When caregiving for an elderly adult who lives at home, most caregivers put a lot of time and effort into making sure the home is clean and tidy.  Maintaining a clean and tidy home is one way to ensure that your loved one will stay healthy and avoid falls.  Many caregivers have a cleaning routine that includes cleaning many of the areas of the home that are ideal homes for bacteria and viruses such as refrigerators, bathroom surfaces, garbage cans, and more.  But, the truth is, a lot of harmful bacteria and viruses can live on the things we tend to overlook – our electronics.  If you and your elderly loved one enjoy using your computers, tablets, and smartphones frequently, chances are they have become dirty with hours and hours of use.  Fortunately, there are easy ways to clean these items to keep them free from illness-causing germs and keep them from getting damaged.  Here are just a few tips:

The first electronic-cleaning tip actually does not involve cleaning electronics at all, but it is very important to keep in mind.  The reason why electronics house so many germs is because we touch them with dirty hands.  To keep electronics such as smartphones, tablets, and computer keyboards much cleaner, wash your hands before and after using them and encourage your elderly loved one to do the same.

While it is likely that your smartphone doesn’t collect much dust, the computer keyboard is an ideal place for dust and dirt to settle.  In addition to causing a dirty appearance, dust can actually cause damage to computers and other electronics when too much of it settles into the important components.  For this reason, take the time at least once a week to remove dust from the computer using a gentle dusting cloth.

Many people avoid cleaning their smartphones and tablets because they are afraid that they will break them.  However, rubbing alcohol or a rubbing alcohol-based screen cleaner will remove germs and dirt without causing damage to the device.  Be sure to use a very gentle cloth (like a cloth that you would use to clean eyeglasses) and spray the alcohol or cleaner on the cloth, not the device itself, before wiping it clean.

When you do the above tasks on a regular basis, electronic devices will be clean, safe, and free from germs!