Clean off that nasty phone safely and efficiently with these great cleaners

Health experts have long warned us about the massive germ infestations that populate our favorite devices, especially smartphones. Now, it's more important than ever to keep bacteria and virus germs out of our lives as much as possible. One way to guarantee a virtually germ-free phone is a UV-C sanitizer. The best we've seen is the PhoneSoap Wireless - a convenient sanitizing device that's created just for your smartphone and other small germy objects like keys and AirPods. This nifty gadget kills 99.99% of germs and viruses! See this and other UV sanitizers below.

Best Overall: PhoneSoap Wireless

Of all the UV sanitizing devices we've seen, this specialized gadget from PhoneSoap is the most convenient. It zaps away bacteria and virus germs, charges your device, and functions wirelessly! Any object you put inside this magic box will come out squeaky clean — keys, headphones, your favorite fidget spinner — you name it. The best part is that any device that supports Qi wireless charging will be charged simultaneously while it is cleaned. The sanitizing process takes about 10 minutes.

The only real downside is that while the PhoneSoap supports wireless charging, it is not truly a wireless device because it has to be plugged in to work. This is not a dealbreaker, but something to keep in mind in case you thought it was truly wireless.

Pros:

• Fast 10-minute cleaning process
• Wireless charging technology
• Supports multiple device charging

Cons:

• It's not big enough to clean a tablet, but still bulky to carry in a handbag
• Must be plugged in during use

Best Overall

PhoneSoap Wireless

• $100 from PhoneSoap

Wireless charging + sanitizing

Here is a convenient UV sanitizer that cleans your device in 10 minutes. The best part — it simultaneously charges your phone!

Best Portability: Homedics UV-CLEAN Phone Sanitizer

This simpler UV sanitizer from Homedics is a quick, portable solution that will easily fit into your bag for on-the-go device cleaning. The collapsible device can be folded into a compact size when you're carrying it around, and then popped out to fit larger objects like your AirPod case or a hefty keychain. Another impressive feature is the speed at which this gadget works.

It can thoroughly sanitize your phone in only one minute. While it doesn't charge your phone like some other devices on this list, it is definitely ideal if you plan on carrying it around.

Pros:

• Collapsible and portable
• Superfast sanitizing
• Competitive price

Cons:

• Does not charge your phone
• Too small to fit multiple objects

Best Portability

Homedics UV-CLEAN Phone Sanitizer

• $80 from Homedics

Quick and portable

Take this UV sanitizer with you anywhere because of its collapsible, small format. Sanitizes your phone in only one minute!

Best Warranty: totallee UV Phone Sanitizer

Like the PhoneSoap, totallee's phone sanitizer supports Qi wireless charging as it simultaneously cleans your device. It can also support fast charging if you use a QC 2.0/3.0 fast charging adapter. We like the white, round, modern look of this sanitizer, and it will look good on your bedside table or kitchen cabinet. What sets this gadget apart is its impressive warranty. totallee offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a full two-year replacement warranty if anything goes wrong.

The only complaint we had is that it's a little slower than most other models. The totallee UV Sanitizer takes a full 30 minutes to clean your phone thoroughly.

Pros:

• Supports Qi wireless charging and fast charging
• Attractive design
• Two-year replacement warranty

Cons:

• Slow sanitizing process
• Expensive

Best Warranty

totallee UV Phone Sanitizer

• $119 from totallee

Good look + good warranty

The totallee UV Phone sanitizer will clean your phone and charge it wirelessly all at the same time. Bonus: a full two-year warranty.

Best Cause: Casetify UV Sanitizer

If you'd like to sanitize several objects at once, the Casetify UV Sanitizer has a little more room inside so you can sanitize your phone and AirPods at the same time or several other small objects at once. It's a bit bigger than some other models, which may be an advantage if you want to multi-task your UV sanitizer. The Casetify sanitizer also supports wireless charging, so that's always a plus. But what really impresses us about this product is the cause behind it. Casetify is donating all proceeds from the sales of this UV sanitizer to support coronavirus relief throughout the world.

Pros:

• Supports coronavirus relief
• Fast sanitizing process
• Fits several objects at once

Cons:

• Larger size is not as portable
• Expensive

Best Cause

Casetify UV Sanitizer

• $120 from Castify

Supports a good cause

Not only does the Casetify sanitizer clean your phone and charge it simultaneously; all proceeds from product sales go to coronavirus relief.

Best Value: CureUV Handheld UVC Sterilizer Wand

Although it's not made specifically for smartphones, this a more affordable option that will also get the sanitizing job done. The CureUV wand is a handheld UV-C light that will sanitize any surface in seconds. For your smartphone, tablet, devices, or even the soles of your shoes, this handy wand will quickly remove the threat of bacteria and virus germs from any surface. You can't deny the convenience.

Obviously, with a device like this, you will lose the convenience of simultaneous charging and cleaning for your phone, but you can also use it for a lot more than just phones.

Pros:

• Convenient wand sanitizes any surface
• Affordable price
• Sanitizes in seconds

Cons:

• Not explicitly made for phones
• Does not charge your devices

Best Value

CureUV Handheld UVC Sterilizer Wand

• $70 from CureUV

Sanitize any surface

This UV sanitizer wand can be used to sanitize any surface in seconds, such as your phone, tablet, computer, or shoes.

Bottom line

As you can see, there are a variety of solid choices when it comes to cleaning your phone quickly and efficiently. UV-C technology is one of the most thorough methods that exist for quick sanitization, so you'll feel safer from germs with one of these around. Your choice will depend on your needs and budget, but we have our favorite picked out.

We recommend the PhoneSoap Wireless for its convenience and speed. This device will charge your device wirelessly, sanitize your phone in minutes, and can even charge more than one device at the same time. Although it's not the cheapest on our list, it's certainly not the most expensive, making this the best solution for cleaning your phone.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Jaclyn Kilani Jaclyn is a content writer at iMore. She's a longtime Apple addict with a flair for creating (written works, design, photos; you name it!) on her devices. When she's not churning out new things, Jaclyn loves exploring the world, playing with her children, and good old-fashioned baking.