Like anything you handle throughout the day, your iPhone will pick up fingerprints, grease, dirt, and other particulates through daily use and by sitting in your pocket or purse. Fingerprints can decrease the clarity of your screen, and dirt can even scratch the surface of the iPhone screen or case. By performing a few simple cleaning techniques, you can keep your iPhone looking like new and functioning properly for a relatively long time. Read on to learn how to clean an iPhone.

Before attempting any cleaning off your iPhone, first you should make sure it is powered off and is disconnected from any power source, including a wall socket, a car charger or your computer.

All iPhones come with a cleaning cloth that can be used to remove dust and fingerprints from the screen and case. Simply wipe the cloth over the surface of your iPhone. Alternatively, any microfiber cloth meant for cleaning glass can be used, such as those provided by eyeglass manufacturers.

If your iPhone case or screen has material stuck to it, you can lightly dampen the microfiber cloth with a bit of clear water. This can help to dislodge anything stuck to the surface. Apple recommends that you do not use any type of solvents to clean your iPhone, including window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, alcohol, or ammonia.http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1643 If you do use a damp cloth, keep away from the ports of the iPhone. After wiping, use a dry portion of the cloth to remove any excess moisture.

Do not attempt to scrape any material from the surface of your iPhone with another object, as this could scratch the screen or case.

The iPhone has several ports that can collect dust and dirt, including the headphone jack, the dock connector, and the speaker and mic at the bottom of the iPhone. If the speaker and mic are clogged, the sound quality of your conversations can be degraded.

When cleaning the ports on the iPhone, extreme care must be taken. Do not use any liquids in the ports, as liquids can get inside the iPhone and permanently damage the electronics.

The simplest way to clean ports on your iPhone is with a blast of compressed air from a can specifically designed for cleaning electronics. Blast a short amount of air into the port, then use a microfiber cloth to sweep away any debris that comes out. For troublesome clogs, use a small dry toothbrush to clean out the screens in the speaker and mic.http://www.cio.com/article/498479/iPhone_Tips_How_to_Clean_and_Care_For_Your_iPhone Do not add water or other liquid onto the toothbrush.

Once you have cleaned your iPhone, a few simple additions can help you keep your iPhone clean. Wipe the screen and case daily with a microfiber cloth to remove minor fingerprints and dust.

A thin skin protector for the screen will help prevent scratches and cracks from forming on your iPhone. These disposable sheets can easily be applied to the screen like a decal and replaced as needed.

A hard case can help to protect the ports on your iPhone and prevent scratches from forming on the case. A hard case will also help protect your iPhone if it is dropped.