Fitbits are just like your clothing. They pick up dirt, dust, oils, and sweat just from everyday wear.
Cleaning after you have worn your Fitbit will help to prevent stains and stinky build-up that will ruin your band and can cause irritation to your skin.
Now the right way to clean your Fitbit band will depend on which type you have. All bands have a certain way they need to be cleaned, and here we discuss that.
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How To Clean a Fitbit Band?
After you have worn your Fitbit band, give it a wipe down with a damp cloth. Every two weeks, it is ideal to give it a wash in soapy water and a good rinse. The Fitbit band is best to be air-dried to allow ventilation and help to clear up any musty smells. Avoid drying in direct sunlight and using harsh scrubbers and cleaners that can cause damage.
Cleaning Your Fitbit
You don’t always have to wash your band in water, but if you are wearing the watch when you are at the gym or going for a run and prone to be sweating, you should give your watch a good wipe over when you take it off for the day.
Plenty of debris and sweat can make their way under the band and irritate your skin. If you have rubbing alcohol, you can also wipe it over with some added to a cotton ball which will help to remove bacteria that comes from sweating.
When it comes to cleaning your band, you want to avoid hand sanitizer, cleaning products, stain removers, and antibacterial wipes; these can damage the band of the Fitbit and also irritate your skin.
You can remove oil that has settled on the band with a soap-free cleanser.
If you wear moisturizers, sunscreen, and even insect repellant, applying a soap-free cleaner with your finger and wiping it over the surface can help to remove stubborn oil.
Ensure you rinse the band properly to ensure all the cleaner has been removed.
For Extra Stubborn Stains
Sometimes just wiping over your Fitbit band just isn’t enough. For some stains, a little elbow grease is important.
You can loosen stains using a soft toothbrush, but don’t rub too hard as you can make the band weak.
If that doesn’t loosen the stain, then you can use a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton bud and rub it into the stain.
You can also use nail polish remover the same way. Make sure you have cleaned the band before you attempt to scrub and remove the stain as you can end up moving everyday dirt around the stain.
Now you can dry the band with a soft cloth, or if it is a material band, soak up the moisture with a cloth and allow it to air dry in the shade.
Do You Have A Leather Fitbit Band?
It is just as easy to clean your leather Fitbit band, and all you need is a microfibre cloth and use it dry to remove any lingering dust and dirt.
Once done that, you can dampen the cloth but don’t make it too wet as the leather material is not water-resistant.
Wipe over the band and then dry it off with a cloth. Patting the leather is best as rubbing can wreck the leather.
If you don’t let the leather dry, it will soak in and can cause bacteria and mold growth. Leather doesn’t like high humidity and direct sunlight, so airdry somewhere with plenty of airflow.
It is a good idea to use a leather conditioner. First of all, do a spot test on the underside of your band, and if no discoloration occurs, it is safe to use on the band.
You can cover the surface of the band with the conditioner and let it dry. You want to aim to use it twice a year if possible.
Cleaning A Metal Band
If you have a metal band, the cleaning process is simple. You need to use a clean, soft cloth to ensure you don’t scratch the metal band, you can dampen the cloth if you like and wipe over the band.
For a good deep clean, mix some mild detergent with some warm water, but don’t make it too soapy.
Now a non-abrasive, neutral pH cleaner is the best to avoid any risk to the band. You only want to do this clean every few months, or if the band has grime on it, that wiping alone isn’t removing.
To apply the cleaner, you need to dip a clean cloth into the mixture and wipe over the Fitbit band.
The Fitbit metal band can be dunked into the water as long as you don’t sit it in there for too long, and you should always remove the tracker unless it is fully waterproof.
If you have stubborn grime that you cannot wipe away, you can use a soft toothbrush to loosen up the dirt.
A little scrubbing with the solution should do the trick. If you have grime and oil in the chain links, you can dunk the metal band into the water and swish it around, and then use a toothpick to reach into the tight places.
You can now grab a clean cloth, dampen it with warm water and wipe the band over, making sure you remove all the soap. If the tracker has been removed, you can rinse the metal band under running water.
It is important that you don’t let water sit on the metal; always dry it with a clean cloth and then sit the band somewhere that has good airflow to ensure the hard-to-reach places are dried out.
A lot of metal bands are not waterproof, and they will tarnish if water is left on them.
Caring For Your Nylon Band
If you have a nylon band, you can wipe it over with a soft cloth which can sometimes be enough to remove the day’s dirt and dust.
If you need to do a better clean, you can use a finger-sized amount of dish soap and mix it into cold water.
When dealing with nylon, ensure the water used is always cold, as warm water can make the nylon bleed.
Dip a clean microfiber cloth into the solutions and wipe over the band. The soap suds will help to remove stains and sweaty smells.
It is a good idea when using the soap suds that you remove your tracker unless it is waterproof in case any of the suds seep into the digital working parts.
For nylon, like the rest, it is best to air dry in a well-ventilated area and avoid any direct sunlight.
Humidity and heat will cause damage to the band so ensure you don’t store it in places like the bathroom.
Friendly Tips
The materials that are used in Fitbits are able to handle the wear and tear from normal activity.
They are not intended to be worn during high-intensity workouts and when you are sleeping.
Even if they are waterproof, it is best to take off before showering just as a precaution and to ensure places like the chain links don’t store water which against your skin can cause bacteria to grow when you sweat.
To limit any discoloration, it is best not to apply lotions or perfumes around the wrist area of the arm you are wearing the Fitbit.
Ensure when storing your Fitbit that you are not storing anyplace that is a high traffic zone where dust and dirt are floating around.
You can buy little material bags to store your Fitbit in if you are not going to wear it for a few days to avoid dust settling into the band of your watch.
Using Rubbing Alcohol For Extra Dirty And Sweaty Bands
If you have extra sweaty or dirty Fitbit bands, you can remove the trackers which is easily removed by pushing on the back of the tracker, and it will gently pop out.
If you are having trouble removing your band, consult your owner’s manual for instructions.
Now you can grab a few cotton swabs and dampen them with rubbing alcohol. Be sure not to use abrasive scrubbers or other chemicals as these can damage the band.
You can wipe over your tracker with the swabs, which is safe if you use a small amount as the rubbing alcohol dries fast.
Use a dry cloth that is soft to remove any of the leftover moisture and ensure no moisture is inside the place where the tracker fits. People tend to use glass cleaners to clean their tracker screens, but this is certainly not a good idea.
Cleaning Your Fitbit Charging Point
First of all, you need to dip a very soft toothbrush into some rubbing alcohol and wipe over the tracker plating. On the back of your charger, you should have a gold-colored port for charging.
You can use a dry toothbrush to remove any dust located inside.
Now you need to soak your cotton swab into some rubbing alcohol and press it onto the charging cable. You want to make sure you clean out both of the ends.
You can gently push the swab into each of the openings and gently brush over the pins inside. Ensure the cable and the tracker are completely clean before use.
Avoid throwing your Fitbit into your handbag or pocket etc., as this can lead to not only damage but it allows for more dirt and grime to get into the hard-to-reach places.
Never soak your Fitbit bands in anything like bleach or vinegar; while they might be great cleaners and work well to disinfect, these are too harsh for the Fitbit bands and can actually destroy them quite quickly.
If you have a Fitbit rubber band and you have black scuff marks in it, you can use a magic eraser to clean the band with as long as you rinse it well after you have cleaned it to avoid any irritation to your skin.
If you are having trouble cleaning your Fitbit and the above tips have not helped, the next step is to call the company and talk to them about other cleaning options that are safe to use.
You will enjoy having a clean Fitbit with no musty smells or yucky stains.
If your Fitbit band happens to have stains that won’t come out or a smell that you cannot remove, it might be best to go ahead and buy a new band and ensure you wash and store it the right way to avoid stains and smells from occurring in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Clean a Fitbit Band
How Often Should Fitbit Bands Be Cleaned?
You always want to make sure your Fitbit band is clean. Once a week is good if you work out often and are prone to sweating. This will still require a wipe-over after each use to avoid too much grime and sweat building up. You can make your own wipes with soft cloths and rubbing alcohol to wipe over after an especially hard workout.
What Happens If I Don’t Clean My Fitbit Band?
Not only do you run the risk of having a smelly Fitbit band, but you also risk skincare problems and end up with sweat stains all over your band that can be hard to get out. To avoid these problems, follow the cleaning tips and frequency to ensure your Fitbit is kept in clean condition.