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BR4DOKYBrazil

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 25, 2018
912
2,430
Londrina - PR / Brazil
These spots started to appear on my Apple Watch Series 6. Any idea how to get them out? They're not scratches.
 

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These spots started to appear on my Apple Watch Series 6. Any idea how to get them out? They're not scratches.
Microfiber cloth first, then try a little water and wipe with cloth, if it persists, use a little dish soap with the cloth…
if that doesn’t do it, use an alcohol wipe. It’s a 6 so 2-3 years old and the oloephobic coat mostly gone so I would try the alcohol wipe
 
Microfiber cloth first, then try a little water and wipe with cloth, if it persists, use a little dish soap with the cloth…
if that doesn’t do it, use an alcohol wipe. It’s a 6 so 2-3 years old and the oloephobic coat mostly gone so I would try the alcohol wipe

I've tried, several times, to use a slightly damp microfiber cloth. I also tried to use some dish soap. The only thing I haven't tried yet is to use alcohol. Would this alcohol be isopropyl or ethyl? That's really what I thought: the oleophobic coat no longer exists and the stains are appearing. I bought this Apple Watch at launch.

It just looks like spots where the coating is worn away.

Exactly! That's what I thought! I bought this Apple Watch at its launch. I should buy a new one at the end of this year.
 
The oleophobic coating is worn and you are seeing places where it has worn thru completely. Not Much you can do.

This can also happen on the iPhone, right? As I change iPhones every year, this has never happened on my iPhones. Can you tell me if, on the iPhone, the installation of screen protective films helps to preserve or damage the oleophobic coat?
 
This can also happen on the iPhone, right? As I change iPhones every year, this has never happened on my iPhones. Can you tell me if, on the iPhone, the installation of screen protective films helps to preserve or damage the oleophobic coat?
I had my 12 Pro Max for 2 years and kept glass screen protectors on it. At the 2 year mark, the oleophobic coating was still there as the day I received it on launch day.
 
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This can also happen on the iPhone, right? As I change iPhones every year, this has never happened on my iPhones. Can you tell me if, on the iPhone, the installation of screen protective films helps to preserve or damage the oleophobic coat?

A quality film would protect the coating but it also defeats the coating’s purpose.
 
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I had my 12 Pro Max for 2 years and kept glass screen protectors on it. At the 2 year mark, the oleophobic coating was still there as the day I received it on launch day.

A quality film would protect the coating but it also defeats the coating’s purpose.

Tks for your help ☺️
 
Tooth paste and brush. Works surprising well even for car scratches if coating or paint isn’t totally chipped away.

Do NOT use toothpaste on your watch. It is highly abrasive.

Really many toothpastes have grains that can scratch the entire screen of the Apple Watch.

Yesterday I tried to use 70% ethyl alcohol with a microfiber cloth and without success. Would isopropyl alcohol be better in this case?
 
Really many toothpastes have grains that can scratch the entire screen of the Apple Watch.

Yesterday I tried to use 70% ethyl alcohol with a microfiber cloth and without success. Would isopropyl alcohol be better in this case?
Of course it’s common sense, I wouldn’t expect some one to use toothpaste with grains, stones and other coarse material. I shared my experience on what works for me.
 
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I've tried, several times, to use a slightly damp microfiber cloth. I also tried to use some dish soap. The only thing I haven't tried yet is to use alcohol. Would this alcohol be isopropyl or ethyl? That's really what I thought: the oleophobic coat no longer exists and the stains are appearing. I bought this Apple Watch at launch.



Exactly! That's what I thought! I bought this Apple Watch at its launch. I should buy a new one at the end of this year.
If you use alcohol wipes on it, could you not remove even more of the coating?
 
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At the beginning of covid I cleaned watch and iPhone with alcohol every day (I worked in a hospital) and didn't notice damage to the coating
 
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If you use alcohol wipes on it, could you not remove even more of the coating?

At the beginning of covid I cleaned watch and iPhone with alcohol every day (I worked in a hospital) and didn't notice damage to the coating

According to Apple (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204522), using a 70% iso or 75% ethyl alcohol wipe to disinfect an Apple Watch is okay.

Long before the pandemic, we had a thought that alcohol corroded everything, but we saw that much is not damaged by it. And Apple itself says it's ok. Anyway, I put on 70% ethyl alcohol and the stains didn't come out.
 
I suggest that the "stains" won't come out, because they are not stains at all.
Just the coating that is wearing/chipping off.
The "fix" is to replace the screen.
 
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I suggest that the "stains" won't come out, because they are not stains at all.
Just the coating that is wearing/chipping off.
The "fix" is to replace the screen.

Thank you for your help. This year I should buy a new Apple Watch, but I would like to know if there is anything to be done to preserve the oleophobic coat. I wash my Watch once a week and with a little dish soap. Would that harm the oleophobic coat?
 
Just my opinion - once a week is a bit often...
My idea is to give a watch a good cleaning once, maybe twice a year.
Don't get me wrong - I wipe a watch down when I take it off my wrist.
No liquids or soaps or IPA, unless the conditions demand it. Otherwise, just a dry microfiber cloth
 
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