How to Clean an iPhone Screen Safely (Apple's Official Method)

To clean an iPhone screen, unplug all cables, turn the phone off and wipe the glass with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth such as a microfiber or lens cloth, keeping moisture out of the openings. To disinfect, Apple allows a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe, a 75% ethyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, used gently. Never use bleach, hydrogen peroxide or compressed air.

That is Apple's official guidance, and it applies to every current iPhone, from older models up to the iPhone 18 Pro. The rest of this guide covers the details Apple's page leaves short: what to do with a screen protector, how to clean around a leather case without damaging it, and which household products to keep away from your phone.

What is the safest way to clean an iPhone screen?

Apple's steps are short, and the order matters. We added one of our own (step 2) because almost every phone we see lives in a case:

1. Unplug and power off. Disconnect every cable and turn the iPhone off.
2. Remove the case. This keeps cleaning liquid away from the case material and lets you reach the screen edges.
3. Dust first. Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. A lens cloth or microfiber cloth is ideal. Dampen it with water, never wet it.
4. Wipe gently. Light pressure, no scrubbing. Apple warns that excessive wiping can cause damage.
5. Keep openings dry. Avoid the speaker grilles, microphone holes and the USB-C port.
6. Let it dry, then put the case back on and power up.

If something likely to stain gets on the phone, such as makeup, ink, lotion, soap, sand or acidic food, Apple says to clean it off right away using the same method.

Can you use alcohol wipes on an iPhone screen?

Yes. Apple's iPhone cleaning guide says you may gently wipe the exterior surfaces with a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe, a 75% ethyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. Check the expiration date and do not use expired wipes. Afterward, wipe the phone with a soft cloth slightly dampened with plain water.

Three rules come with that permission. Do not use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Do not let moisture into any opening. Do not submerge the iPhone in any cleaning agent, even if your model is water resistant.

Use wipes, not a spray bottle. Apple's general guidance for all its products says never to spray cleaners directly onto the item and to avoid aerosol sprays altogether.

What should you never use on an iPhone screen?

Your iPhone's glass has an oleophobic (oil-repellent) coating that helps fingerprints wipe off. Apple notes that cleaning products and abrasive materials wear this coating down and can scratch the phone. Once it thins, the screen smudges faster, so you end up cleaning more, which wears it further.

Safe to use	Avoid
Microfiber or lens cloth, dry or slightly damp with water	Paper towels, tissues, bath towels, rough cloths
70% isopropyl alcohol wipes	Bleach or products containing it
75% ethyl alcohol wipes	Hydrogen peroxide
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes	Aerosol sprays and spraying cleaner onto the phone
Gentle, light wiping	Compressed air, abrasive powders, scrubbing
Wiping off spills right away	Soaking or submerging the phone

Glass cleaner, kitchen sprays and makeup wipes are not on Apple's approved list. Leave them out.

How do you clean an iPhone screen with a screen protector?

Treat a tempered-glass protector like the screen itself: a dry or slightly damp microfiber cloth for daily smudges, and an approved alcohol wipe when you want to disinfect. Wipe from the center toward the edges so you do not push liquid under the protector's border.

If you are fitting a new protector, clean the bare screen with the method above first and let it dry fully. Any dust left behind shows up as a bubble. We sell a 3D curved tempered-glass screen protector and a full-alloy camera lens protector for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in the screen and lens protector collection, and both are automatically $10 off.

How do you clean around a leather phone case?

This is where most people damage something. Apple's disinfecting guidance applies to hard, nonporous surfaces only, and its general cleaning page states the alcohol wipes should not be used on fabric or leather. Alcohol strips oils from leather and can leave it dry and discolored, and Apple notes that even its own leather cases can change color when cleaned.

So for a leather case:

• Take the phone out of the case before you use any wipe on the phone. With a detachable wallet case like the Ravenna for iPhone 18 Pro, remove both the wallet and the inner case.
• Let the phone dry completely before it goes back in. Trapped moisture between the glass and the suede lining is not good for either.
• Clean the leather separately. For our full-grain cowhide cases we recommend a soft, dry cotton cloth, no liquid cleaners and no water. For regular care, a very thin, even layer of almond oil keeps the leather supple.
• Keep it out of direct sun and heat, such as a car dashboard in summer.

For a full routine, including stains and conditioning, see our guide on how to clean a leather phone or wallet case. If the leather feels dry, our Premium Leather Cream Conditioner is made for exactly that.

How do you clean the camera lens and the back glass?

Use the same soft, lint-free cloth on the camera lenses and the back glass. A fingerprint on a lens can make photos look soft and add glare around lights. On iOS 26, iPhone can remind you: turn on Lens Cleaning Hints near the bottom of Settings > Camera. Our list of hidden iPhone 16 Pro Max features covers it along with nine other settings worth changing.

Apple's guidance for models with textured matte glass, which includes the iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro models, uses the same method: slightly damp lint-free cloth, no cleaning products except approved disinfecting wipes, no compressed air.

How often should you clean your iPhone screen?

Wipe it with a dry microfiber cloth whenever it looks smudged, which for most people is daily. Disinfect with an approved wipe once or twice a week, or after the phone has been somewhere like a gym, hospital or public transit.

FAQ

Can I use Windex or glass cleaner on my iPhone?

No. Apple tells you not to use cleaning products on iPhone unless you are following its disinfecting instructions, which list only 70% isopropyl wipes, 75% ethyl alcohol wipes and Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. Household glass cleaners can wear down the oil-repellent coating.

Is it safe to use hand sanitizer on my phone screen?

Apple does not list hand sanitizer as an approved cleaner. Use a proper alcohol wipe instead, and make sure no liquid pools near the openings.

Can I clean my leather phone case with alcohol wipes?

No. Apple's guidance says not to use these wipes on leather, and alcohol dries leather out. Clean full-grain leather with a soft, dry cotton cloth and condition it occasionally.

Do Venito cases arrive clean?

Yes. Every Venito product is UV-sanitized before it is packed, and it ships in a gift box.

Keep a microfiber cloth in your bag, an alcohol wipe for the weekly disinfecting pass, and a soft dry cloth for the case. If your current case is cracked or peeling and hard to keep clean, browse our iPhone 18 leather cases or the full iPhone leather case collection, and read our leather care guide to keep the new one in shape.

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