How To Clean An Apple Watch Crown

If you have an Apple Watch, there's a good chance you're using it just as much (if not more!) than your iPhone. Apple's beloved wearable has a more persistent presence on your body than a phone does and therefore is more prone to collecting dirt and dust than other pieces of technology. And if you're going to invest heartily in an Apple Watch, it's important to make sure you clean it properly so it can keep up with your constantly busy day.

Keep reading to learn how to clean your Apple Watch without damaging it.

How To Clean the Apple Watch and Digital Crown

In order to effectively clean your Apple Watch, it's a good idea to remove it from the charger, power it off, and remove the watchband. This will help to separate the watch into disparate elements so its easier to clean. We recommend starting with the watch face itself.

The nice thing about newer models of the Apple Watch is that it is waterproof, so you can run it under water to clean it. Apple recommends running it under lightly running, warm water for 10 -15 seconds. Or, you can use a microfiber cloth (like this one from AmazonBasics) and gently wipe the watch clean of grit and grime. However, it's important that youdo not use abrasive materials, compressed air, ultrasonic cleaners, or external heat sources to clean your watch face.

When cleaning the Apple Watch Digital Crown, it's important to initially check for debris and dirt that might be causing it to not function properly. Much like the watch itself, feel free to run the crown under warm water for 10 -15 secondswithout using soaps or other cleaners. As you run the crown under the water, continuously turn and press the Digital Crown so the water can loosen up material that may have collected in the small gap between the housing and the crown itself.

Once you're done, be sure to dry it off using a dry cloth, like the previously mentioned microfiber ones from AmazonBasics.

AmazonBasics Blue and Yellow Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Courtesy of Amazon

AmazonBasics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

$13.91

How To Clean the Apple Watch Band

Cleaning your Apple Watch band, whether it's a leather band or a rubber band, is pretty straight forward. A microfiber cloth or any other lint-free cloth is super helpful is wiping away dirt and dust from the watch band.

With a leather band specifically, it's important not to soak the band in water, as leather isn't inherently waterproof and will warp and damage the leather. A quick clean with water will be sufficient enough, but if you're particularly worried, you can wet a microfiber cloth and dab dirty portions of the band for a more controlled clean.

Once you've cleaned your leather band, avoid letting it sit in direct sunlight for extended periods of time, as the sun can also damage the leather.

For the standard band that comes included with your Apple Watch, feel free to wash it with water and a little bit of soap. If it's really dirty or you want to just make sure it's thoroughly clean, use some isopropyl alcohol (which is different from rubbing alcohol!) and wet the cloth with a slight drip. From there, you can really scrub it and give it a good clean. Let it dry (avoid direct sun here too), resemble the watch, and you'll be good to go!

amazon Isopropyl Alcohol Courtesy of Amazon

Amazon Solimo 99% Isopropyl Alcohol

$6.99