Do you have any idea how dirty your phone is? How much bacteria and germs are living in its case? What if we tell you that your phone carries more germs than a toilet?

We use our phones every day. Wherever we are and whatever we are doing, we always find time to check our phones even for a short while. Our hands carry more germs than you might think and these are passed onto our phones. You might be washing your hands to get rid of bacteria, but how often do you disinfect your phones?

It is important that you keep your things clean, especially during this pandemic to avoid any health issues. Here, we are going to show you how to disinfect your leather phone cases (including iPhone leather cases) properly along with some tips you should take note of when disinfecting. So keep on reading to know more!

A Few Things to Take Note of About Leather Phone Cases

Leather is among the most popular materials for making phone cases. It adds an elegant look to your phones without the need to spend a lot of money, except if you are using genuine leather. However, leather has some disadvantages too. It is sensitive to heat, humidity, sunlight, oil, and others. Dirt, among other substances, easily sticks to its surface. This makes it easy for bacteria to build up in it.

Moreover, its color might change slightly regardless of what cleaning solution you are using. So when disinfecting your leather phone cases, be extra careful with the cleaning materials you use. In the next section are the recommended items to use when disinfecting your leather phone case to preserve its quality.

What to Use When Disinfecting Leather Phone Cases

• Warm water
• Clean cloth (cotton is recommended)
• Mild hand soap
• Leather conditioner

Steps to Disinfect Leather Phone Cases

1. Remove the leather case from your phone. Make sure that you remove the contents of your phone case if your case comes with pockets.
2. Get a bowl and mix the mild hand soap and water. Use your own judgment for the proportions.
3. Dip the clean cotton cloth into the bowl. Wring the cloth until it is damp.
4. Gently rub your phone case with the damp cloth in a circular motion, focusing more on the spots that often get dirty.
   **Note:
   Do NOT put too much pressure when rubbing because the leather might get stretched. It might even be removed from the layer of plastic underneath it.
5. Wipe excess water using a paper towel or dry cotton cloth.
   **Optional:
   You can use mink oil or a leather conditioner to maintain the good shape of the phone case. Make sure that you follow the directions on the leather conditioner’s label. Saddle soap can also help restore and condition the leather. Here is an article on how to use saddle soap on leather you can read.
6. Let your phone case dry before you put your phone back on it.

Tips When Disinfecting Leather Phone Cases

Source: Pixabay

To avoid destroying your precious leather phone case, below are some helpful tips you can follow:

Tip #1. Always use a mild solution.

Disinfecting your leather phone case affects its color. That is why avoiding soap is recommended because most soaps leave harmful residues. But because using water alone is not an effective disinfectant, using a very mild clothes detergent or soap is more recommended.

Tip #2. Do not use strong cleaners.

Avoid using the following cleaners:

• Cleaners that have hydrogen peroxide
• Abrasives
• Ammonia
• Solvents
• Aerosol sprays
• Compressed air
• Household cleaners
• Window cleaners

Tip #3. Use a lint-free cloth or microfiber cloth.

We recommend using a lint-free cloth like a plusher terry type microfiber cloth. Plusher terry type cloth is better than a flat-woven type cloth. This is because plusher terry type cloth can get into the smallest crevices and cracks of your porous leather phone case. This ensures the effective removal of bacteria and germs from your phone case.

Moreover, a microfiber cloth is very soft so it will not scratch your phone case. It is also a great absorbent material which is perfect for drying your phone case thoroughly.

Tip #4. Always be gentle when disinfecting and drying.

As we have said earlier, leather can get stretched and might even get detached from the plastic layer underneath it. So make sure that you rub in circular motions gently as much as possible. Also, take note that different solutions and products can alter the color and look of your leather phone case. That is why using simpler cleaning methods is better.

Other Aftercare Tips for Leather Phone Cases

• Keep your leather phone case away from the following:
  • Humidity
  • Heat
  • Direct sunlight
  • Dyed materials (like denim jeans)
  • Makeup
  • Oil
  • Water
• Condition your phone case at least once a month by using mink oil or a leather conditioner. Do not apply too much because the conditioner might darken the lightly colored areas of the leather.
• To avoid losing the supple feel of your genuine leather phone case when it gets wet, you can use a waterproofing spray or wax.

FAQs About Disinfecting Leather Phone Cases

#1 How do you disinfect a leather iPhone case?

The disinfecting instructions we mentioned here is also effective in cleaning your leather iPhone cases without scratching them. Mild hand soap and warm water are enough to disinfect leather iPhone cases.

#2 Can I use disinfectant wipes on leather phone cases?

It is not recommended to use sanitizing wipes for disinfecting leather because they can damage the leather’s finish. Using water and soap is enough to sanitize your leather phone case.

#3 Is rubbing alcohol safe for leather phone cases?

No, alcohol is not safe for leather materials. Alcohol causes discoloration on leather. It can even dry it out which can lead to deterioration and cracking. Hand soaps are much gentler compared to bleach and alcohol-based leather cleaners.

#4 Is it safe to spray Lysol on leather phone cases?

Do not use any disinfectant spray on your leather phone case because disinfectant sprays contain alcohol.

#5 Can you disinfect leather phone cases with hand sanitizer?

Again, it is not advisable to use hand sanitizers on leather materials because like sanitizing wipes and sprays, hand sanitizers contain alcohol.

Conclusion

We use our phones a lot of times every day, even when we are in the bathroom. No wonder, our phone’s cases are dirtier than toilets. Disinfecting leather cases is not as hard as you think. You just need a clean cloth, water, and mild soap so there is no reason for you not to disinfect your phones. Also, make sure to follow the tips we mentioned here if you want to extend the life of your leather cases.