Apple says it’s okay to use disinfecting wipes to clean your iPhone
Tom Sykes
Posted On 09/03/2020 
Apple has updated its recommended cleaning instructions with new information that confirms it’s okay to use alcohol-based disinfecting wipes to clean your iPhone.
Spotted within an update to its support document on cleaning Apple products, Apple Support recommends using a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox disinfecting wipe to “gently” clean hard surfaces, warning the wipes should not be used on accessories, such as leather iPhone cases.
Apple has always discouraged the use of disinfecting wipes, saying products could be abrasive and erode the protective coating on the display which reduces fingerprints and smudges.
The guidelines come amid the coronavirus outbreak spreading across the globe. Various studies have found that it can survive on glass or plastic for as long as nine days. Apple has said it is performing regular deep cleaning of its retail stores, with employees told to clean demo devices more regularly than usual.
The support document says…
Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the display, keyboard, or other exterior surfaces. Don’t use bleach. Avoid getting moisture in any opening, and don’t submerge your Apple product in any cleaning agents. Don’t use on fabric or leather surfaces.
