How to clean and sanitize your remote controls

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Keeping your remote controls clean and sanitized may not be something you think about very often. But remote controls for TVs, cable boxes, and media players get handled all the time, often with fingers and mitts that aren’t exactly sparkling clean. While it’s always a good idea to keep them clean, it’s also smart to give those devices a more thorough, disinfecting cleaning every once in a while.

That’s good advice for warding off colds, flu, and other illnesses, because some viruses can survive on surfaces for hours or even days. A number of methods are effective at killing viruses. But you need to take some care with cleaners to avoid damaging your remote control.

Cleaning products for remotes

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most common disinfectants registered by the Environmental Protection Agency can be used to kill viral pathogens. To help you choose one, the American Chemistry Council’s Center for Biocide Chemistries compiled a list with dozens of EPA-approved options back in 2021. Those recommendations, which were initially made for COVID-19, are still valid for a variety of pathogens.

The list includes Clorox cleaner and bleach products, Lysol disinfectants, Purell sanitizers, and Zep disinfectants and cleaners.

A household bleach or alcohol solution can also be used, the CDC says.

If you’re using bleach, the CDC recommends mixing 4 teaspoons of bleach into a quart of water. Be sure to wipe the remote with a moist cloth (use water only) after using the solution to prevent damage and discolouration.

If you’re using alcohol, the solution should be at least 70 per cent isopropyl alcohol.

In both cases, you should be careful when using the solution near fabric or leather.

You should always wear disposable or rubber gloves when using these cleaning and disinfecting agents. Also, remember to open windows to ventilate the room where you’ll be applying the disinfectant.

Wipe, don’t spray

Before cleaning a remote control, remove the batteries. Then turn the device upside down so that the buttons are facing downward and shake it or tap it against your palm to dislodge any debris that might have fallen between the keys. If you have a compressed air canister, give the remote a blast to shake free any additional dirt.

Don’t spray any disinfecting solution directly onto—or into—the device. Instead, use a wipe, a paper towel, or a cloth moistened with the solution to gently clean the outer shell.

To clean harder-to-reach areas in and around the buttons, use a cotton swab dampened with the disinfecting solution. A dry toothbrush or toothpick can dislodge more stubborn debris lodged deeper into the keys.

When you’re done cleaning the remote, let it air-dry, says Brian Sansoni, head of communications at the American Cleaning Institute, a trade group that represents product manufacturers. Once the remote has been thoroughly cleaned and dried, you can reinstall the batteries. Then wash your hands and you—and your remote—will be good to go.

By James K. Willcox, Consumer Reports senior home & tech editor