Q: disinfecting ipads

There is no sanctioned "disinfection" procedure but read the following:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3226#ipads

There are some very good iPad cases designed for use in a school environment. Gumdrop and the Griffin Survivor series are ones to consider.

Would have to agree with Mr. galt. Repeated use of any effective disinfectant runs the risk of damaging the iPads screen. First step is to get covers with screen protectors on the devices.

I'd say you would need to use something like the Zagg line of plastic protection sheets that cover the whole device - screen, sides and back.  That way, you would use regular medicinal alcohol wipes to wipe off the whole thing without risk damaging the oleophobic coating on the screen.  Or any of the other fully protective cases (e.g. otterbox) would allow the same thing.

The downside is an iPad wrapped in a Zagg suit or encased in an otterbox case is a very unpleasant thing to hold and use, IMO.

Another low tech option....put the device in a gallon zip loc bag and use it that way.  You can safely wipe the bag with antimicrobial wipes, or swap them out on a regular basis.

Not a good option if you have other sorts of cases but a very low tech and low cost way to protect it.

I have a similar follow-up question: I have been searching for several hours and have seen various cases and protective covers that I might use as I try to translate the iPad into the hospital clinic setting. Between each patient use, we need to have an effective cleaning protocol in place without damaging the iPad itself, so that it remains functional for the long-term.

My question is: if I purchase a plastic, clear screen protector, but leave the aluminum back/sides uncovered, will I be able to use hospital (alcohol-based) sanitizer wipes and the like? The support article cited by Galt (above) does not address the aluminum component of the iPad exterior, only the screen. My guess would be that the aluminum would not be harmed by using the wipes (only the screen would be, but that would be covered by the protective plastic). However, this is not a presumption that I would want to pay for later if I were wrong. Does anyone know about this? Thanks.

I don't know if this would work or if it'd be acceptable in the germ killing area....but doesn't UV light kill bacteria? Or sanitize or something. I see those UV toothbrush germ killers in the stores.

If something like that meets the germ killing level needed, what about zapping the device between each patient? then there's no moisture, no alcohol and no damage?

Maybe it doesn't work fast enough, I honestly don't know.

Other than that, I can't imagine the alcohol hurting the aluminum back. But you can also get snap on cases for the back relatively cheap anymore. Depending on how often that iPad is handed off, could switch the back cover between persons, so they always get a fresh back (and you can clean/sanitize those between patients) then use the alcohol to wipe down the screen protector covered front.