How to Clean Your Tech

CTV Your Morning, January 7, 2026

When was the last time you cleaned your phone? What about your earbuds? They’re kind of gross, right?

Here’s what you need to know to clean your tech:

Skip the fancy UV sanitation devices. Many of them don’t work because they don’t have enough UV‑C to match their “kills 99.9% of germs” marketing. The ones that are actually powerful enough are basically professional grade devices, with the price tag to match.

The best way to clean all tech devices (to remove oils, germs, grime, and earwax) is the old fashioned way, with items that are likely already around your house.

Start by turning the device off. Clean screens with a microfibre cloth to remove fingerprints. Use 70% alcohol to clean and disinfect surfaces, but don’t spray liquid on the device... spray it on the cloth and then use the cloth to wipe the device down. Alcohol wipes or disinfecting wipes can do a great job as well.

Never spray or wipe liquids in the ports of a device, and also don’t blow canned air (that can further push dust and debris into the port. Instead, clean the ports with a cloth, soft-bristled brush (like a toothbrush).

Clean earbuds by removing the plastic ear tips (if possible) and washing those gently with water or alcohol. Wax and debris around earbud speaker meshes can be loosened with a dry cotton swab or soft‑bristled brush. Be careful to not rip the mesh!

Wait until everything is bone dry before turning the device on again.