Although always necessary, the Covid-19 pandemic drew extra attention to the importance of touchscreen kiosk cleanliness.
Across workplaces and retailers, social distancing was mandated, meaning the use of interactive kiosks was encouraged and prevalent nationwide.
However, the nature of the pandemic, with the virus being often transmitted via surfaces, meant the importance of cleaning your touchscreen kiosk was at the forefront of the fight against its spread.
With a new wave threatening the UK, our top tips for cleaning your touchscreen kiosk remain highly relevant for a variety of reasons.
The importance of touchscreen kiosk hygiene
Research suggests the Omicron variant of the virus can last on plastic for up to 193.5 hours and it isn’t the only virus which can last on surfaces.
Touchscreen hygiene is vital to avoid the transmission of illnesses in the workplace, supermarket, or any setting in which kiosks are used.
Additionally, a dirty touchscreen is unsightly and will reflect poorly on your brand or business.
Read on for best practices for cleaning a touchscreen interactive kiosk.
Our top tips for cleaning your touchscreen kiosk
Frequent cleaning is vital. All it takes is for one ill person to use a touchscreen kiosk for it to be a health risk once more.
Ensure team members and staff either clean the kiosk after their own personal use or have a fixed rota for regular disinfecting.
Use the appropriate cleaning product. Hand-sanitiser on a cloth can be effective – in general, avoid using anything too abrasive (nothing too acidic or alkaline). Indeed, a soap and water solution or a well-diluted disinfectant product is adequate. The World Health Organisation provide more information on suitable cleaning products for non-medical settings.
And while the cleaning product is important, so is the type of cloth you use. Ideally, a soft lint-free cloth, such as a microfiber cloth, should be used.
Bear in mind that touchscreen kiosks are (in most cases) sensitive pieces of tech, and should be treated as such. Of course, in the case of outdoor kiosks, additional resilience is inherent.
Once cleaned, a touchscreen kiosk is not necessarily ready for immediate use. Cleaning itself should take at least 20 seconds, and you should allow enough time for the screen to be completely dry.
How not to clean a touchscreen kiosk
The biggest risk when cleaning a touchscreen kiosk is screen damage.
While touchscreens are liquid-resistant, don’t go as far as to drown the screen in disinfectant. Additionally, avoid over-enthusiasm when rubbing the screen with a cloth. A gentle action is just fine.
A common mistake is spraying disinfectant directly onto a touchscreen. Always spray first onto a cloth, and then use that to clean the surface.
Remember to take note of the type of kiosk you are using before implementing a cleaning regime. There may be specific recommendations from the supplier, and it’s always worth speaking with an expert.
If you’re at all unsure about cleaning your touchscreen kiosk, get in touch with the Acante team to discuss your requirements.
