Category: How-To Guides

Phones collect oil, dust and germs every day. Cleaning them is easy, but the wrong product can strip screen coatings or push dirt into ports.

What you need

• Microfiber cloth
• 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes or a barely damp cloth
• Soft toothbrush
• Painter’s tape
• Wooden toothpick for ports

Screen and back

Turn off the phone. Wipe gently with a microfiber cloth. For germs, use a 70% alcohol wipe lightly, then dry. Avoid bleach, window cleaner and abrasive powders.

Case

Remove it. Wash silicone cases with mild soap and water and let them dry fully before putting them back. Wipe leather and fabric cases with a damp cloth only.

Ports

Gently remove lint with a wooden toothpick. Never use metal. Lint in ports can stop charging.

Speakers and earpiece

Brush the grilles gently, use painter’s tape, then run our Dust Cleaner. See our complete speaker guide.

Camera lens

Wipe with a clean microfiber cloth. Fingerprints on the lens cause blurry photos.

How often?

Wipe the screen daily or every few days. Do a deeper clean of ports and speakers every couple of months.

FAQ

Can I use hand sanitizer?

It is not ideal. Some contain additives that leave residue. An alcohol wipe is better.

Bluetooth speakers like JBL, Sony and Bose are tough, but water, dust and pairing glitches can still cause problems. Start with the connection, then clean.

No sound or cutting out

1. Turn the speaker and Bluetooth off and on.
2. Forget the speaker in your phone’s Bluetooth list and pair again.
3. Move closer and remove obstacles between the phone and speaker.
4. Make sure no other phone is connected to the speaker.
5. Charge the speaker fully.

Muffled after water

Many outdoor speakers are water resistant. Water can still sit behind the grille. Connect the speaker and play our Water Eject tone at medium-high volume, with the speaker facing down. Let it dry completely before charging.

Dusty or sandy speaker

Run the Dust Cleaner through the speaker, then brush the grille gently. For fabric grilles, use a lint roller.

Test both drivers

Use the Left & Right Speaker Test and the Bass Test to check that both drivers and the bass radiator work.

When to replace

• Rattling at every volume
• Battery no longer holds a charge
• Visible tears in the driver

FAQ

Is it safe to charge a wet speaker?

No. Dry the port completely first, even on water-resistant models.

Clean speakers sound clearer, louder and fuller. This guide covers every safe method, from sound cleaning to gentle brushing, for both iPhone and Android.

Choose your method

The 5-minute routine

1. Turn off the phone and remove the case.
2. Brush the speaker and earpiece grilles with a soft, dry toothbrush.
3. Lift leftover lint with painter’s tape.
4. Wipe the area with a microfiber cloth.
5. Turn the phone on and run one cleaning cycle at max volume.

Tools that are safe

• Soft toothbrush or clean makeup brush
• Painter’s tape or a soft putty
• Microfiber cloth
• Blower bulb (used from a distance)

Tools to avoid

• Pins, needles or SIM tools
• Cotton swabs
• Liquid sprays
• Canned air pressed close to the holes

How often to clean

Clean every two to three months, or right after the phone gets wet or dusty.

Check your work

Play a song you know well, then use the Speaker Test to make sure both sides sound equal.

FAQ

Can I clean speakers while the phone is on?

For sound cleaning, yes. For brushing and wiping, turn it off first to avoid accidental taps.