Apple Watch Cleaning: How To Clean Every Part of Your Apple Watch
Our Apple Watches come with us on all of our adventures, collecting memories and paths. However, that means they can collect dirt and grime. Regular cleaning can help extend the life of your Apple Watch over time. It's especially important to give your Watch and band a good clean if you workout with it, wear it daily, and/or wear lotions.
For starters, you'll want to remove the band from the Watch itself. That way, you can reach all the corners and can detail the Apple Watch. Not totally sure how to remove your band? No worries, here's how to remove your Apple Watch 4 band. Set your band aside, for now, we'll come to it in a bit.
How to Clean the Apple Watch Face
The Apple Watch screen comes into contact with everything we touch. Giving it a good clean will help reduce dirt, and will remove fingerprint smudges. Once you've removed your band, go ahead and turn your Apple Watch off. Hold down the side button and slide the power indicator so that it powers down. You'll want to take a clean, lint-free, and non-abrasive cloth to wipe down your Watch. If you're not totally sure where to find one, usually eyeglass cleaning cloths ought to work. However, when unsure if you've got the right cloth, do a little test patch on the very back of your device.
A recent beach trip or really tough workout might leave a bit more grime than the daily grind does, so you may want to get your cloth slightly damp and wipe it down. If you went for a swim with your device, you'll want to rinse it under warm tap water to remove all chlorine deposits. Follow it with a dry cloth of the same material to ensure no moisture gets trapped between crevices. Enjoy your sparklingly clean Apple Watch screen!
How to Clean the Apple Watch Digital Crown
The Crown is another area where dust and debris can cling to. Keeping your band and Apple Watch off, you can now clean the digital crown on your Apple Watch. When the crown gets stuck, give it a spin and see if it comes loose that way. If you've got an Apple Watch Series 1, you'll want to take a slightly damp cloth and give the edges a good scrub.
If you have the Series 2 or newer, things get much easier. You'll want to place it under running water for a few seconds. Avoid a full immersion or any soaps, those will damage the device itself.
No matter which device you own, keep turning the crown and pressing it down. The water or damp cloth will get between the housing and the crown. Once it spins and presses down with ease, dry your entire Watch with a dry, lint-free cloth.
How to Clean the Mic on the Apple Watch
If people are having trouble hearing you, that's a good indicator that the mic is blocked. The mic on the Apple Watches can be a little tricky to clean.
You'll want to avoid toothpicks, pen tips, or compressed air to clean it. Anything along those lines can perforate the microphone and damage it irreparably. To clean it, you'll start out with taking a slightly damp cloth across it a few times. Check in to see if that did the trick. Pro-tip: If you've got friend with an Apple Watch nearby, the Walkie Talkie feature is a great way to test out your microphone's clarity.
If your voice is still coming across fuzzy, you may want to take a cotton bud and give it a swipe or two. This should help free up any leftover debris that wasn't captured the first time around.
How to Clean Apple Watch Bands
Now that the Apple Watch itself is all clean, it's time to give your band a deep clean. All bands will have lugs and those can be wiped down with your trusty lint-free cloth. A full clean of the band means that you must address the material it's made since bands can vary.
How to Clean a Nylon Apple Watch Band
A nylon band is relatively easy to clean. You'll only need warm sudsy water and a cloth. Run it over the nylon portions, then allow it to dry. If there's a caked-in stain, blot the area. This method will help preserve the integrity of the cloth and dye. Scrubbing at it can make it worse, or even damage your band, so it's best to avoid that.
iMore recommends another way to clean your nylon band. They suggest using a mild soap and a soft toothbrush to get rid the grubbiness bands can collect.
How to Clean a Leather Apple Watch Band
High-quality leather bands are low-maintenance and easy to clean. Wipe the leather portions of the bands clean with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. If necessary, lightly dampen the cloth with fresh water. Please don’t soak leather bands in water. They aren't intended for a deep sea dive, and it will ruin your beloved band.
Let your band air dry overnight before reattaching it. Also, don't store your band in direct sunlight or in a place that is hot/humid. Occasionally, you may want to treat your strap to a little bit of leather balm to help keep it soft and supple as it patinas.
How to Clean the Sports Apple Watch Band
The Sports Band is made for the gym, but it also the number one candidate for serious grime. Chalk, sand, and germs stowaway on your band. The Sports band can be wiped down for light cleaning, and a Clorox wipe should take care of any unwanted pesky flecks of dirt or nasty gym germs.
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