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How to Clean an Apple Watch Band

Suraj Giri

By , Founder & Publisher. Reviewed by Suraj Giri on .

Published · 4 min read

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To clean an Apple Watch band, take the band off your Apple Watch, then wipe it with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth lightly dampened with fresh water. Apple says keeping the watch, its bands and your skin clean and dry maximizes comfort, especially after workouts or contact with sweat, soap, sunscreen and lotions. If you also own AirPods Max, our care section shows how to clean AirPods Max ear cushions.

If the watch stops pairing, syncing or responding properly after a wipe-down, start with our Apple Watch pairing and sync fixes.

A square smartwatch with a sport band beside a small bowl of soapy water and a cotton cloth on a kitchen counter.
A watch band about to get a gentle wash. Illustration: Gadget247News, generated with Runway

How to Clean an Apple Watch Band

To clean an Apple Watch band, remove it from the watch, wipe it, then dry it:

  1. Remove the band from your Apple Watch. See how to change an Apple Watch band.
  2. Wipe the band with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. If necessary, lightly dampen the cloth with fresh water.
  3. Dry the band with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth before you attach it to your Apple Watch.

How to Clean Each Type of Band

Leather, FineWoven and Hermès bands need different care. This table follows Apple's cleaning article, published March 12, 2026:

Band How to clean it Soap or detergent Disinfectant wipes
Solo Loop, Sport Band, Ocean Band Damp cloth, then dry Mild hypoallergenic hand soap Yes
Braided Solo Loop, Sport Loop, Alpine Loop, Trail Loop Damp cloth, then dry Mild hypoallergenic hand soap Not listed
Leather Damp cloth on the leather parts, air dry; don't soak None in Apple's steps No
FineWoven (Magnetic Link, Modern Buckle) Detergent solution (steps below); don't soak Liquid laundry detergent Not listed
Hermès rubber, knit, woven Soft cloth and fresh water; knit isn't swimproof Soapy water on rubber, for stains Not listed
Metal and all other bands Damp cloth, then dry None in Apple's steps Yes (metal)

Apple doesn't say whether wipes are safe on Hermès rubber bands. Keep leather bands out of direct sunlight, high temperatures and high humidity.

How to Clean a FineWoven Band

To clean a FineWoven band, such as a Magnetic Link or Modern Buckle, use a detergent solution:

  1. In a clean container, mix 1 tsp (5 mL) of liquid laundry detergent into 1 cup (250 mL) of water.
  2. Dip a lint-free cloth into the solution, wring it out slightly, and rub the band gently for 1 minute.
  3. Wipe the band with a separate cloth slightly dampened with fresh water. Don't soak it: FineWoven isn't water resistant.
  4. Dry the band with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, removing any excess moisture.
  5. Lay the band flat to dry for at least a day before you use it again.
Five steps to clean a FineWoven Apple Watch band: mix 1 tsp of liquid laundry detergent into 1 cup of water, rub the band with a wrung-out cloth for 1 minute, wipe with a fresh-water cloth, dry with a lint-free cloth, then lay it flat to dry for at least a day.
Apple's five steps for a FineWoven band, from its cleaning article. Diagram: Gadget247News

Apple stopped selling leather bands in September 2023; older ones follow the leather row above.

How to Clean Your Apple Watch

To clean your Apple Watch itself, turn it off and wipe it:

  1. Turn off your Apple Watch and remove it from the charger.
  2. Remove a leather band, if you have one.
  3. Wipe the watch with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. If necessary, lightly dampen the cloth with fresh water.
  4. If you see debris in places such as the speaker ports, hold the watch under lightly running, warm, fresh water until it's clean, without soap. On Series 10 and later, a soft-bristle brush can also clear the speaker ports.
  5. Dry the watch with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth, including the surface of the back crystal.

Clean the watch regularly. Apple says a buildup of lotion or sunscreen on the back crystal can impact sensor functionality.

If the Digital Crown Is Sticky or Stuck

If the Digital Crown gets stuck or won't move, wipe the watch and check for debris, then rinse the crown, repeating as needed:

  1. Turn off your Apple Watch, remove it from the charger, and take off a leather band if you have one.
  2. Hold the Digital Crown under lightly running, warm, fresh water from a faucet, with no soap or cleaning products.
  3. Turn and press the Digital Crown continuously as the water runs over the small gap between the crown and the housing.
  4. Dry the watch with an absorbent, nonabrasive, lint-free cloth, rotating and pressing the Digital Crown as you dry it.

What Not to Use

Apple's cleaning article rules out these on your Apple Watch and its bands:

  • Soaps and cleaning products on the watch itself
  • Abrasive materials, including polishing or buffing the watch with abrasives
  • Compressed air
  • Ultrasonic cleaning
  • External heat sources
  • Products that contain bleach or hydrogen peroxide
  • Submerging the watch in any cleaning agent
  • Soaking a leather or FineWoven band in water

Still Having Problems After Cleaning?

If the speaker sounds muffled after the watch gets wet, use Water Lock. On Apple Watch Series 2 and later, press the side button to open Control Center, tap Water Lock, then press and hold the Digital Crown. Don't shake it or put anything into its openings. For pairing and sync faults, use the Apple Watch fixes hub linked above; for skin irritation, see our band-change guide.

Other Apple care guides:

  • What to Do If AirPods Get Wet: Apple's drying steps for wet AirPods.
  • How to Clean AirPods and the Charging Case: Apple's cleaning method for both.

Cleaning Questions

Short answers from Apple's own cleaning and water resistance articles.

Can I wash my Apple Watch band in water?

Most Apple Watch bands take a cloth lightly dampened with fresh water, and the sport and loop bands in the table also take mild hypoallergenic hand soap. Don't soak leather or FineWoven bands: Apple says neither is water resistant.

Can I use alcohol wipes on my Apple Watch?

Yes. Apple allows 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes, 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipes or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, used gently, on the outside of your Apple Watch and on a Solo Loop, Sport Band, Nike Sport Band, Ocean Band or metal band. Never use them on fabric or leather bands.

Which Apple Watch bands aren't water resistant?

Apple lists the Magnetic Link, Modern Buckle (with FineWoven), Leather Link, Modern Buckle (with leather), Milanese Loop, Link Bracelet, and Hermès leather and knit bands as not water resistant. It also says stainless steel and leather bands shouldn't be exposed to liquids.

Sources

We checked this page against the pages below, most recently on . How we verify fixes

  1. How to clean your Apple Watch (Apple, support.apple.com)Official
  2. About Apple Watch water resistance (Apple, support.apple.com)Official
  3. Band care information for Apple Watch (Apple Watch User Guide) (Apple, support.apple.com)Official