The best thing you can do is immediately disinfect your hands after you pay and avoid touching your face (which is a best practice you should be following anyway). Related: Airport kiosks are germier than toilets Those surfaces have been touched by anyone who came before you. This means that even if you have a contactless card, you might need to use a stylus, your finger or a pen to sign your signature.
In the U.S., chip-and-signature is the most common authorization method for payments. Tips for using card readers and pin padsĮven if your cards are fully disinfected, you might have to interact with germy apparatuses such as card readers and pin pads that you use to make payments at stores. It’s not a good idea to scrub your cards with an abrasive of any kind, but a gentle cleaning can help keep dirt from building up while killing germs - two birds, one Clorox wipe. Dirt and grime can build up on your cards, which can scrape at EMV chips and magnetic strips. In fact, keeping your cards clean could help them stand the test of time. I don’t recommend soaking your cards in any corrosive liquids, but a quick wipe-down with a Clorox wipe or a 20-second wash with some soap and water won’t render them unusable. Your card should also be able to withstand products such as bleach, vinegar or alcohol. (Photo by Isabelle Raphael/The Points Guy) Will disinfectants damage my credit card?Ĭredit cards, both plastic and metal, are made to be waterproof. Soap and water is a simple, effective way to clean your credit cards. You can always resign the card if this happens. Keep in mind that your signature may wash off the card when you use soap or a disinfectant. For the tech lover, you can use a UV sterilizer since UV rays kill viruses and bacteria. You can also use one of the EPA-approved disinfectants against COVID-19, which includes many household wipes and sprays such as Clorox. You can sing “Happy Birthday” twice through or get more creative - Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” has a chorus that lasts 20 seconds, as does Beyonce’s “Love on Top.” I’m a fan of using the chorus to the song “My Shot” from Hamilton. Like washing your hands, you should lightly rub for at least 20 seconds. The easiest way to clean your cards is by using the same technique you use for your hands: soap and warm water. Fortunately, disinfecting your credit cards isn’t a complicated process and you can do so with everyday household items.