It is important to maintain cleanliness in our Apple Watch straps, both for hygiene and aesthetics. A clean strap is always better. But how should we clean them properly? There are several things to consider.
How not to clean our straps
According to this Apple support document, there are certain practices we should consider to avoid damaging our straps:
- Avoid abrasive cleaners or cloths that may scratch.
- Do not use Clorox wipes or alcohol on leather or fabric straps.
- Avoid submerging leather straps in water or cleaners.
- Do not apply hydrogen peroxide or bleach.
How to clean our straps
The cleaning process starts by removing the watch strap. Then, we use a microfiber cloth to clean it. If necessary, we lightly dampen the cloth with water. For straps made of silicone, rubber, or fabric, a mild soap will be sufficient for a deep clean. If we need to disinfect silicone, rubber, or metal straps, we can choose to use a 70% alcohol wipe.
Furthermore, regardless of the strap material, we can use a UV disinfectant as an additional measure, but with special caution for leather or fabric straps, as they could be damaged by the product.
For hard-to-reach corners, a wooden stick is an excellent tool to get rid of any accumulated residue. Similarly, Blue Tack can be very useful for removing dirt from parts like the links and strap connection areas. To finish, let’s make sure to thoroughly dry the strap with a cloth. It is crucial, especially for leather straps, to ensure they are completely dry before putting them back on our Apple Watch.
Keeping in mind to follow the specific cleaning instructions if we are dealing with third-party straps, with these simple steps, we will keep our strap clean and well-maintained. Remembering all that we can do with Double Tap on Apple Watches with watchOS 10.1, this is a process that, when carried out regularly—especially more often in the summer due to sweat, swimming, and other factors—will keep this essential Apple Watch accessory as good as new.
