As touch screens, phones, and tablets become more frequent in the way stores and restaurants conduct business, and with COVID-19’s arrival in the United States, touch screens need to be frequently and thoroughly sanitized to reduce the risk of spreading infection. Here’s a step-by-step process on how to properly clean a touch screen:
Turning off your device and unplugging it from the wall is crucial. This helps avoid electrical shocks and permanently damaging your device. However, residual static electricity still has the potential to cause harm. To remove residual static electricity simply touch a metal part of the case, but not any of the inside components.
Never spray your cleaning solution directly onto the touch screen! The liquid will seep into the corners and in between the thin layers causing black spots to appear on the screen. Also, never use ammonia-based glass cleaner, such as Windex. The ammonia will destroy the screen's membrane and cause permanent discoloration. In more severe cases, it may even result in the touch screen not working properly.
Apply gentle pressure as you wipe the touch screen. The circular motion will reduce possible streaking.
Never dry with paper towels, facial tissues, or abrasive cloth. These items can cause tiny scratches on the touch screen. In addition to the dry, clean, microfiber cloth you can also use a soft brush to remove any small objects from between the glass and the outside grooves.
Once cleaned, and you’re certain the surface is completely dry, you can then reconnect your touch screen to the power source and turn it on. It is now safe to use.
During crises, such as the COVID pandemic, it’s critical to sanitize your touch screens as often as possible. For devices like portable tablets that are handled by a different staff member each shift, consider cleaning them at the end of each shift. For fixed-devices or self-service touch screens, consider cleaning at least once a day.
Monday March 23, 2020
Like any device, a credit card reader is not immortal to germs. Yet it’s easy to forget the influence a pin pad can have on the spread of disease like the coronavirus, or that inside the terminal dirt can slowly build up and disable the device over time. Therefore, to prevent the spread of germs and prolong the life of the device, here’s a step-by-step process on how to properly clean a POS pin pad:
Lint-free or microfiber cloths
Disposable, disinfectant wipes or cloth sprayed with disinfect
Cleaning card for the card slot
Cleaning solution: mix of 80% alcohol and 20% distilled water
This is very important because certain things, like the type of cleaning product used, can nullify the warranty of the device.
Turning off your device and unplugging it from the wall is crucial. This helps avoid electrical shocks and permanently damaging your device. However, residual static electricity still has the potential to cause harm. To remove residual static electricity simply touch a metal part of the case, but not any of the inside components.
Never spray your cleaning solution directly onto the machine! The liquid will seep into the corners and permanently damage the device. Instead, carefully rub the exterior of the card machine with the wipe or cloth, one surface at a time. Be particularly thorough around buttons and sides where people tend to grab the terminal. If an area gets too wet, immediately wipe it with a dry cloth or paper towel.
Once cleaned, and you’re certain the surface is completely dry, you can then reconnect your pin pad to the power source and turn on. It is now ready to use again.