July 3, 2025, 1:41 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Many people use eyeglass cleaning cloths to maintain their smartphones, unaware that this can cause damage over time. TECHBOOK explains how to do it correctly.
On many eyeglass cleaning and wiping cloths, it says not to use them to clean smartphone displays. The reason is simple: The moist wipes contain isopropyl alcohol, which can damage the “oleophobic” coating of the display. Some manufacturers, such as Apple, explicitly advise against cleaning smartphone screens with eyeglass wipes or other alcohol-based solvents. Well-known home remedies like vinegar should also be avoided, as they are too harsh for the thin coating. Only exceptional situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may necessitate the use of stronger disinfectants.
Overview
What is an “oleophobic” coating?
Almost every smartphone user gets annoyed by unsightly fingerprints on the screen. But what most don’t know is that it could be much worse. Smartphone displays have a so-called “oleophobic”–or oil-repellent–coating that prevents every smudge from sticking immediately. Fingerprints are essentially grease stains caused by the sebaceous glands in our fingers. While fingerprints aren’t completely avoided, they can be wiped away much more easily than from a regular glass surface. Try wiping a fingerprint off your window with just a cloth–the greasy fingerprint will only spread further on the glass.
The oleophobic coating also has another advantage: It gives the glass a slightly slippery and soft feel when touched. That’s why new smartphones are often much slipperier than those that have been used for some time. This is because the coating wears off over time–a process influenced by various factors such as the quality of the coating and the acidity of the finger’s sebum. Normally, the coating should last well over two years unless exposed to improper treatment.
Alcohol is bad for smartphones
Moist wipes, many cleaning agents, and some cleaners explicitly marketed as “suitable for smartphone displays” contribute to accelerating the wear process. It’s all the more surprising that many so-called advisors still recommend eyeglass wipes and water-alcohol mixtures as a secret tip for gentle smartphone cleaning. I can only advise against this and instead recommend a soft microfiber cloth if you want to clean your phone’s display as gently as possible.
It’s also generally advisable to avoid water-based solvents that, while primarily water, also contain aggressive substances like acetic acid and alcohol. However, these solvents are significantly less harmful to the display and can be used in extreme cases. To treat the screen gently even then, apply the water-based solvent to the cleaning cloth first, rather than spraying it directly on the display.
Also read: Clean and disinfect your smartphone–6 important tips!
How to properly clean your smartphone
In most cases, a microfiber cloth is entirely sufficient to get the smartphone clean again. Unlike a paper towel, which can leave scratches on the surface, a microfiber cloth leaves no traces thanks to its fine fibers. Additionally, the microfibers better absorb grease and dust.
Other items can also be cleaned with microfiber cloths, such as glasses, PC monitors, and TVs. Glasses often come with such a cloth from the optician, which you can also use for your smartphone.
It’s best to turn off the screen so you can better see dirt on the glass. If necessary, slightly dampen the cloth, but only with pure water, no additives like soap or similar. Wipe vertically or horizontally in even motions across the screen for a flawless result. After wiping, clean the microfiber cloth to prevent dust particles or other dirt from sticking. This could cause scratches the next time you wipe. Simply wash the cloth thoroughly in a mixture of warm water and soap and let it air dry. Done.
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If you’ve already cleaned your smartphone a few times with an alcohol- or acid-based wipe, there’s no need to worry. The oleophobic coating can withstand this treatment for a while–it just shouldn’t become a habit.
Do you still want to use the convenient, moist wipes for smartphone cleaning? There’s a solution for that too: screen protectors made of plastic or tempered glass. These protectors can be easily replaced. They come with their own coating. Additionally, they have the nice side effect of protecting the screen from scratches and, in some cases, even cracks. Since screen protectors should be replaced more frequently anyway, you can simply wipe them with an eyeglass wipe without worrying about long-term effects–problem solved.