Podcast Summary: iOS Today 758 – Spring/Summer Cleaning Your Devices

Released on June 26, 2025, "iOS Today" hosted by Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard delves into comprehensive strategies for spring and summer cleaning of Apple devices. This episode provides both physical and digital cleaning tips, accessory maintenance, and organizational hacks to help listeners optimize their device performance and longevity.

1. Introduction to Device Cleaning

The episode kicks off with a relatable anecdote from Rosemary Orchard about her recent trip to Weymouth beach, where she faced the common issue of sand infiltrating her iPhone. This experience sets the stage for the discussion on the importance of regular device maintenance.

Rosemary Orchard [03:36]: "I took my iPhone to the beach this weekend... I kind of got sand in my iPhone and I was wondering, you know, like, do you have any recommendations for like cleaning any of your Apple devices and things like that?"

2. Physical Cleaning of Apple Devices

Apple's Cleaning Recommendations: Micah Sargent outlines Apple's official guidelines for cleaning iPhones, emphasizing the use of safe disinfectants and cautioning against substances that could damage device coatings.

Micah Sargent [04:34]: "Using a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe, 75% ethyl alcohol wipe, or Clorox disinfecting wipes, Apple says that's okay to use those. It says, don't use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide."

Rosemary's Advice on Disinfectants: Rosemary reinforces the importance of adhering to product instructions to avoid potential damage during the cleaning process.

Rosemary Orchard [06:37]: "Always read the instructions for things like that... Because a lot of the time it's not spray it on, wipe it off, it's spray it on, leave it to sit for anywhere between 2 and 20 minutes and then wipe it off."

iFixit's Precision Cleaning Kit: Micah introduces listeners to iFixit's Precision Cleaning Kit, highlighting its utility in removing debris from device ports and maintaining optimal connectivity.

Micah Sargent [09:00]: "The precision cleaning kit has these great in. They're super tiny little almost like Q tips but they're very, very small and they're perfect for getting into the speaker grills of the iPhone."

Using UV Light for Sanitizing: The discussion shifts to the use of UV light trays for sanitizing devices, with Micah cautioning about the potential material degradation from prolonged UV exposure.

Micah Sargent [11:12]: "It's important to understand that UV light is a pretty, can be a pretty destructive thing... it can start to break down the materials."

3. Digital Cleaning and Storage Management

Clean My Phone by Macpaw: Rosemary recommends the "Clean My Phone" app by Macpaw for digital maintenance, which helps users manage duplicate photos, clean up screenshots, and organize the camera roll using AI-driven features.

Rosemary Orchard [13:00]: "Clean My Phone actually will help you find all of those 20 pictures that look almost identical. And then you can go, okay, like these are the two I really want to keep from this."

Deleting Unused Apps: The hosts discuss strategies for removing redundant apps to free up storage space. Micah shares his experience of managing a large app library using Apple Configurator, an Apple tool typically used for managing multiple devices in organizational settings.

Micah Sargent [17:00]: "I've got 827 [apps]. I've now whittled it down a little bit and I'm actually using my Mac for this... deleting like 20 at once."

4. Accessory Maintenance: Cleaning AirPods

The conversation moves to maintaining accessories, specifically AirPods. Micah details a method involving micellar water and distilled water to effectively remove ear wax without damaging the device.

Micah Sargent [20:00]: "Use the micellar water to break down the wax... then you are able to kind of rinse it away using the distilled water."

Benefits of Regular Cleaning: Rosemary adds that regular spot cleaning can significantly improve audio quality by preventing wax buildup in the speaker grills.

Rosemary Orchard [22:51]: "You might be surprised at how much of a difference it makes to the audio quality when there isn't wax in between you and the speakers."

5. Organizing and Maintaining Cables

Using Mesh Zippered Bags: Rosemary suggests using labeled mesh zippered bags to organize various charging cables, making them easily accessible and preventing tangling.

Rosemary Orchard [24:56]: "Use this as an opportunity to go tidy things out... Masking tape and a Sharpie is just fine."

Practical Applications: She shares personal examples of using these bags for travel documents and kitchen items, demonstrating their versatility.

Rosemary Orchard [27:29]: "They are great for travel... I've got smaller bags with like this one's forks... just have it in one of these, it elevates it."

6. Listener Feedback and Accessibility Discussion

PDF Accessibility Issues: Micah addresses a listener's concern about using Voiceover with PDF forms, highlighting the challenges faced by visually impaired users when interacting with non-accessible PDFs.

Micah Sargent [35:55]: "This is a big issue when it comes to, I think in particular some of these big companies that have the resources to do this right and yet don't seem to do it right."

Rosemary's Insight: Rosemary explains that the accessibility of PDF forms often depends on how they are created, emphasizing the need for proper annotation and labeling to ensure compatibility with assistive technologies.

Rosemary Orchard [38:14]: "A lot of companies make really inaccessible PDFs. Unfortunately... you sent me a PDF and you said it's a form but it's a Word document that you printed as a PDF."

7. Shortcuts Corner: Automations in HomeKit

Listener's Automation Challenge: A listener from Norway, Bjorn, inquires about reducing the number of automations in HomeKit, specifically combining dual automations for controlling a heater based on window status.

Rosemary Orchard [43:46]: "Unfortunately, I am pretty certain that your issue is actually with the trigger of your automation. The fact that you cannot have multiple triggers for the same automation."

Advanced Solutions: Rosemary suggests using third-party apps like the EVE app or transitioning to Home Assistant for more complex automation needs, acknowledging HomeKit's limitations.

Rosemary Orchard [48:00]: "My recommendation, if controller for HomeKit and the Eve app don't sort you out, I'm afraid the next step is go big, go to Home Assistant."

Micah's Agreement: Micah concurs, sharing his personal experience with Home Assistant as a more reliable alternative for advanced home automation.

Micah Sargent [49:11]: "Ultimately for me there were just some things that I wanted to be able to do that I couldn't count on with the simplicity, ease, etc that HomeKit is trying to provide and so I had to look elsewhere and outside of that."

8. Conclusion and Community Engagement

The hosts wrap up by encouraging listeners to share their own device cleaning tips and app recommendations. They also promote their Club Twit membership, offering ad-free content and exclusive access to additional resources.

Rosemary Orchard [51:28]: "You can also find me in the Club Tour Discord where we have a little chat during the show... you can still join in the chat after the show in our lovely iOS today area."

Micah Sargent [52:04]: "If there's an app or a gadget... you just think is so awesome that you feel deserves to be in the AppCap segment, you can submit those to us."

Key Takeaways

• Regular Physical Maintenance: Regularly clean your devices using Apple-recommended products to prevent damage and maintain functionality.

• Effective Digital Management: Utilize apps like Clean My Phone and tools like Apple Configurator to manage storage and optimize device performance.

• Accessory Care: Maintain accessories such as AirPods by regularly cleaning them to ensure optimal performance and longevity.

• Organization is Key: Use labeled mesh zippered bags to organize cables and other accessories, enhancing accessibility and reducing clutter.

• Accessibility Matters: Ensure digital forms and PDFs are properly annotated to support assistive technologies, enhancing accessibility for all users.

• Advanced Home Automation: For complex home automation needs, consider using third-party apps or platforms like Home Assistant to overcome HomeKit's limitations.

Final Note: For more tips and in-depth discussions on optimizing your Apple devices, join the Club Twit community for exclusive content and connect with hosts Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard. Share your own cleaning hacks and app recommendations to feature in future episodes!