MUNCIE, Ind. (WOWO): A Ball State University professor says that cleaning your smartphone and electronic devices can help slow the spread of COVID-19.

“We spend more than 2 hours a day touching our phones, share or touch other people’s phones, and touch our face more than a 1,000 times a day, which is a clear pathway for transmission of COVID-19,” said Jagdish Khubchandani, a health science professor. “First, I would urge people to not touch other people’s phone. And then you should frequently clean your phone. Understandably, phone companies warn you of not using certain chemicals and techniques and you are also worried about damaging a costly phone.”

He offered these tips:

• Wash your hands with soap and water, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds
• Turn off your phone
• Remove the battery, separate any covers, and open/disassemble the phone as much as you can
• Use a light hairdryer at a safe distance to blow off dust and particles from all phone surfaces
• Take a piece of cloth and dampen it with soap water or body wash
• Use computer screen cleaning wipes to gently clean all surfaces
• Dry with a clean cloth or blow dry. Dispose all wipes and cloth pieces used and seal your phone