Clean up the screens — Giving your smart phone, laptop, eReader or tablet a thorough cleaning is essential to extending its life and keeping you healthier. A quick disinfecting wipe followed by a more professional screen spray and micro-fiber cloth may be the love that your device was always looking for from you.

Protect your investment — If you’re lugging your laptop, tablet or smart phone around all day, make sure it’s protected! Purchase the extra $30-$80 dollars investment to buy a laptop case or a hard shell cover for your electronics. This could be the most popular outpouring of care you could give your portable device.

Practice proper shutdown habits — Shutting down all open programs and putting your laptop to sleep instead of just closing the lid will help your computer stay cool and safe while in transport.

Keep out of the elements — Like liquid, heat, cold, and your electronics are not good bedfellows. Not only does heat and freezing temperatures suck the life out of your battery, but they also can damage your internal components. Extreme cold temperatures to a hard drive will cause it to expand and fail in the heat and freeze if left unattended. If you absolutely must leave your laptop in your car or any freezing temps, wrap it up in layers with blanket, sweater to keep it warm.

Warm up slowly — In a cold environment? Listen up. If you’ve traveled with your laptop (or any electronic device) in a cold environment, let it warm up to room temps slowly before turning it on. This will keep condensation at bay, which can affect your computer’s sensitive parts.

React to spills immediately — Water or liquid is never a good friend of electronics. You can use the “ancient” rice method to bring your phone or laptop back to life after a disastrous spill. Just remove the battery, dry off the electronic device as much as you can, place some tape over ports, and insert the whole electronic device in a bag of rice.

Don’t hold it hostage — Try to keep your loved ones, your portable electronic devices, out of the trunk. Percentages show that you will forget it and then risk it being attacked by moisture, freezing cold, extreme heat and the usual weather conditions.

Use approved cleaning products — Not the blue window cleaner or the paper towel. NO! Never! Put that stuff away. Today’s screens are hi-tech, made of thin film. These layers of film can easily be scratched by wood products or be dulled by many household cleaning products. Make sure the solution is screen approved! Stay away from any all-purpose household cleaners and all products containing acetone, ammonia, or alcohol, which will strip away your LCD’s protective film coating. Use a micro-fiber cloth to wipe down your monitor and screens. Spray on then use light, rapid circular movements to help reduce streaking.

Recycle properly — If you do decide to part ways with your current electronics, opting to partner up with a newer and sexier model, make sure you’re breaking up with your old computer the right way. Search out recycling centers in your area, resell it, donate it, or just drop it off at you retailer when you trade it in for proper recycling. Always be sure to wipe your hard drive of any personal information and do a factory reset to make sure you’re completely removed from the physical and/or emotional future complications.

Create new love for your electronics — Show them just how much you care. Stop buy our online store at ShopFalcon.com to purchase a portable screen cleaner today.

Start by clicking here >

Listen up coworkers…The Office Germaphobe has something to say!

Every office has one. I’m sure you know who it is in your office. You know, that weird person who uses paper towels to operate the copier, disinfects their keyboard 3 times a day and depletes the bathroom sanitizer like a gas tank in a IndyCar.

We call them: the office germaphobe. In my office, I am that person.

I sort of blame it on the accumulation of knowledge I’ve retained over the years including stories of Howie Mandel. Did you know that bacteria and viruses will survive on a cell phone or keyboard for weeks? As I walk the halls of my germ infested domain, I’m also unapologetic about my freakish behavior and attitude towards cleanliness. This is because minimizing germs and disinfecting my workspace means that I’m killing germs that could get my office mates, my family and me sick.

So as a public service announcement to office germaphobes everywhere, I am going to tell you what every secret office germaphobe wishes they could say to your face, but may be too afraid to ask:

1. Wash your hands after you commute to the office
   Do you know where your hands have been prior to getting to the office? For those of us who get to work via public transportation…just take a moment to consider what you touched. OK. Now you’re thinking about those germs on buses and subway trains but needless to say, when you have thousands of people gripping bus poles and subway handles each day, there are bound to be germs that can get you sick. For those of you who don’t want to take the time to wash your hands after going to the restroom? Well, let’s just say we germaphobes know who you are!
2. Clean your personal electronics
   You know what I’m talking about…your electronics in your office area. The copier, mouse, keyboard and office phones are the worst areas in the office for germ infestation! Our office electronics now come with touch screens. Everyone in the office uses the copier for more than just a social gathering. Our keyboards and mice help us communicate and deliver those reports that allow us to have a job and feel important. But listen…these electronics allow the bacteria to live for weeks, which spread like fire through the office. This isn’t rocket science, just a little message so that the rest of us don’t get sick from your unsanitary office life style. A simple disinfecting wipe cleaning after copier use will help keep the office tip top shape and eliminate any germs coming home with you to your family.
3. Keep your distance
   It’s no wonder some people don’t even know they’re sick until they’ve got the full-fledged flu. You may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immunity systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time. For these reasons, it’s best to avoid exposure. For instance, where possible and appropriate, limit handshaking, especially at lunch meetings. You never really wanted to shake the hand of the guy in HR anyway…right?
4. Stay away from the office when you’re sick
   Don’t be a brownnoser. Being sick and coming in is not welcome. Us germaphobes want to tell you that if you have cold and flu symptoms, stay home! We understand that it’s hard to let work pile up and phone calls to go unreturned, but unless you are willing to shut yourself in your office, avoid contact with other humans and just hammer out emails all day (which you can do from home, by the way), then please consider staying home. A day of rest will do you good and will reduce the office germaphobes from sheer panic if you came in to work.

   If you know you’re ill, the CDC recommends staying home at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, the CDC reports. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. Others experience respiratory symptoms without a fever. We don’t need that at the office.

   So there you have it. These are all the things the office germaphobe wishes they could say to you but don’t. So next time you see the office germaphobe…(quick run to sanitize your hands) shake their hand, tell them you appreciate everything they have done to keep the office a healthy workplace.

Spend an hour cleaning and organizing your desk this week for National Clean Off Your Desk Day. It might turn into a daily important habit.

We get lazy and behind on many things. Our desk becomes a collection of obsolete papers and information and often gets piled up over several months. One additional item that is often overlooked in conjunction with organizing your desk is cleaning your electronics.

Cleaning your desk electronics should occur weekly for many of the devices used every day. Regular cleaning can reduce the spreading of germs in the office and a healthier workplace. Electronic items like your laptop, computer screen, mouse and smartphone are great places for germs to survive. Take the time to clean these electronics properly with electronic wipes, microfiber screen cleaners and dusters.

Here are five easy tips for creating and maintaining an organized office system.

1. Start by removing the non-work related items from your desk.
2. Set up a physical filing system for Important Documents, Active Documents and Archived Documents. Grab two bags, one for papers to shred and one for recycling. Start distributing your desk papers to their new location. This will allow you to see the top of your desk again.
3. Put the stuff away that needs to go elsewhere in your home or office.
4. Clean all your electronics. Remove the grime, dust, finger prints. Also get in the habit of using a disinfecting wipe for heavy use electronics like your phone, keyboard and mouse every day to remove the germs that try to invade our lives.
5. Use Dust-Off Screen Cleaning products to remove the coating of dust and dirt that has accumulated over the last year on your monitor or laptop.
6. Then bask in the glow of your clean desk top, and keep going through the year.
   Regular organization and cleaning will make you the envy of the office and give you more time to get the important work done while staying healthy.

Cell phones and computer keyboards can be a petri dish for the growth of microorganisms, because they multiply in warm places. Between the heat the phones generate and the microorganisms on faces and hands, these electronics provide a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. These organisms are easily transferred by touch to door handles, food, in bathrooms and eventfully to our electronic devices.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the Falcon Dust-Off® brand products. Cellular telephone and desktop computer keyboards were sampled before and after being cleaned using Falcon Dust-Off cleaning products. This study evaluated the cleaning products ability to remove viable microorganisms from a surface and not the cleaning ability of the product to remove dirt and debris.

Download a copy to learn more about the study

A recent study showed one in six mobile phones were contaminated with fecal matter.

Health researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine attributed the results of the study to people not washing their hands properly after using the restroom.

The findings from 390 samples from mobile phones and hands in 12 cities showed that 92% of the phones and 82% of the hands tested had bacteria on them.
Sixteen percent of the hands and phones were contaminated with fecal bacteria.

Arkansas State University professor Stacy Walz is not surprised by the results of the UK study. “There’s for F’s to disease transmission, flies, feces, fomites and fingers, fomites being inanimate objects,” she said. “(In the study) we have cell phones, an inanimate object. We have fingers, which are always touching cell phones.”

Fecal matter can survive for several hours on skin and surfaces for several hours.

ASU professor Bill Payne said the public needs to remember not all bacteria are harmful. “We couldn’t exist in this world without bacteria. There’s bacteria that are found in the gut that supply vitamin K, and they also keep harmful bacteria from establishing themselves in the colon.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, washing hands regularly can prevent one million deaths a year.

For more information visit:
www.wtvm.com/story/15985441/2011/11/08/one-in-six-mobile-phones-contaminated-with-fecal-matter
www.globalhandwashingday.org
www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2011/global_handwashing_day_2011.html

Yes. Global Handwashing Day (GHD) was created by the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing in 2008 to:

• Foster and support a global culture of handwashing with soap.
• Shine a spotlight on the state of handwashing in every country.
• Raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap.

Global Handwashing Day was originally created for children and schools, but can be celebrated by anyone promoting handwashing with soap. Each year, over 200 million people are involved in celebrations in over 100 countries around the world. Global Handwashing is endorsed by a wide array of governments, international institutions, civil society organizations, NGOs, private companies, and individuals.

Why Handwashing with Soap?
Handwashing with soap is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrheal and acute respiratory infections, which take the lives of millions of children in developing countries every year. Together, they are responsible for the majority of all child deaths. Yet, despite its lifesaving potential, handwashing with soap is seldom practiced and difficult to promote.

Turning handwashing with soap before eating and after using the toilet into an ingrained habit could save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention, cutting deaths from diarrhea by almost half and deaths from acute respiratory infections by one-quarter. A vast change in handwashing behavior is critical to meeting the Millennium Development Goal of reducing deaths among children under the age of five by two-thirds by 2015.

Global Handwashing Day focuses on children because not only do they suffer disproportionately from diarrheal and respiratory diseases and deaths, but research shows that children – the segment of society so often the most energetic, enthusiastic, and open to new ideas – can also be powerful agents for changing behaviors like handwashing with soap in their communities.

Learn More
For more information on handwashing with soap, including research, tools, and news visit www.globalhandwashing.org

Yeah! How often do you clean your electronics? Those devices that we couldn’t live without are a breeding ground for bacteria and other germs like: Diphtheroids, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and more. There is a direct correlation between cleaning frequency with daily used electronics and being healthy. Smart phones and your computer keyboard may be the culprits of having a poor EDH.

Numerous things we can all do to reduce the amount germs that we spread during our daily activities. From washing hands to cleaning our electronic, we can dramatically reduce the amount of being sick and keep our electronics working properly.

Our home, office or personal phones can harbor more germs than a toilet seat or even the bottom of a shoe. And what about your computer keyboard, which may be holding germs, dust, and other undesirables? And your new tablet that you touch every day with your fingers? From TV remotes and game controllers, to laptops and MP3 players, you can do a lot more than wash your hands when it comes to staying clean to stay healthy.

So what is your EDH? Poor – Never clean your phone. Excellent – Clean your phone daily?

Quick tips for avoiding the spread of germs through consumer household or office electronics:

• Identify the products you come into contact with frequently and make sure they receive regular cleaning as stated in our Dust-Off Cleaning Guides. These guides include process to clean items like cell phones, game controllers, house phones, remote controls, keyboards, computer mice, and GPS units.
• Clean after others use or your share your electronics.
• If you take your phone, MP3 player or laptop to work or school, be sure to clean the outside of it regularly. Also, remember to unplug any electronic device before you clean it and clean the power plug.
• Quick clean your electronics on a regular basis and give them a premium clean on a weekly basis.
• Try to wash your hands before using your electronics. And most importantly, remember to wash your hands after using “public” office or school bathrooms.

Our electronics are put through many horrible imaginable tasks day in and day out. We have our electronics with us from sun up till sun down. We even bring them along on all those crazy trips and vacations to show our friends how tech-savvy we are with our impressive new electronics.

But how are you really treating your electronics? If your electronics could talk… would they be happy? Sickly? Feel neglected? Or totally proud to serve you.

We interviewed a series of electronics and here is what they said:

‘HELP! I’m covered in dog hair and dust! My owner tries her best to keep us dust free, but she’s running out of your products, and we’re choking for life! I’m fed up with the hair, and I’ve talked to the keyboard, the printer and even the mouse … they have it the worst since the dog is getting slobber all over them!”

Desktop Computer from Las Vegas

“I’m a sick and unhealthy IPhone. My screen is all finger printed with germs and grime and bacteria. How would you like it if I left those things on your face? I’m not going to perform much longer. Go point and drag with somebody else.”

IPhone from Seattle

“I am proud to serve my owner. He is a true joy to work with and I am happy to shift or Alt my capabilities any late night that we work together. He is a true believer of using Dust-Off’s Keyboard Wipes all over my little surface. On the weekends, he gives me a professional clean with Dust-off Duster and Disinfecting Wipes. Those are good days!”

Keyboard from Kentucky

“Would it hurt you give me a little cleaning from now on! I perform for you night and day. What do you think I am a TOASTER? Just a little tender loving care would go a long way.”

e-Reader from Kentucky

“BTW, the computer monitor and the LCD TV are planning on going blue and black. They would LOVE to look clean and shiny again like the day you brought us home.”

Remote Control from Orlando

“We realize it’s a lot to ask, but if at all possible, could you please send her some samples and/or coupons for my owner? She’s got it really rough right now-and we’d love for her to continue purchasing the best products to use on us … “

Depressed Gaming System from Atlanta

We hope that you treat your electronics better. If not for you, do it for them. A little cleaning on a regular basis could go a long way.

This has been a public service announcement from Electronics for a Cleaner World a division of Dust-Off.

The warmth of a cell phone’s interior is a vile, germ-infested breeding ground loaded with more pathogens than any surface in your home. Every time you place your piece of communication plastic to your face, you’re risking adding millions of germs to your face. Through the process of touching our phones, our devices become a breeding ground for germs. This process is repeated multiple times throughout the course of our daily activities. The collection of these bacteria makes the average phone one of the dirtiest devices in our lives.

Our phones contained more skin bacteria than the any other object. This is due to the fact that this type of bacteria increases in high temperatures and our phones are perfect for breeding these germs as they’re kept warm and cozy in our pockets, handbags and brief cases. These bacteria are toxic to humans, and can cause infections if they have the opportunity to enter the body. Many research studies confirm the presence of skin bacteria including staphylococcus aureus on the phone, keyboard, toilet seat and door handle.

Studies found that without cleaning and disinfecting your mobile phone and keyboard on a regular basis, more bacteria could spread potentially causing illness.

Bacteria found on Keyboard	Bacteria Found on toilet seat	Bacteria found on cell phone
Image highlights bacteria found on a typical Keyboard which is said to be more than is found on a mobile phone	Image highlights bacteria found on a typical Toilet Seat which is said to be more than is found on a mobile phone.	Image highlights bacteria found on a typical Mobile Phone which is said to be more than is found on a mobile phone.

To disinfect your mobile phones, see our disinfecting wipes at: Dust-Off Disinfecting Phone Wipes >

Pre-Moistened Cleaning Wipes – Why Do They Dry Out So Fast?

A terrific question asked by many a Dust-Off® customer. The answer to this question is more involved than you probably care to know, but here are the top reasons why this may occur.

Pre-moistened wipes are an inexpensive, safe way to clean your electronics. But they come with their own set of drawbacks. Hence, Dust-Off provides two cleaning platforms to fit electronic cleaning enthusiast’s personalities: Quick Clean Products and Premium Clean Products. One of these platforms fits your personality. Which one are you?