Touchscreen devices, like most products, require basic maintenance to preserve their functionality. When neglected, a touchscreen device may become less responsive, resulting in a longer delay from when a user performs a touch command to when the device responds with the appropriate action. Whether you own a smartphone, tablet computer, monitor, human machine interface (HMI) or any other touchscreen device, consider the five following tips to clean and maintain it.
#1) Use Light Pressure
When using your touchscreen device, try to apply the lightest pressure needed to register your touch commands. Pressing down on a touchscreen device will full force may shorten its lifespan, especially if it’s a low-quality device made by a generic brand. Using less pressure with your touch commands, however, will protect and preserve the functionality of your touchscreen device.
#2) Clean Regularly With Lint-Free Cloth
You’ll need to clean your touchscreen device regularly to prevent the buildup of dirt, dust and debris. Rather than using a special cleaning product, though, use a lint-free cloth to clean your touchscreen device. Simply wipe the surface of your touchscreen device with a lint-free microfiber cloth, at which point it should come clean.
#3) Avoid Exposing Device to Oils and Liquids
Try to avoid exposing your touchscreen device to oils and liquids. Most touchscreen devices are designed with a protective oleophobic coating that repels oils and liquids. Over time, however, this coating will degrade and wear away. Whether your device has an oleophobic coating or not, it’s best to err on the side of caution by keeping it dry.
#4) Perform Full Battery Recharge Cycle Once a Month
What does this mean exactly? Performing a full battery recharge cycle means that you should allow your touchscreen device’s battery to completely deplete, at least once a month, before recharging it. Because most touchscreen devices use rechargeable lithium-ion (or polymer) batteries. While effective, the performance of these batteries can degrade if they don’t perform a full recharge cycle on a regular basis. To make your touchscreen device last, try to get into the habit of performing a full battery recharge cycle at least once a month.
#5) Cover It
Assuming you don’t already own and use one, purchase a protective case or cover for your touchscreen device. A basic case will create a protective shell around your touchscreen device, protecting it from pressure, dirt, dust, moisture and other elements that could otherwise have a negative impact on its functionality.
