Appletell reviews CleanTouch from Monster

Provides: Antibacterial screen cleaning with fingerprint and smudge resistance
Developer: Monster
Price: $14

Attention smudge haters, germopobes, and parents who use multitouch iDevices as a distraction for little kids; it is time to clean up your act. Sure, there are wipes, sprays, and cloths that will remove fingerprints from your iPad or iPhone, but those can leave behind creepy-crawly germs that accumulate on your screen, just waiting to make you sick. Monster’s latest screen cleaning spray, the CleanTouch, brings the power of antibacterial cleaning and fingerprint resistance in a slim, convenient package.

The iPad is Social

Unfortunately, so are germs. Though the Monster CleanTouch can be used with any touchscreen device, it is targeted primarily at iPad users. Owners of the iPad eventually get used to constant requests from strangers to use the device; the downside to this sharing is that germs can be deposited on the screen by these curious passers by. Rather than share these germs, the CleanTouch allows removal of strange fingerprints and the germs they can carry in just a few seconds. A quick spray from the bottle, wait a few seconds, then wipe with the included cloth that integrates AEGIS antimicrobial technology. The AEGIS technology, which carries EPA certification, uses a silicone-based disinfectant rather than harsh chemicals like alcohol or ammonia, so it is safe for both iDevice screens and users.

Neither too Rich nor too Thin

The iPad is portable, so any screen cleaner that accompanies it must be as well. Luckily, the CleanTouch excels in this category. The cleaning solution bottle is rectangular instead of round, so it slides easily into a pocket or bag (it is about as thick as a stack of ten credit cards). The cloth is a square about six inches in length, and the whole package comes with a convenient carrying pouch that is large enough to include an iPod if needed. At a mere 20 mL, the cleaning solution is small enough to carry through TSA checkpoints at the airport, meaning your iPad can stay clean even while traveling.

And Stay Off!

As if cleanliness and convenience were not enough, Monster’s CleanTouch also increases the fingerprint- and smudge-resistance of the iPad’s screen. In two weeks of use, cleaning with CleanTouch allowed for less frequent cleaning on a variety of devices. An iPod touch used by small children to watch their favorite Nickelodeon cartoons and an iPad used by adults to check stocks, sports scores, and find a place for dinner were both noticeably cleaner at the end of the day. No product, obviously, can entirely ward off fingerprints; the very nature of the multitouch interface means smudges from swiping, pinching, and zooming are here to stay. But a couple sprays of CleanTouch a week can significantly reduce the amount of cleaning required. As a note for usage, heavily soiled screens benefit if the spray is left on the screen for a few more seconds (five to ten) before wiping.

If you demand your iPad’s screen be sparkling, wish to avoid sharing germs, or are in the pursuit of godliness-through-cleanliness, Monster’s new CleanTouch screen cleaning system is a must. It can help you clean up your act by de-smudging your iDevice screens, and cut down on the inevitable spread of germs when you share the devices with others.

Appletell Rating:

Buy Monster CleanTouch