Cleaning a finger print sensor

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Cleaning a finger print sensor

MarkM536

142 posts

Master Geek

#282629 2-Mar-2021 15:03

What can I use to clean a finger print reader without damaging it?

I've got this Motorola phone, the biometric reader stops working after a while because of my oily fingers. The phone keeps vibrating with 'incorrect finger print' even though its not being touched.

The manual does not seem to have much information on cleaning the sensor.

Any tips would be helpful please 🙂.

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Jase2985

11564 posts

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#2666804 2-Mar-2021 15:06

i normally just clean my phone with glass cleaner, screen body and all. i use a microfiber cloth.

timmmay

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#2666806 2-Mar-2021 15:15

Baby wipes or damp cloth with water should be ok.

dt

1082 posts

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#2666817 2-Mar-2021 16:04

I use LCD screen wipes from the stationary cupboard at work 😅

neb

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#2666899 2-Mar-2021 17:36

Jase2985:
i normally just clean my phone with glass cleaner, screen body and all. i use a microfiber cloth.

I would avoid glass cleaners on anything but exterior window glass, some of those are incredibly aggressive and will attack plastics and other materials. Unless you mean glasses cleaner, which is fine.

For the OP, just a drop of detergent in water should be fine, that's what most cleaning liquid for glasses is.

MurrayM

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#2667152 3-Mar-2021 08:33

Isopropyl alcohol should be good too. I have a bottle I bought from my local chemist a few years ago.

NotATurkey

18 posts

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#2667158 3-Mar-2021 08:42

Not that I recommend it but I just use my breath then wipe it with whatever tee-shirt I'm wearing.

These things take a beating and are not as fragile as you would think.

allio

768 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2667167 3-Mar-2021 09:20

I swear by this for any kind of cleaning involving sensitive surfaces. Just used it this week to clean crayon off my TV.

neb

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#2667288 3-Mar-2021 12:40

allio:
I swear by this for any kind of cleaning involving sensitive surfaces. Just used it this week to clean crayon off my TV.

Given the effusive, almost hucksterish, praise for it on vendor sites I wondered what it was, it's water with a tiny amount of detergent, salt, and ammonia added:

Ammonia 26° Less than 1%

Sodium Chloride (non hazardous)

Alcohol (non hazardous)

Liquid Soap (non hazardous)

Water H²O (non hazardous)

So probably the same as generic glasses cleaner, or you can make it up yourself. Not trying to put it down, just pointing out that you can probably use more readily available substitutes.