With the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic that has swept the nation over the past few months, we have all tried to minimize contact with as much as possible. The frequent hand washing, mask wearing is necessary. But one thing we cannot help half the time especially once we get outside is opening doors, pushing buttons, etc. Just my trip to the store I am coming in contact w/ various surfaces in a short period of time.
Having worked with KeySmart already on their Pro device to help organize my keys (and find them if I misplace them), I saw they had a product called CleanKey. Its garnered to be that extra thing separating you from touching as many surfaces with your hands. But how well does it work in the real world?
Style
CleanKey is a brass tool that is about 3 ½ inches ends to end and about the same length as the KeySmart Pro. Its compromised of Solid 260 Brass Alloy with 70% Copper. This is good for one as Copper can be considered to have antimicrobial effect so can decrease the spread of germs. Also because of this material it can be easily cleaned with a disinfectant wipe or steel wool without getting ruined.
Its design has an opening for your finger to grab, ridges on top to provide better grip and a somewhat flat end for press upon surfaces. Its pull lever is utilized for opening doors. It has a slight amount of weigh to it being 3.52oz.
Usage
The month I have been using it I have tried it in every scenario possible and have come across varied results. Pressing buttons is a no brainer and that is whether for the elevator or using on an ATM machine. Opening doors even better as its latch allows to wrap around pretty much any door handle. Even its strong alloy no mater how much you pull it you know its not going to break.
Only issue I have come across is using it on touch panels. Its been non-existent for me. I tried it on the machines in the supermarket to do signatures and push some buttons on ATM screens (50% worked). For the most part I use my phone to mobile access these machines but wanted to see how the CleanKey fared for those that do not.
I also had been using it standalone meaning I did not have it attached to my KeySmart just based on I didn’t like the additional weight it added. Eventually though it was kind of counter productive digging in my pocket grabbing one and then the other and latched it on. Over time it has gotten that “worn in” look which is fine. I could always polish it but why bother.
Verdict
While it didn’t work for me on touch panels too well, I still found the CleanKey to serve its purpose mostly in decreasing my contact with other surfaces. Its weight, size and build make it a durable product that I see lasting for years to come.
KeySmart’s CleanKey is available for $24.99 on its website but on Amazon looks like you can get a “Prime Price” of $20.99. It also comes with a retractable carabiner. Also, while I have seen there are “cheaper” alternatives you may want to check as I have seen they are not as advertised for the most part.
Take 2
By Samuel Huang
Jason wasn’t the only one who was able to check out the KeySmart CleanKey as I too received one to test during these trying times. It’s hard to believe that it was only a few months ago that we were touching everything in sight without a care in the world. Times surely changed quick and now we’re wearing latex gloves, sanitizing our hands at the slightest touch of an object, and washing our hands obsessively. It’s enough to drive a person crazy.
Luckily, we have companies like KeySmart who are trying to make our lives a bit easier and safer with the CleanKey. I’m not going to go into product details as Jason did a detailed job of that above. Instead, here is my experience with the KeySmart CleanKey.
For starters, my experience with it almost mirrored Jason’s. This thing is made to be used and abused and took everything I threw at it. Opening doors with handles and pulls are solid and confident and I never worry about the CleanKey breaking. I also use the CleanKey to press physical buttons quite often at the gas station and at stores where I need to enter information on a keypad. It also works great in these situations.
What was different with my experience is that the CleanKey did work on touchscreens for me. I had no issues signing my name on credit card machines or tapping my selections on those ordering machines at fast food joints. The CleanKey seems to work just fine on both resistive and capacitive screens. I didn’t seem to have the same issues he did.
So after using the CleanKey for several weeks now, I’m definitely keeping this in my pocket and using it everywhere I can. Any tool that can help me touch less and stay a little bit safer is okay in my book and I’d happily recommend this to anyone.
