What you need to clean your Apple Watch:
- Microfiber cloth (lint-free or non-abrasive cloth)
- Cotton buds
- Pure water
It’s no news that the Apple Watch is one of the best-selling fitness smartwatches. However, your Apple Watch has to go through a lot to get you in shape, which means the Apple Watch will accumulate dust and sweat over time.
On a positive note, you can easily clean your Apple Watch even if it’s covered in dust or sweat. In this guide, I’ll show you how to properly clean your Apple Watch without damaging anything.
What to do before cleaning your Apple Watch
Before you start cleaning your Apple Watch, follow these steps:
1. Remove the strap
The first thing you need to do is remove the band from your Apple Watch. It allows you to clean the inside of the strap slots and the watch strap itself. To remove the band, lay your watch face down and press the middle button where the band connects to your Apple Watch while pulling the band out. Do this for the other band and remove it from your Apple Watch.
2. Block your Apple Watch with water.
Water-resistant Apple Watch prevents accidental contact with water. Also, after cleaning is complete, it helps to remove water from the speakers if there is excess water left. Here is a guide on how to use the waterlock feature on Apple Watch. In addition, you can also turn off your Apple Watch to be on the safe side.
How to safely clean your Apple Watch
After completing all the basic steps, follow these steps in order to make your watch look like new.
1. Clean your speakers
The speakers on the Apple Watch accumulate a lot of dust over time. Cleaning your speakers should be a priority when cleaning your Apple Watch. To clean your Apple Watch speakers, take a microfiber cloth and wipe them down with it.
Then take a few cotton swabs and rub them until the dust is gone. Also, don’t apply too much pressure to the cotton swab. Your Apple Watch speakers should now be clean.
2. Clean your Apple Watch display.
The display is an integral part of the Apple Watch. In addition, over time, a lot of spots accumulate on it. To clean your Apple Watch display, follow these instructions:
- Lightly dampen the cloth with water from one end.
- Wipe the Apple Watch display with a cloth.
- Use the dry end of the cloth to dry off excess water.
After doing this, your Apple Watch display should be clean. Again, do not use soap or detergent to clean the display, as it is fragile.
3. Find the dirt and clean it up
Now that the speakers and display have been removed, it’s time to get down to the microscopic level and look for the grime that’s accumulated over time. Take a good look at your Apple Watch and wipe it with a damp cloth. You can also use a cotton swab if needed. If the dirt is fine, you can use a SIM eject tool or something similar (it shouldn’t have a pointed head) to clean the hard to reach areas.
You’ll usually find dirt on the back of your Apple Watch around the ring, inside the cutouts for the strap, digital crown, side button, and display border. So make sure you thoroughly clean them all. After that, leave your Apple Watch to dry for a while.
4. Wash and dry your watch band.
There are different types of straps available for Apple Watch. There are generally three types of straps: leather, loop, and normal. And each band requires a different treatment. Here’s how to handle the different types of Apple Watch bands:
Leather straps:
Leather straps need to be handled with care as they develop a patina over time and you can tear the leather if you act rough. So it is better to treat the skin delicately.
- Dampen a microfiber cloth or lint-free, non-abrasive cloth with water.
- Wipe the leather strap with this cloth until it is clean and allow the strap to dry a bit.
Remember that in no case should a leather strap be soaked in water. Also, when drying the bracelet, avoid high temperatures such as direct sunlight.
Loop tapes:
You can use soap to clean the loop straps, unlike leather straps. However, some of them are made of thread, so they need to be handled with care.
- Dampen a cloth with water and, if necessary, clean the strap with a mild, hypoallergenic hand soap.
- Wipe and dry the band with a microfiber cloth before putting it on your Apple Watch.
Regular stripes:
Regular straps are easy to clean as they are mostly made of silicone. You can also soak them in water or wash with soap if needed.
- Dampen a cloth with water and wipe with mild soap if there are stubborn stains.
- Wipe the bracelet and dry it on a microfiber cloth for some time.
Once the band is completely dry, you can reattach it to your Apple Watch.
5. Disinfect your Apple Watch
Yes, you read it right! But I wouldn’t insist on this step as you have a lot to take care of. However, if you insist on disinfecting your watch, you do the following.
You can use 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes to gently wipe the outside of your Apple Watch. This should eliminate all dirt and viruses on the outer parts.
Alternatively, you can try Clorox disinfectant wipes or 75% ethyl alcohol wipes to do the same. However, keep in mind that you should not use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Also, do not use disinfectants on leather bands or straps.
FAQ
No, the Apple Watch is water resistant, not waterproof; hence, you should always use a damp cloth to wipe down your Apple Watch to keep it as clean as possible. If the stains don’t disappear, rub them a little harder.
Yes, soap and soapy water can affect the water resistance of your Apple Watch. Therefore, it is necessary and recommended to keep your Apple Watch away from these substances.
Get out…
You need to keep your Apple Watch clean, otherwise dust and dirt will affect its functionality. I hope you were able to clean your Apple Watch with the guide mentioned above. Cleaning your Apple Watch every two months can extend its lifespan.