Could it harm the device by wiping with alcohol

yeah that's fine should be ok even near the ports. just don't pour it over the phone. using a cloth that is wet with it is fine.

 

Short answer:
No.
You are fine.

Long answer:
Alcohol (isoprophyl, or rubbing) is made of alcohol and distilled water.

The problems associated with water/liquid in electronic devices is really not so much about the water, but the impurities in the water that are left behind when the water evaporates.

These can cause corrosion and/or conductivity where it can become a problem.

Because the alcohol evaporates so cleanly, there is little worry of the above problems.

In fact, the 91% varient of rubbing alcohol can be used to clean out a device if there are no other options available.

However, let it be stated that I work in an exceptionally filthy environment that has dust, dirt, oil, grease, and most any other nasty thing you can imagine.

This crap invariably gets on my device when I use it to look up work related things.

I also use microfiber cloths, and in reality I do not use (or need) anything more than a few drops of water on the cloth- and most often none at all- to get the muck off my phone.

I fold the cloths into thirds, then in half over a towel bar.
I use one side per week, turning the cloth over once the next week, flipping it over and folding it into thirds the other way for the week after, and flipping it around for the last week.

They come in a pack of four, so I wash them all together once every four months.

I have been using the same cloths for a year, and they still work great.

Yes, occasionally I have put alcohol on them to wipe down an exceptionally greasy phone, but typically this is only needed when the cloth has been used for three and a half weeks already.

 

In applying screen protectors to my phone, small alcohol prep wipes are usually included for cleaning the screen first. I wouldn't make a habit of using alcohol, though. Vinegar has been used for thousands of years to clean things: in fact, we use a household glass cleaner based on vinegar (not toxic ammonia). Instead of alcohol, try a microfiber cloth and a little distilled white vinegar.

 

I have tried the alcohol wipes that come with screen protectors, and also the thing they give to wipe afterwards, with poor results.

I always had to use a microfiber after the included cleaners, and then finish with a 100% cotton cloth that has NEVER been washed with any type of fabric softener, dryer sheets included (They all leave wax in cloth, which makes them non absorbant, causes them to smear when wiping glass, and ruins flame retardency as well!) In fact, the cloths I use for such things are hung to dry, I do not even use the dryer for them.

My screens are completely pristine before I place the protecters on.

 

No, it was cloudy after the alcohol wipe.
The secondary wipe provided did not clear this cloudy residue enough.

Thankfully I saw this before I placed the screen protector onto the device.

 

As we're on screen protectors, I bought two new phones within a month from Xiaomi and had glass screen protectors (and cases) all ready for both.

Never put one on before, but the great hint I remembered was lots of steam. As I have a tiny kitchen that was easy and worked a treat.

You all know that one? Alright - new story from my wonderful life tomorrow.

I've also tried alcohol, several times in fact, but I keep crashing the car within hours.

 

I would fear that steam would get into the device.

 

I guess the principle is to stop minute dust particles or whatever from resting on the screen out of the box, so a steaming kettle and 1 or 2 boiling pots around the table was enough. Fair point though if you hired a Swedish Sauna / Turkish Baths.

(I need to get out more)

 

Also note that microfiber cloths will leave tiny fibers behind, especially if used dry.

That is fine for everyday use, but for things like screen protector installation I always finish with a 100% cotton cloth dedicated to this purpose (and my eyewear in the meantime).

 

Yes, this is true.
But if you have ever used any of them, especially when dry (which is inevitably going to happen with eyewear eventually), you will see particles left behind.

I have actually gotten these 'micro fibers' in my eyes, and it is quite a miserable experience.

That is why I do not use the microfiber for eyewear.

Thin, clean, white, 100% cotton cloth is the best, especially when the lenses can be wetted with plain water.