No matter the size or shape of your smartphone, it's time to get rid of those irritating grime marks that are plaguing your display.  Whether your model is old or brand new, you just need to follow a few simple steps to get your device as clean as when you first took it out of its box.

Cleaning your phone is not only a great way to make your device look spick and span, rather a great way to get rid of bacteria that has been building up on it. Think about it, every time you touch your phone you transfer what's on your hands to the device - what we touch our phones touch. A scarier thought is that cell phones have been found to have 18 times more harmful bacteria than a handle in a public restroom.

Before you get your cleaning gloves on, remember that there are a numerous ways to clean your device, but some are harsher than others and can remove some of the phone's coating as well.

Let's get started

The essential cleaning aids you will need are a microfiber cloth, cotton swabs, rubbing alcohol and distilled water. The reason distilled water is used here instead of regular tap water is to avoid exposing your phone to chemicals and stopping a film from forming while your phone dries.

To start the cleansing process switch off your device, this is not something you essentially need to do. It is just a way to safeguard you from dialling people or swiping open all sort of programs. Once this is done, remove the case or cover and if you are able to, remove the battery as well.

And now the fun part:

• If you have a keyboard or keypad, clean the buttons with a cotton swab that has been dipped in diluted rubbing alcohol. Don't rub too vigorously and be careful not to get any of the liquid inside the phone.
• Now you can move to the rest of the plastic areas in the phone. Use light pressure to avoid removing any coating that's meant to be there.
• Once the outside is done, it's time to clean the delicate inside area. Use a very small amount of distilled water on a cotton swab to clean under your battery cover and dry immediately so you don't get any liquid inside your phone.
• Using the dampened swab, gently clean the camera, microphone and in and around all the nooks and crannies.
• Once all the major parts of your phone have been cleaned, just give it that glossy look by using the microfiber cloth on the display.

Give it a few moments to completely dry, then put your phone back together and turn it on. You now have a clean and sparkling phone.

Find out other ways you can use distilled water by clicking here!