You Need To Stop Ruining Your Phone! Quick Guide

Over time I have had to go through the process of unlearning the things I very much believed were of importance. Especially when handling my Phone, Laptop, or Tablet. And in this article, I will share 5 habits you need to stop, as they ruin your Phone, Laptop, and Tablet.

Introduction

Our devices are significant investments. To obtain your money’s worth, you must take good care of your gadgets. Regular maintenance is one way to stay abreast.

Here 5 things you have to stop

1. You Are Over-Charging

Do you keep your phone plugged in all the time? Apple says that when your iPhone “remain(s) at full charge for prolonged periods of time, battery health can be affected.”

Android phone manufacturers, including Samsung, say the same. “Do not leave your phone connected to the charger for long periods of time.” Huawei says, “Keeping your battery level as close to the middle (30% to 70%) as possible can effectively prolong the battery life.”

Your battery will automatically stop charging when it’s full, but in some cases, once it drops to 99%, it will need more energy to get back to 100. This constant cycle eats away at your battery’s lifespan. Most phones come with charging regulation options baked in for this reason.

Each round of full discharge and then full recharge is called battery cycle life. A battery’s cycle life can range from 500 to 1200. That means a life cycle of 18 months to 3 years for a typical battery. If your battery is older than that, you are on borrowed time!!

Keep your phone as cool as possible. Heat impacts your battery’s life over the long haul, so tucking it under your pillow is one of the worst things you can do. The same goes for leaving your phone in the sun or outside when it’s cold.

The official word is to keep your phone charged – but not fully charged.

2. You Wait Too Long To Charge Your Laptop

Laptop batteries have a finite number of charge-discharge cycles. If you frequently let your battery entirely run out of juice, it affects the charge-discharge cycle and diminishes its intended lifespan.

Your laptop battery can also lose efficiency another way. Let’s say you regularly charge your laptop from 30% to 50%, or about 20% each time you charge it. Well, do that five times and you’ll have completed one battery cycle because you’ve charged your laptop 100% in total.

A good rule of thumb is to keep your battery charged to at least 40% most of the time.

3. You Choose The Cheapest Option.

If you misplace your charger or a USB cable frays, avoid the urge to buy the cheapest replacement. The few dollars you save on a low-cost equivalent will almost certainly have a detrimental impact on the functioning of your gadget.

(Many) One-size-fits-all charger and cable manufacturers don’t want you to realize that their products frequently lack the voltage required to function with your specific device. What difference does it make? Your battery may not receive enough energy to completely charge. Worse, it may shorten the life of the battery.

Cheap chargers can be dangerous to you too. Many generic phone chargers are less likely to meet established safety and quality testing guidelines than their name-brand counterparts, leading to severe shocks and burns.

Spend a little more on getting a replacement charger and cable from the devices’ manufacturer or certified third-party makers.

4.  You’re careless

Today’s phones are fairly rugged. They can generally resist water, dust, and a bit of water. But leaving your device in a hot car or out in the sun can cause serious damage. Not only can it cause the battery to leak or overheat, but it can also cause data to be lost or corrupted.

Extreme cold temperatures also wreak havoc on your phone. Lithium-ion batteries can stop discharging electricity in freezing temperatures, leading to shortened battery life, display problems, and even cracking the display glass.

5. You’re a slob

Is your tech sparkling clean or covered in crumbs and smudges? It’s not just about cleanliness, either. Dust and dirt can do severe damage to computers, TVs, and other expensive electronics.

Here are some essential tools I keep on hand to maintain my devices:

• Compressed air: This is especially useful when you need to clean tight quarters and inside difficult-to-reach crevices. If you don’t like the waste of regular compressed air, try an electric air duster.

• Isopropyl alcohol: Avoid household cleaning products on your electronic devices. A good rule of thumb is if you would use it to clean your kitchen, it’s not appropriate for your computer or electronics.

• Cleaning wipes: If you don’t want to mess with alcohol or water, try a cleaning wipe. I buy these all the time.

• Distilled or purified bottled water: Tap water could leave mineral spots and stains.

• Soft cloths: Lint-free is your friend; don’t use paper towels or tissues that scratch and leave particles behind. If you have a 100% cotton cloth, that works, too. Here’s an affordable pack of clothes I’ve purchased a few times.

• Toothbrush: A soft toothbrush can be used on hard-to-reach areas and spots that need light scrubbing.