How to clean your Apple Watch, Fitbit, or Garmin device

Woman cleaning Apple Watch screen with dry cloth
(Image credit: PopTika / Shutterstock)

Fitness trackers and smartwatches are made to be worn all day and all night, and over time they start to get dirty. Eventually, the band will begin to look grubby, and the case will start to accumulate grime. 

Not only is that gross, it also means your device might not work as well as it should. Dirty electrical contacts can stop smartwatches charging properly, and grime on the back of the watch case can disrupt the signal from the optical heart rate monitor. It can also lead to skin irritation, particularly if sweat has accumulated and dried on.

Thankfully, keeping things nice and clean is pretty simple, and most of the time you'll need nothing more than a little rubbing alcohol, a lint-free cloth, and perhaps a soft toothbrush.

Never use bleach, or anything abrasive that could dull or damage the finish of your watch, such as cream cleaners that contain rough particles to scrub away dirt, wire brushes, or scouring pads. Some smartwatches and fitness trackers have holes in the case for microphones, speakers, lights, or reset buttons. Never poke into these, or you risk damaging its internal components.

It's worth bearing in mind, however, that fitness trackers and smartwatches are made from a wide range of different materials, including resin, silicone, stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium to name just a handful, and not all can be cleaned the same way. It's always a good idea to follow your device manufacturer's instructions, which is why we've put together this guide rounding up tips from four of the biggest names in smartwatches and fitness trackers.

Cleaning your Apple Watch

The official care advice for Apple Watches advises using a dry, lint-free cloth for everyday cleaning. If it needs a deeper clean, remove any special bands (such as leather straps), then either wipe the watch with a damp cloth or rinse it under warm, lightly running water. When you're done, dry it carefully before wearing.

You can also clean the Digital Crown under running water, turning and pressing it while the water flows over it to remove any accumulated grime. Again, give it a thorough dry with a clean cloth, making sure you soak up any water that's gathered between the crown and the watch case.

If you use one of Apple's silicone watch bands, you can freshen it up with mild, hypoallergenic hand soap and water.

Woman cleaning Apple Watch with water spray and cloth

You can clean your Apple Watch using a cloth dampened with water (Image credit: Mr Khatawut / Shutterstock)

Cleaning your Fitbit

Fitbit offers some sensible guidance on keeping your fitness tracker's electrical contacts in good working order. You can clean the contacts on the watch and the pins on the charger using rubbing alcohol, then finish off with a dry cloth or tissue (being careful not to leave any scraps of lint behind).

Make sure everything is totally dry before trying to charge your device, and never scraps the contacts with anything metal, as this could damage the plating.

When it comes the the silicone band, Fitbit advises avoiding anything harsh like hand sanitizer, dish soap, or hand soap. If your band is looking grubby, you can clean it using fresh water and a gentle soap-free cleanser.

Man wiping Fitbit lens with a cloth

You can clean your Fitbit's case with a little rubbing alcohol, and dry it off with a lint-free cloth or tissue (Image credit: Olga Miltsova / Shutterstock)

Cleaning your Garmin watch

Garmin watches are known for being super tough, and they'll last even longer with the right TLC. Garmin has comprehensive advice on caring for your device to help keep it in good condition, and avoid skin irritation.

One of the most important tips (and one that's easy to forget) is to always rinse off your watch and allow it to dry after a sweaty workout. If your watch has a leather or suede band, switch to a silicone one before you get stuck into some heavy activity.

Metal and leather bands can be cleaned with a dry or damp lint-free cloth, nylon bands can be rinsed, and silicone or TPU elastomer can be rinsed or wiped with a little rubbing alcohol if you need to remove residue like insect repellent or sunscreen.

You can keep the case clean by rinsing it, or using a damp cloth. A soft toothbrush is a good choice if you need to clean the contacts, but don't poke the bristles (or anything else) into microphone or speaker openings like those on the Garmin Venu 2 Plus.

Garmin advises that you can also clean the outside of the watch case with a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or a disinfectant wipe, but it's wise to rinse and dry it afterwards so to avoid irritating your skin.

Person cleaning smartwatch with cloth

Some devices can be cleaned with an antibacterial wipe, but if in doubt, stick with rubbing alcohol and a dry cloth (Image credit: Shutterstock / Seksun Guntanid)

Cleaning your Amazfit watch

Amazfit makes some of the most affordable running watches on the market, but they're solidly built and should last many years with proper care. The company doesn't give instructions for all its various devices, but its tips on caring for the Amazfit Pace should be useful in most instances.

First, the company advises gently cleaning the heart rate sensor on the back of the watch using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, then wiping with a clean cloth to dry it.

For the charging contacts on the watch and the pins on the charger, it recommends using a toothpick or toothbrush to remove any debris, then following up with your trusty cotton swab and alcohol. The band can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol too, applied to either a swab or a cloth.

Some Amazfit devices, such as the T-Rex Pro, have optional bands made from leather rather than silicone. The company advises avoiding getting leather bands wet, and avoiding contact between light colored bands and dark clothing in case dye transfers onto the strap. 

If your Amazfit device is suitable for swimming and showering, always make sure you rinse and dry it afterwards. That's sound advice for any fitness tracker or smartwatch to avoid corrosion or skin irritation.

Cat Ellis
Homes Editor

Cat is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in kitchen appliances and smart home technology. She's been a tech journalist for 15 years, and is here to help you choose the right devices for your home and do more with them. When not working she's a keen home baker, and makes a pretty mean macaron.

Read more
Fitbit Luxe on TR background, one of the best fitness trackers
The best fitness trackers 2025: From Fitbit-style bands to smartwatches and more
Apple Watch Ultra 2 timer
5 Apple Watch fitness hacks to take your workouts to the next level
Best smartwatch
The best smartwatch 2025: Top wearables and fitness trackers for iPhones and Androids
AirPods Pro Review
Apple has quietly updated its guidance on how to clean your AirPods, and suggests you buy a kit… from Belkin
Xiaomi smart band 9 on a violet
Best cheap fitness trackers 2025: Track your steps, heart rate and workouts for less
Garmin Venu 2 and Forerunner 265 on TechRadar background
The best Garmin watch 2025: Multisport watches for outdoor athletes
Latest in Smartwatches
Half-Life running on a smartwatch
This Redditor installed a game engine on their smartwatch, and now it runs Doom, Quake, and Half-Life
Apple watch pair with iphone
I've been wearing an Apple Watch for 10 years – these are the 5 settings I change right out of the box
Garmin Instinct 3 next to the Apple Watch Ultra 2
New figures claim the smartwatch market just shrunk for the first time ever, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is to blame
Garmin Forerunner 265S
One of the best Garmin running watches just dropped to a great low price at Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 965 on wrist in the dark
New Garmin leak suggests a release is days away, but don't get your hopes up for the Forerunner 975
Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED watch on wrist
Garmin owners were confused about 13.35 software update for Fenix 8, here's what actually happened
Latest in How Tos
Max Verstappen of Red Bull in testing for the 2025 season in Bahrain
Australian Grand Prix 2025: How to watch F1 First Practice race online from anywhere
Lunar eclipse
I'm a pro photographer – here's how I'm shooting the total lunar eclipse blood moon with my camera and phone
Photoshop CC logo on a screen
How to make an image background transparent in Photoshop
Glasgow Rangers' Nigerian forward Cyriel Dessers runs with the ball during a UEFA Europa League round of 16 first-leg football match in March 2025
Rangers vs Fenerbahce live stream: How to watch today's UEFA Europa League match online, team news
Tottenham Hotspur player Lucas Bergvall participates in the match at the AFAS Stadium for the UEFA Europa League
Tottenham vs AZ live stream: How to watch the Europa League online from anywhere today, team news
Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during a Premier League match in March 2025
Man Utd vs Real Sociedad live stream: How to watch the Europa League game online from anywhere today, team news