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iPhone XS How to clean the phone?

dontwalkhand

dontwalkhand

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jul 5, 2007
6,483
3,066
Phoenix, AZ
I have an iPhone with the Belkin ScreenCare+ installed from the Apple Store a long time ago. Well, it feels like when I use other people's phones, it seems very clean, and even after handling their phone, nary a smudge on the screen. My phone however is smudge city, no matter how I cleaned it. I have used Whoosh, I have used AppleJuice, IKlear, etc, and its still terrible! Is it possible that I have worn out the oleophobic coating (if any on the ScreenCare+), on my device or something? Even on older iPhones, it wasn't this bad.

My iPad still looks like the day I bought it, and if its smudged, I just use a microfiber, and its all gone. Not so much with the iPhone.
 
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Personally I can't stand screen protectors as they make the phone feel dirty with a layer of plastic... never used one over all the years of having an iPhone. No issues here, and I occasionally just use a microfiber cloth to clean (same as the little cloths used to clean eye glasses).

Don't use any alcohol based cleaner as that may damage coating on screen which helps avoid finger prints.
 
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What others said.. you've worn the oleophobic coating off your screen protector. Best bet is to replace it. Also, save some money and get one off Amazon rather than at the Apple Store. I bought this for my Max (2 pack for less than $10) and it still looks good after almost 6 months, plus it's edge-to-edge:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GQMF3Q8/
 
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ritmomundo said:
What others said.. you've worn the oleophobic coating off your screen protector. Best bet is to replace it. Also, save some money and get one off Amazon rather than at the Apple Store. I bought this for my Max (2 pack for less than $10) and it still looks good after almost 6 months, plus it's edge-to-edge:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GQMF3Q8/
Click to expand...
Another good brand is Tethys, also on Amazon.
 
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dontwalkhand said:
Well, it feels like when I use other people's phones, it seems very clean, and even after handling their phone, nary a smudge on the screen. My phone however is smudge city, no matter how I cleaned it. I have used Whoosh, I have used AppleJuice, IKlear, etc, and its still terrible! Is it possible that I have worn out the oleophobic coating (if any on the ScreenCare+), on my device or something? Even on older iPhones, it wasn't this bad.

My iPad still looks like the day I bought it, and if its smudged, I just use a microfiber, and its all gone. Not so much with the iPhone.
Click to expand...

LOL - love your post - I have that problem with the iPad pro - it is, to quote your words "Smudge City" even when I clean it several times a day and use special cleaning kits etc. in an effort of "Battle of the Smudge"

I think it is a matter of what is on your hands when using the iPad (in my case) or iPhone - but for what ever reason my iPad Pro is always "Smudged"
 
I clean mine with a cotton cloth humid with water and a little bit of alcohol.
 
Alternative tip: Turn up the brightness. That masks smudges and fingerprints very effectively. Not so good for battery life, but you can't get it all :)
 
I have the same issue with my iPad Air 2, and it has been this way since basically the day I bought it. I feel like this iPad is defective and never had the coating installed. Weird.
 
StellarVixen said:
I wash mine under the tap with other dishes. Works great. When it dries, I take a microfiber cloth to clean away the water residue, and it is good as new. :)
Click to expand...

I put mine in the dishwasher. Top rack only, of course. If it's really dirty I toss it in the washing machine. Gentle cycle, obviously.

EDIT: if it wasn't clear, this was entirely tongue-in-cheek. Please do not actually put your device in the dishwasher or washing machine
 
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StellarVixen said:
You were joking, but I didn't. :)
Click to expand...

lol, I know. I've never actually washed mine under the tap, but it isn't a crazy thing to do with a newer model iPhone (at least since they've been rated for water resistance). Dishwasher/washing machine would truly be crazy.
 
My girlfriend’s iPhone 7 Plus was the same after 2 years of heavy use. The oleophobic coating had completely worn off and fingerprints/smudges just wouldn’t come off easily.

I bought the Fusso Crystal Armour Coating Kit (link to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Armor-Fingerprint-Oleophobic-Coating/dp/B00LKYW6M0) and it honestly made the screen look new and fingerprints are barely noticeable now. All it took was a few coats spread over the screen on 3 consecutive nights and it feels totally different.

EDIT: Just noticed you meant your screen protector is dirty! Maybe this will still work on the protector? Or it might be easier to just replace the protector.
 
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I use the screen daddy frequently to wipe the screen so the prints and all don’t stay. It’s super convenient since you can stick it to the back of your phone and reuse it instead of trying to find a cloth or even using your clothes to wipe the screen and for me it’s been working great!
877db7ca372ea57b151c954286bfe086.jpg
 
dontwalkhand said:
I have an iPhone with the Belkin ScreenCare+ installed from the Apple Store a long time ago. Well, it feels like when I use other people's phones, it seems very clean, and even after handling their phone, nary a smudge on the screen. My phone however is smudge city, no matter how I cleaned it. I have used Whoosh, I have used AppleJuice, IKlear, etc, and its still terrible! Is it possible that I have worn out the oleophobic coating (if any on the ScreenCare+), on my device or something? Even on older iPhones, it wasn't this bad.

My iPad still looks like the day I bought it, and if its smudged, I just use a microfiber, and its all gone. Not so much with the iPhone.
Click to expand...

Belkin says to use mineral water as anything else will remove the oleophobic coating from the screen protector. Especially if you clean it every day
 
NJHitmen said:
I put mine in the dishwasher. Top rack only, of course. If it's really dirty I toss it in the washing machine. Gentle cycle, obviously.

EDIT: if it wasn't clear, this was entirely tongue-in-cheek. Please do not actually put your device in the dishwasher or washing machine
Click to expand...
Car wash for me, I leave my phone on the hood of my car.

Wait, no I don't have a car I just walk through holding my phone up and turning it so the sprays and brushes get everything clean.
 
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bushman4 said:
Belkin says to use mineral water as anything else will remove the oleophobic coating from the screen protector. Especially if you clean it every day
Click to expand...

It likely doesn’t make that much of a difference with the water concentration. The oleophobic coating will wear off naturally anyways with Day-to-Day usage, The best suggestion is just use a dry microfiber cloth or slightly dampen it for more stubborn smudges.
 
AppleWes said:
Don't use any alcohol based cleaner as that may damage coating on screen which helps avoid finger prints.
Click to expand...

I would also add that you shouldn’t use any on the back glass as well since it has an oleophobic coating too.
[doublepost=1553649658][/doublepost]When using microfiber cloths make sure they are clean and no lint is on it. I scratched my screen once because of that.
 
BAZ1307 said:
My girlfriend’s iPhone 7 Plus was the same after 2 years of heavy use. The oleophobic coating had completely worn off and fingerprints/smudges just wouldn’t come off easily.

I bought the Fusso Crystal Armour Coating Kit (link to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Armor-Fingerprint-Oleophobic-Coating/dp/B00LKYW6M0) and it honestly made the screen look new and fingerprints are barely noticeable now. All it took was a few coats spread over the screen on 3 consecutive nights and it feels totally different.

EDIT: Just noticed you meant your screen protector is dirty! Maybe this will still work on the protector? Or it might be easier to just replace the protector.
Click to expand...
I bought the Fusso also. Once you’ve done the multiple coatings and days, how long does it last?
 
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Nhwhazup said:
I bought the Fusso also. Once you’ve done the multiple coatings and days, how long does it last?
Click to expand...
I would say it holds up just as well as the original oleophobic coating fitted from the factory if done correctly. I done the coating on my girlfriend’s phone about 3 months ago and it still repels fingerprints today, it also helped to hide the micro scratches on the screen a little. :)

Still got a little left in the bottle too, enough for another proper application.
 
BAZ1307 said:
I would say it holds up just as well as the original oleophobic coating fitted from the factory if done correctly. I done the coating on my girlfriend’s phone about 3 months ago and it still repels fingerprints today, it also helped to hide the micro scratches on the screen a little. :)

Still got a little left in the bottle too, enough for another proper application.
Click to expand...

I applied it 3 times last night and left it for 10 hours. I’m hoping I’ll see some improvement with a few more additional nights. Today it really didn’t seem any different. Still picked up smudges and fingerprints. I’ll keep applying it nightly until it’s gone.
 
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