The TV remote is one of the most prized possessions in the home, often by your side each time you sit down to enjoy your favorite movie, TV show or sporting action. This means you keep pressing its controls and tossing it around, depending on who wants to watch what, sometimes chewed on if you have little ones around, and who knows what else. It’s a gnarly mess and a potential home to germs, allergens, and mold besides the visible dust, dirt and grime. It’s important to learn how to clean and sanitize your TV remote as a preventative measure against health hazards.
How Dirty Are TV Remotes?
Whether you’re at home or in a hotel room, the TV remote control is one of the filthiest items. In fact, one study found that TV remotes get awfully dirty and can contain harmful bacteria, grime, sweat, and even fecal matter in some cases.
With COVID-19 and other diseases spreading at high rates, the best way to protect you in every way possible is by keeping all surfaces and items in the home clean.
TV remotes aren’t easy to clean, though. They’re full of little nooks and crannies around the buttons, which when combined with the dirt, grime and other matter could expose you to health risks.
Thankfully, though, there’s a simple way to clean and sanitize your TV remote whether you’re at home or in a hotel room, provided you have the right materials to do it.
Clean and Sanitize a TV Remote
We recently explained how to properly clean and sanitize your phone, but your TV’s remote control needs to be disinfected often, as it’s constantly being exposed to germs and other microbes. Follow the simple steps below to learn how to clean and sanitize your TV remote.
What You’ll Need
- Rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol)
- Pair of disposable gloves (optional)
- Cotton cloth
- Cotton swabs
- Lint free cloth
- Toothpick (optional)
Instructions
1. Take your TV remote, open the battery compartment and remove the batteries. If you prefer to handle your TV remote using a pair of disposable gloves, you can do so, but it’s not a must, as you can always sanitize or wash your hands thoroughly once you’re done with this exercise.
2. Turn the remote upside down and tap it against your palm or shake it to dislodge any debris between the keys. You can use a compressed air canister to blast and shake free any stubborn matter.
3. Dip the cotton cloth into the rubbing alcohol and wipe gently to clean the outer shell. Don’t spray directly onto the device. Use a cotton swab dampened with the rubbing alcohol to clean hard-to-reach areas around and within the buttons. If you have more stubborn debris, you can dislodge it using a wooden toothpick or dry toothbrush to remove anything that’s deep within the keys.
4. Once the remote is thoroughly cleaned, set it aside to air dry, and re-install the batteries when dry.
5. Remove your gloves and wash your hands and wrists thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds before using the TV remote again.
With the above tips, we hope you now know how to keep your TV remote cleaned and disinfected while maintaining other recommended cleanliness habits. Don’t forget to clean and sanitize your laptop, too.
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Elsie Biage
My passion has always been to share every bit of useful information I find on tech, with the ultimate goal of helping people solve a problem.
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