How to properly clean Apple Watch strap: Tips

A new study on smartwatch contamination, published in 2023, revealed that 95 percent of them were covered in bacteria. Astonishingly, according to researchers, the results showed that 85 percent of the examined bands contained Staphylococcus species, which can cause staphylococcal infections.

How to clean Apple Watch bands

What not to use for cleaning the strap:

• Don't clean the strap with abrasive cleaning agents or cloth.
• Avoid using Clorox wipes or alcohol to clean leather or fabric straps.
• Don't soak leather straps in water or cleaning agents.
• Avoid using hydrogen peroxide or bleach.

Suitable cleaning agents for Apple Watch bands:

• Clean microfiber cloth or similar material.
• Clorox wipes or 70% isopropyl alcohol only for Apple Solo Loop, Sport Band, Nike Sport Band, Ocean Band, or metal strap (or similar silicone, rubber).

Clorox wipes (photo: ABC News)

• DenTek Fresh Clean dental floss picks

DenTek Fresh Clean dental floss picks (photo: Prom.ua)

• UV phone sterilizer

UV sterilizer (photo: ROZETKA)

To clean your Apple Watch band:

1. Carefully remove the band from your Apple Watch.
2. Wipe it with a clean microfiber cloth, slightly dampened with distilled water if necessary.
3. Apple suggests using mild soap for cleaning silicone, rubber, or fabric bands.
4. For disinfecting silicone, rubber, or metal bands, use Clorox wipes or a 70% isopropyl/ethyl alcohol wipe and wipe it down.
5. To disinfect any band material, you can use a UV sterilizer, but keep in mind this may lead to quicker aging of leather bands or faster fading of fabric bands.
6. Use a dental floss pick to remove debris from hard-to-reach areas.
7. Dry with a cloth and allow leather bands to fully air dry before reattaching them to your Apple Watch.