Spring Clean Your Cellphone

Spring Clean Your Cellphone

While many people focus on spring cleaning in your home, opening those windows for some fresh air and sprucing up yards, or for us women, cleaning out our purses.  It is also the perfect time to clean cellphones.  U.S. Cellular encourages people to spring clean their mobile devices, wiping off germs and gunk on the outside, as well as de-cluttering the inside by deleting unused apps and backing up data.

Spring cleaning is the perfect time to refresh and revitalize, so why not start with something you always have with you - your mobile device.

 In addition to cleaning the outside of phones, tablets and cases, people can de-clutter the inside of their devices to make them work more efficiently.  It is a good idea to delete seldom-used apps, games, photos, videos and other information to free up space for the items that are used regularly.

After deleting unused apps and information, backing up your cellphone data is a good next step. According to a 2014 survey conducted by U.S. Cellular, 31 percent of smartphone owners never back up their data, which could result in losing valuable photos, emails, and information.  I guess I am one of them!  The survey also found that smartphone users would be most upset to lose photos (41 percent), contacts (32 percent) and saved messages (31 percent). [¹ Between Nov. 15 and Dec. 2, 2013, 500 nationally representative online interviews were conducted among smartphone users in partnership with Maritz Research.]

·         U.S. Cellular offers the following cellphone spring-cleaning tips: 

• Clean your devices and your cases. Clean your mobile device often by removing the device from its case and completely cleaning both. Don’t use harsh cleaners that contain acetone, ammonia or alcohol because they can be harmful to electronic devices. Instead, use specialized cleaners, such as a Gadget Guard Cleaner or simply wipe down your phone with a microfiber cloth that won't scratch the screen.  I have seen microfiber cloths at a multitude of local stores at at a very reasonable price.  

• Clear out clutter. Unused data takes up valuable space, so it is good to delete rarely-used apps, outdated contacts, SMS and call history, and old music, games, documents, photos and videos. This will free up storage space and provide more bandwidth for the items you access regularly.  I haven't had my phone for very long, but have cleared out more than I think I realized I had on my phone.  Photos that I have sent to family or to my computer and music that I used to like to listen to. Taking a little time to do this sure simplifies my life, especially getting rid of contacts I no longer have reason to contact!

• Refresh your phone with its own mini-makeover.  Once you’ve de-cluttered your phone, try a new case to update its look and feel. This can give your phone an entire new look, and using U.S. Cellular reward points is a perfect way to do this.  My husband used points for his extremely durable case which says it's designed to survive life.

If you want to attend a Device Workshop at your local U.S. Cellular, click here to find out how and when you can learn more about all you device has to offer, so you too can enjoy better family moments.

One important way our family has experienced better family moments is being able to share photos with my mom who is in assisted living when I am there with my iPhone 5s, I can facetime other family members to chat with her.  I have also been able to share photos and video of my son's sporting events.

And now drum roll, please!

I am excited to announce an awesome giveaway!  U.S. Cellular is giving one of my readers an iPhone 5s.  This iPhone is a U.S. Cellular iPhone that it is made specifically for the U.S. Cellular network, and only runs on the U.S. Cellular 4G LTE network.  U.S. Cellular's 4G LTE network coverage area can be found here.

Entry is via rafflecopter.  Deadline for entries is Thursday, May 29 at 8pm, CDT. Winner will be picked via random number generator.  Winner will be contacted via email address of shouldhavethought.com blog follower account listing, if only twitter or facebook like entry, winner will be contacted through that.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email.  U.S. Cellular will be given contact information.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED!!!

Disclosure:  As a U.S. Cellular blog Ambassador, I have been compensated for my posts.  However, all opinions expressed are my own. #spon