If you’re a die-hard Apple fan, chances are you own (or have owned) an Apple Watch. Apple’s answer to the smartwatch craze seems to pair perfectly with your other Apple devices, allowing you to reply to texts, take calls and monitor your health with some impressive features. You probably use your Apple Watch as much as you use your iPhone, which means it’s used every day.
You’re probably also familiar with the benefits of regularly cleaning your iPhone: keeping your screen smudge-free, killing harmful bacteria, and keeping your phone looking new for as long as possible.
But when was the last time you cleaned (and I mean really cleaned) your Apple Watch?
Just like your iPhone, your Apple Watch is prone to smudges and some pretty serious chips, but your watch comes with a few extra features that can easily collect dust and other grime, like the strap and Digital Crown. . Cleaning your Apple Watch regularly can breathe new life into it, making it look like it just came out of the box.
Don’t worry Apple Watch fans, I have some tips to help you keep your Apple Watch clean and germ-free. For more information, here’s how to watch WWDC 2024 (and what to expect from WWDC 2024) and everything we know about iOS 18 so far.
How to clean your Apple Watch
The basic steps for cleaning your Apple Watch are the same as cleaning your iPhone or iPad. According to Apple, avoid using “soap, cleaning products, abrasive materials, compressed air, ultrasonic cleaning, and external heat sources” on your Apple Watch. Instead, follow these steps to keep your watch in good condition.
First, turn off your Apple Watch and unplug it from the charger. If you’re using a leather watch band, Apple recommends that you remove it before starting to use it.
To clean your Apple Watch, wipe it with a rag Lint-free, non-abrasive cloth. If your watch is very dirty, Apple recommends dampening the cloth slightly and wiping the watch. If your watch has obvious debris, you can rinse the watch with a small amount of warm water until it is clean.
Before using your watch, you need to let it dry completely. Of course, you can use the same lint-free, non-abrasive cloth to dry it, as long as it’s not wet.
How to clean your digital crown
The Digital Crown is the little dial on the side of your Apple Watch that lets you control some of its features, but like anything else, it’s susceptible to debris and dirt. To clean your Digital Crown, you’ll follow the same basic steps you use to clean your watch. Turn off the watch, remove it from the charger, and remove any leather straps.
Next, run the digital crown under a small amount of warm water, pressing the crown in and turning it. Again, do not use any soap or cleaning products.
After rinsing, dry the Digital Crown with the same non-abrasive, lint-free cloth. When you dry the Digital Crown, you’ll want to press it in and rotate it, just like you would for a rinse.
How to clean your Apple Watch band
No matter which band you use with your Apple Watch, you’ll need to remove it from the watch before cleaning. Note that Apple only provides guidance for Apple-branded bands, so if you use a third-party Apple Watch band, you’ll need to check the company’s specific cleaning instructions before proceeding.
leather strap
- Wipe your leather watch strap with a lint-free cloth. If necessary, lightly moisten the cloth with warm water.
- Under no circumstances should leather straps be immersed in water.
- Let the leather band dry completely before reattaching it to your Apple Watch.
Solo Loop, Braided Solo Loop, Sport Band, Sport Loop, Ocean Band, Alpine Loop and Trail Loop
- Wipe the strap with a lint-free, abrasion-resistant cloth. If necessary, you can moisten a cloth with warm water or use a mild soap to clean the strap.
- Before reconnecting to your Apple Watch, dry it thoroughly with a lint-free, non-abrasive cloth.
fine webbing
- First, Apple recommends mixing 1 tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent with 1 cup of water.
- Next, soak a lint-free cloth in the detergent solution and rub it on the band for about a minute.
- Wipe the band again with a lint-free cloth dampened with water only.
- Dry the band with a dry, lint-free cloth and leave it for at least a day before reconnecting to your Apple Watch and wearing it.
Hermès watch strap
You can have three different types of Hermès Apple Watch bands: rubber, knitted or woven.
You can clean the rubber band with a non-abrasive cloth and water, using soap only if debris or stains are difficult to remove. Knitted and woven tapes can also be cleaned with a non-abrasive cloth, but if there are hard-to-remove stains, moisten the cloth with warm water and gently rub the stain.
At the end of the day, cleaning your Apple Watch, Digital Crown, and band really just requires an old, unscathed, lint-free cloth and a little elbow grease. For more information, here’s how long Apple will support updates for older iPhones and everything we know about Apple’s rumored partnership with OpenAI.
