcohol is also a good choice. However, you can also clean a remote control with disinfectant wipes or baking soda for sticky dirt.
How do you clean a digital remote control?
If the device is equipped with an LCD display, you should clean it gently. To do this correctly, you can follow the instructions below:
- First, mix equal parts alcohol and distilled water in a clean spray bottle.
- Be careful not to use tap water as it can leave streaks on the screen due to limescale after cleaning.
- Then spray the cleaning solution onto a microfiber cloth, making sure it is damp and not wet.
- Never spray a digital remote control with such a solution directly onto the LCD screen.
- Gently wipe from top to bottom until you have thoroughly cleaned the surface.
- Do not turn on the remote control until the LCD screen is completely dry.
Avoid possible errors and clean the remote control properly
While alcohol-based cleaners are a good way to disinfect your remote, you need to use them carefully for two reasons. First, some plastics do not react well to rubbing alcohol, especially after prolonged exposure, causing the material to crack or stiffen. Second, alcohol can actually remove the letters and numbers on the buttons. For this reason, it would be advisable to treat your remote control regularly with an alcohol-free disinfectant wipe. Additionally, if you are using a digital remote control, you should not use tissues or rags to clean your LCD screen as this may cause significant damage. Of course, you'll need to replace your remote once it stops working. That being said, is there any reason why it would be better to replace the device instead of cleaning them? Not really. As long as you diligently clean the remote control once a week, you and your family should be safe.
