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Your filthy Apple Watch strap is harbouring some nasty bacteria, study highlights
Owning a pricey Apple Watch might be a status symbol in 2024, but the piece of technology does not have the desired effect if it’s caked in grime and teeming with bacteria.
Regardless of your personal stance on technology, it is an unmoving factor in all of our lives. From the latest iOS 18 release to the yearly shaming of Spotify Wrapped, there is no escaping the cold embrace of 1s and 0s. You can fight it, or adapt and move forward with the times.
Apple Watch straps are filthy and home to bacteria
The Apple Watch and all its amazing features have been around since the first generation in April 2015. They get bigger and better each year, and dirtier it seems.
In a 2023 study published in the Advances in Infectious Diseases journal, science nerds at Florida Atlantic University analyzed the amount of bacteria on your average Apple Watch strap.
Pooling 20 anonymous random watch owners, they looked at several materials like rubber, plastic, cloth, metal, and leather. They soon found that 95% were contaminated with harmful bacteria that can cause infections.
Apple Watches are worn almost constantly, particularly when you are working out to monitor your fitness. As such, it’s only natural that it will accumulate grime and bacteria the longer you wear it.
Through careful analysis, the scientists reported that, of the 20 watch straps, 85% had Staphylococcus aureus (Staph aureus), 60% had Escherichia coli (E. coli) and 30% had Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa).
They soon concluded that “wristbands, often worn daily without routine cleaning, may accumulate potentially pathogenic bacteria” while also noting that rubber and plastic bands had the highest amounts of bacteria. In contrast, silver and gold carried the least.
How to clean your Apple Watch strap
While this isn’t particularly surprising when you consider the usage of your Apple Watch, it does highlight the importance of cleaning it regularly. In the same study, they suggested two different solutions for cleaning – Lysol Disinfectant Spray or a 70% ethanol cleaner.
Though 30 seconds was enough to clean away 99.99% of E. coli, Staph aureus, and P. aeruginosa, if you have a plastic strap, you need to do it for a full two minutes.
As per Apple’s official guidance, the cleaning methods are slightly different depending on what material you have for your Apple Watch strap.
For leather bands:
- Wipe the leather portions of the bands clean with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. If necessary, lightly dampen the cloth with fresh water.* Dont soak leather bands in water. The leather bands aren’t water-resistant.
For Loop bands:
- Wipe the band clean with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. If necessary, lightly dampen the cloth with fresh water. With these bands, you can also use mild hypoallergenic hand soap for cleaning.
For FineWoven bands, including Magnetic Link and Modern Buckle:
- In a clean container, mix 1 tsp. (5 mL) of liquid laundry detergent into 1 cup (250 mL) of water.
- Dip a lint-free cloth into the soapy water solution, wring it out slightly, and rub the cloth on the band gently for 1 minute.
- Wipe the band clean with a separate cloth that’s slightly dampened with fresh water. Don’t soak FineWoven bands in water. This material is not water resistant.
- Dry the band with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, making sure to remove any excess moisture. Lay your band flat to dry for at least a day before you use it again.
