It may seem like the dawn of a new era with all this talk of hope and change, but it’s still flu season so it’s a good idea to stay on top of your cleaning and keep the germs at bay.

One cleaning project that can make a real difference in whether or not you make it through the season without succumbing to the virus is to target your telephones. We talk, breathe and spit (yes, even you) on these gadgets all day long, yet when’s the last time you included them in your cleaning routine?

Since our phones have such direct access to our respiratory systems and skin, you’ll definitely want to avoid using pesticide-laden antibacterial wipes or any cleaner that leaves a residue of toxins for you to breathe and absorb. Instead, try these green steps to a clean phone.

1. Unplug your phone so that you can clean it with a damp cloth without risking the phone.

2. Add a squirt of non-toxic dish soap to a small bowl of warm water.

3. Dip a clean cloth (an old t-shirt will do fine) in the sudsy water. Squeeze out excess water so you can avoid drips.

4. Wipe the base of the telephone and handset. Use cotton swabs to access tight dirty spaces such as crevices and between the buttons.

5. Run the cloth down the length of the cord to get rid of any dust or grime that has accumulated there.

6. To disinfect your phone, dampen a cloth with distilled white vinegar and wipe down the entire handset. Do the same with any headset or earpiece you use with your phone. 

To disinfect your cell phone, dampen a cloth with distilled white vinegar. Squeeze out any excess. Wipe down the back, sides and keyboard or dial pad. Do not wipe down the screen with this cloth. For the screen, just use a dry microfiber cloth to avoid scratching it. Do this once a week for heavily used phones.

Cleaning your phones without pesticides or other toxins is easy and you’ll be healthier for it. This way even if you did want to talk dirty on your phone, it isn’t because the phone’s covered in grime and germs!

Kimberly Delaney is the author of Clean Home, Green Home: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Eco-Friendly Homekeeping, published by the Knack imprint of Globe Pequot Press.