Get rid of sweat and grime
Cleaning your Apple Watch and its band should not be overlooked. It helps maintain the integrity of both items by removing dirt, debris, body oils, sweat, and other pollutants from everything it touches, including your skin
Speaker ports are not safe either. In fact, they are the typical place where most of the dirt and grime end up. With the correct cleaning techniques and a bit of care, it’s easy to keep your favorite timepiece looking new.
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The band needs regular cleaning too. But you don’t want to ruin your watch band with aggressive cleaning solutions. Don’t worry, there are cleaning methods that can return the shine of a brand-new band to your old one. Like cleaning your iPhone, the Apple Watch should be cleaned regularly and in stages.
What Cleaning Products to Use and What Not to Use
Apple warns its customers never to use abrasive materials while cleaning their devices. So don’t use just any old rags or paper towels on your Apple Watch. The best option is to go for a lint-free microfiber cloth. These are easily obtainable in any store with cleaning products. You can also use cotton swabs to clean harder-to-reach spots on your watch.
Regarding cleaning agents, Apple warns never to use bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or home cleaning detergents or soaps. They can easily damage your watch as they can be too aggressive. As liquids, they can also get into the watch’s nooks and crevices, damaging it from the inside. A dry cloth is often enough to remove most of the dirt, but you can also use clean water if necessary. But — never submerge your watch underwater to clean it. Instead, just use it to dampen your lint-free cloth.
If you need to disinfect your Apple Watch, use a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe instead of water. It evaporates quicker than rubbing alcohol and is safe to use instead of water. But, again, don’t submerge your watch into this solution; use it to dampen your cloth. Other safe products to clean your Apple Watch are Clorox Disinfecting Wipes and 75% ethyl alcohol wipes. However, don’t use these disinfecting products to clean your watch band if it’s made of fabric or leather. It might ruin it.
You might be tempted to use compressed air or ultrasonic cleaning on your Apple Watch, but Apple does not recommend it. Apple Watches are delicate pieces of technology, and air pressure and external heat sources can easily damage them.
How to Properly Clean and Dry Your Apple Watch
Before you start cleaning your Apple Watch, remove it from its charger. You should also take off the wristband, especially if it’s made of leather. Just press and hold the band button on top and the bottom of the watch’s backside, and slide the wristband out, left or right.
Leather is a sensitive material, and it should always be cleaned separately. We will talk more about that later.
To clean your Apple Watch:
- Turn it off.
- Wipe the whole watch with a clean and dry lint-free cloth. Then, you can gently rub on spots with more stubborn dirt.
- If necessary, lightly dampen the cloth in water to ensure you get all the dirt and grime.
- If dirt is particularly stubborn around the digital crown, band slots, and speaker ports, use a dry cotton swab to loosen it.
- The grime that’s not budging should be washed away with running water at low pressure if your watch model is water-resistant. Then, hold your watch under a gentle stream to try and dislocate the dirt. Don’t use soapy water.
- Give a cotton swab another go.
- When you’re done with liquids, it’s important to wipe your Apple watch with a dry, lint-free cloth to dry it. Next, wipe its screen, sides, and the surface of the back crystal.
How to Properly Clean the Digital Crown
The digital crown can easily get stuck due to too much dirt gathering around it. If you can move the dirt with a lint-free cloth or a cotton swab, that’s great. But in some cases, the debris around it can get locked in, and the only way to clean it is with water.
Here is how to do it safely:
- Turn your Apple Watch off, and take it out of the charger. Remove the wristband.
- Hold the digital crown under gently running warm water. The best is fresh water from your home faucet. Don’t use soaps or other cleaning detergents.
- Turn and press the digital crown while water is running over it. Do so continuously until all the debris is washed away. You can use a cotton swab or a soft-bristled toothbrush to dislodge any stubborn dirt.
- Dry your Apple watch with a clean, lint-free cloth. Keep rotating and pressing the digital crown while drying it. Make sure to completely dry all the space between the crown, the watch, and the areas around it.
How to Clean the Apple Watch Band
Cleaning the Apple Watch band is necessary if you want it to look brand new, even after excessive wearing. But how you clean it depends on the type of band your watch has. Apple Watches come with bands of various materials such as silicone, stainless steel, leather, or carbon fiber. If you’re unsure what your Apple Watch band is made of, check Apple’s support page for clarification.
Regardless of material type, you should always remove the Apple Watch band before cleaning it. It’s easier, but on some materials, you can use cleaning products that are not allowed on the watch itself. You don’t want to damage your Apple watch in the process.
Silicone Rubber Bands
Apple Watch bands made of silicon rubber and fluoroelastomer, such as Solo Loop, Ocean Band, or Sport Band, should be first wiped with a dry lint-free cloth. This is to make sure there is no dust on them. Microfiber cloth is best because it’s not abrasive but can easily collect all the dust specs off the wristband.
You can dampen your microfiber cloth with clean water if stubborn grime is on your wristband. Also, rub some hypoallergenic hand soap on it. Ensure the soap is very mild, or it could damage the silicone band. Once you are done, wash away any soap residue. Next, dry your Apple Watch band with a non-abrasive clean cloth, and leave it to air dry thoroughly.
Only when the Apple Watch and its band are completely dry should you reattach them.
Leather Bands
Leather Apple Watch bands need special care. They are never to be submerged under water or to be held under running water. Water can easily damage leather and discolor it. But you can use a damp lint-free microfiber cloth to remove more stubborn dirt. You should take special care to wipe the leather by following the grain.
Leather is a natural material, so it’s prone to environmental damage. Leave it to air dry thoroughly before reattaching it to your Apple Watch. But make sure the room where you leave it is not too hot and dry. This can make the leather dry out and form cracks. You should also avoid leaving your leather wristband in direct sunlight, as it can discolor it. Finally, too much moisture in the air can form mildew on leather and lead to mold forming on it.
Use special oil and conditioner for leather to prolong your Apple Watch band’s life. Leather bands will develop a patina over time, they can change color or texture, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Leather ages, and although it might not look brand new, it will develop a unique character.
Stainless Steel Bands
Metal wristbands are popular, and Apple Watch uses stainless steel. But, like all other materials, metal needs care too. You don’t want your Apple watch to look dull.
Cleaning stainless steel can be tricky. Use the wrong cleaning products, and you can easily scratch them and make them look worn out. As Apple recommends, you should start cleaning your stainless steel wristband by gently wiping it with a non-abrasive, lint-free cloth to remove the dust. If necessary, dampen the cloth with clean water. You should avoid harsh cleaners, but some everyday household products can be safely used. You can try dish soap, vinegar, or olive oil to get rid of the more persistent grime. But try rubbing as little as possible not to scratch the surface of your metal band.
Use a dry, non-abrasive cloth to soak all the water from the Apple Watch band, and leave it to air dry before reattaching it.
Polyester, Nylon, and Fabric Bands
Polyesters, woven nylon, and fabric-based Apple Watch straps, such as the Trail Loop, Alpine Loop, and Sport Loop, should be treated the same as the silicone ones. Clean them with a damp cloth or put them directly under warm running water. You can also use a mild, hypoallergenic soap to wash them thoroughly. Don’t forget to rinse them.
As these materials soak up water easily, drying them will take longer. Make sure they are thoroughly air-dried before reattaching them. You can leave them in the sunlight to speed up the process. But be sure you’ll have to wait at least a few hours. Having a spare Apple Watch band is helpful.
Other Materials and Combinations of Materials
There are plenty of Apple Watch band materials out there. Many people even offer custom wristbands for your Apple Watch. If you’re unsure what material was used in making your personalized wristband, it is best to follow Apple’s instructions of wiping them with a clean, lint-free, non-abrasive cloth. This is also valid for any combination of materials, such as the Braided Solo Loop band (a combination of polyester fibers and silicone wire). You can also use this simple cleaning method for closures and buckles on your Apple Watch band.
If you had a custom-made watch strap, or you bought it from a third-party seller non-affiliated with Apple, the best is to follow the cleaning instructions that came with it.
All in all, cleaning your Apple Watch doesn’t need to be a prolonged or difficult process. With the right fabric and accessories, as well as thoughtful use of water and cleaning solutions, you can keep your device looking like new. Keeping it clean isn’t only beneficial for aesthetic purposes: when you take the time to properly maintain your device, you ensure that it continues to function optimally for years to come. So don’t forget to regularly check for dirt build-up on the watch itself and its accompanying bands.
