Disinfecting An Ipad?

[scrhsa]

I work/volunteer at a school that uses Ipads. Well, flu and cold season is upon us and our Ipads are getting disgusting!! Our kiddos are sniffling, sneezing, sticking their fingers in their mouth and touching all over tablets.
Does anyone know how to clean them? The only thing I've come across is to us alcohol but then they say not to use alcohol.
Thanks in advance.

 

[bcla]

The problem with alcohol is that it might damage the anti reflective coating on the screen.

A benzalkonium chloride spray might do the trick. Legally they can only have labeling claiming to kill bacteria, but they are broad spectrum, killing most viruses and molds. They also have some residual disinfection action, but you can’t rely on that once it’s dry.

Wet Ones wipes are similar (benzethonium chloride), but you need to check the label. They have one version that doesn’t have any antimicrobial ingredients.

Ordinary disinfecting wipes should work. Stuff like Clorox or Lysol wipes, or generic/house branded equivalents.

 

[wenrob]

Apple recommends a slightly damp cloth. I use electronics wipes and buff them with a soft cloth. I use Lysol wipes on the cases.

 

[LYSE]

If they can swing it I would just throw all of those either in a case w/ built in screen protector (then using alcohol on that) or put screen protectors on them and hit those with wipes like bcla mentioned

I haven't used one, but you may also want to consider simply cleaning them with normal cleaners then using a UV sterilizer to disinfect.

 

[scrhsa]

The problem with alcohol is that it might damage the anti reflective coating on the screen.

A benzalkonium chloride spray might do the trick. Legally they can only have labeling claiming to kill bacteria, but they are broad spectrum, killing most viruses and molds. They also have some residual disinfection action, but you can’t rely on that once it’s dry.

Wet Ones wipes are similar (benzethonium chloride), but you need to check the label. They have one version that doesn’t have any antimicrobial ingredients.

Ordinary disinfecting wipes should work. Stuff like Clorox or Lysol wipes, or generic/house branded equivalents.

Ok, so the wipes/spray won't hurt the screen at all? I need to be able to tell my vice principal that it's all 100%, with confidence a-ok

 

[ashley0139]

Ok, so the wipes/spray won't hurt the screen at all? I need to be able to tell my vice principal that it's all 100%, with confidence a-ok

Then you should probably ask Apple directly and not rely on a Disney message board for 100% confidence. Not trying to be rude, just saying.

 

[scrhsa]

If they can swing it I would just throw all of those either in a case w/ built in screen protector (then using alcohol on that) or put screen protectors on them and hit those with wipes like bcla mentioned

I haven't used one, but you may also want to consider simply cleaning them with normal cleaners then using a UV sterilizer to disinfect.

We are a very small school and lucky to even have the ipads Not sure they would want to spring for the covers/ uv sterilizer. But I will look into those. Thanks!

 

[LYSE]

Then you should probably ask Apple directly and not rely on a Disney message board for 100% confidence. Not trying to be rude, just saying.

Yeah and my guess is any manufacturer will tell you nope! Because they do not want to risk any damage at all.

Get a UV Sterilizer wand...that is your best bet if you want to be sure there isn't any damage.

 

[scrhsa]

Then you should probably ask Apple directly and not rely on a Disney message board for 100% confidence. Not trying to be rude, just saying.

I hear ya, just thought I'd get some personal experience to go along with my other research.

 

[LYSE]

We are a very small school and lucky to even have the ipads Not sure they would want to spring for the covers/ uv sterilizer. But I will look into those. Thanks!

The wands are under $100 for a large one that would be useful for Ipads, would save money over time as well compared to say lysol wipes

 

[scrhsa]

Ok, so I think I will price out the uv wands and take that to the school and hope they are on board with it or possible foot the bill myself. Thank you all for your responses

 

[PollyannaMom]

I use a PowerXcel spray for mine. It came as an "antibacterial LCD screen cleaning kit" with a special cloth. (You spray the stuff on the cloth, not directly on the screen.) CVS carries it.

 

[CarolAnn856]

Ok, so I think I will price out the uv wands and take that to the school and hope they are on board with it or possible foot the bill myself. Thank you all for your responses

I would research them first before wasting money on one. There doesn't seem to be any research proving that they really work. In fact, a test from a couple of years ago showed that they didn't do much at all:

http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/24585360/upstate-hospitals-test-uv-light-sanitizing-wands

 

[leebee]

I used to do cell/tissue culture and I know that with the UV sterilizers in our hoods, we had to have them on for at least 30 minutes- and longer is better. You have to use short-wave UV light, which is dangerous to skin, eyes, etc. Not really practical with a wand for the iPads, in school.

I have several iPads at school that the kids use, so I know what you mean. I just wipe them down with the same antibacterial wipes that the school provides for wiping down desks. I've been doing this for about 5 years now with no detrimental effects.

 

[LYSE]

Right, for the UV wands definately do your research and pre clean, I have seen some tests that show them working, but of course it's not 100 percent and if I recall correctly depending on the bacteria the light was being held for 10.5 - 20 seconds (of course this will vary depending on light)

OR just take the risk of messing up the coating on the screen (it's more durable than they say though)

*edit

Looks like I was thinking of phone soap when I recalled successful tests, however it's not a wand and takes up to 5 miutues per device.

 

[bcla]

Ok, so the wipes/spray won't hurt the screen at all? I need to be able to tell my vice principal that it's all 100%, with confidence a-ok

With Wet Ones you're dealing with a tiny amount of alcohol. I doubt it does anything bad, but who knows in the long run. They also have other ingredients that might build up on the surface.

I was thinking of an antiseptic spray that's basically just the antiseptic and water. They might have something else there, but that can just be wiped off with a damp towel. I've actually gotten stuff like that as schwag at public events. It would be like county/street fair stands operated by a local clinic. I'd put it on my own devices. Still - my iPad Mini 4 is encased in an Otterbox Defender, and I'm not worried about anything damaging that.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I use Lysol wipes on both my iPhone and iPad. Quick and easy, have never seen any damage from them.

 

[lesliekatya]

I work in an elementary school as well. We just use a 50/50 mixture of water and alcohol in a spray bottle. We haven’t had any problems, and we’ve been doing it for years.

 

[anniemae]

I sometimes spray just a little bit of lysol on a paper towel and wipe it with that.

 

[RangerPooh]

When I taught I cringed at how dirty the technology was. Every few days I'd give my classroom helpers Clorox wipes to wipe down the keyboard and mouse. We didn't have ipads, but I can imagine how dirty those are. I wipe down my sons ipad with a Clorox wipe, but then I don't do it daily.