14 DAY TRIAL // Surface Duo is Microsoft’s first Android device in history, and after the pre-order program kicked off last month, it’s now ready to begin shipping to the very first customers.
The Duo obviously launches at a time when washing hands and keeping everything disinfected is mandatory, but given this is a completely new device that comes with two separate screens, cleaning the screens and the rest of the body isn’t necessarily as easy as it sounds.
First and foremost, let’s see how you are supposed to clean the device (displays not included).
Microsoft says that pretty much any cleaning product that contains 70% or less isopropyl alcohol, including pads and wipes, can be used for the body of the Surface Duo.
“You can use many common disinfectant products to safely clean most Microsoft Surface devices. Use pre-moistened disinfectant wipes or apply an isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution that's 70% or less to a soft, lint-free cloth to clean the device,” Microsoft explains.
For example, Microsoft recommends the following products to disinfect the Surface Duo (the company has already tested them, and no damage is supposed to occur):
- Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution 70% or less
- PDI Sani-Cloth Plus
- Covidien Alcohol Prep pads
- CaviWipes
- Total Solutions Disinfectant Wipes
On the other hand, do not use any solution that’s based on alcohol on the screens of the Surface Duo. These include disinfectant wipes, as they could damage the displays, Microsoft warns.
“Never use disinfectant wipes, glass cleaner, or other chemical cleaners to clean the touchscreen of your Surface device. Surface Laptop with Black, Cobalt Blue, and Burgundy finishes also should not be cleaned in any way with disinfectant wipes,” Microsoft says.
Cleaning the display of the Duo comes with special recommendations, as you just can’t pour the isopropyl alcohol on the screen. And because the wipes aren’t recommended either, what you need to do is just use a soft cloth that you can dampen in alcohol to remove any potential viruses or germs.
However, it’s important to know that you don’t need to rub hard for the whole thing, so just be gentle with it. Microsoft says that ultraviolet light could also affect the performance of the screen, eventually damaging it.
“The Surface touchscreen is coated to make it easier to clean. You don't need to rub hard to remove fingerprints or oily spots. To clean your screen, use a screen cleaning wipe or a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. When necessary, you can dampen the cloth with one of the following: water, isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution 70% or less, or eyeglass cleaner. Never use glass cleaner or other chemical cleaners,” the company says.
So at the end of the day, the easiest way to clean your Surface Duo is to use disinfectant wipes for the body of the device and a cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol for the displays. This way, no damage should occur and the Surface Duo should be entirely clean.
Microsoft also recommends avoiding keeping the Surface Duo in direct sunlight for a long time, as the excessive heat can damage the display. This is something that’s recommended for most smartphones out there, but as most people figured out the hard way, such a thing rarely happens.
At the end of the day, the Redmond-based software giant says it’s better to just keep the Surface Duo covered when you don’t use it, simply because this is the easiest way to protect the screen and avoid any kind of damage. Indeed, given it’s a dual-screen device, closing the cover is the most convenient method to avoid scratches.