Apple says not to use hydrogen peroxide to clean its products

Apple has updated a support document to state that customers shouldn't use hydrogen peroxide to clean its products, but added ethyl alcohol to the list of safe-to-use cleaning agents.

More specifically, Apple has subtly changed the wording in a support document titled "How to clean your Apple products."

The company has added two short lines to the recommendations stating that Apple device owners can use 75% ethyl alcohol wipes safely. It added that hydrogen peroxide, along with bleach, shouldn't be used on iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices.

The previous update to the document was made during the height of the pandemic.

Although aligned with Apple's recommendations, continued use of solvent on a display could result in damage to the oleophobic coating. Because of that, care is recommended.

Apple also recommends that users avoid getting any moisture in device openings and says that its products should not be submerged in any cleaning agents.

Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast — and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too.

If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.

In 2021, Apple introduced its own Apple polishing cloth. While roundly mocked for its $19 price tag, it immediately sold out — and is good for cleaning screens.

17 Comments

baconstang 10 Years · 1160 comments

About 3 years ago

I haven't done this with an iPhone, but with a few other electronics that had a 'beverage' spilled all over it, this has usually worked.

1) Shake it off. (Remove battery if possible)
2) Dunk it in distilled water briefly and shake it off.
3) Dunk it in 99% isopropanol and shake that off.
4) Dry slowly with a blow dryer at arm's length in a well ventilated room.

Xed 4 Years · 2896 comments

baconstang said:

I haven't done this with an iPhone, but with a few other electronics that had a 'beverage' spilled all over it, this has usually worked.

1) Shake it off. (Remove battery if possible)
2) Dunk it in distilled water briefly and shake it off.
3) Dunk it in 99% isopropanol and shake that off.
4) Dry slowly with a blow dryer at arm's length in a well ventilated room.

Something like this is better than a hairdryer for truly getting rid of moisture without risk of damage. It's good to have these on hand before you need it.

https://www.amazon.com/wisedry-Indicating-Rechargeable-Desiccant-Drawstring/dp/B07QRRHJV3/

maltz 13 Years · 507 comments

baconstang said:

I haven't done this with an iPhone, but with a few other electronics that had a 'beverage' spilled all over it, this has usually worked.

1) Shake it off. (Remove battery if possible)
2) Dunk it in distilled water briefly and shake it off.
3) Dunk it in 99% isopropanol and shake that off.
4) Dry slowly with a blow dryer at arm's length in a well ventilated room.

This is the way. Water to rinse it clean, isopropanol (higher % is better) rinse to displace the water, air dry. Denatured alcohol is probably an acceptable (and easier to find right now) substitute for step 3, but keep skin contact to a minimum - it often contains some methanol. Also imo, the rinse water in step 2 doesn't have to be distilled, it's just to dilute and remove anything that was in the beverage/liquid that the device was originally dunked in. The isopropanol will displace the rinse water and its solutes anyway.

No rice/etc necessary - isopropanol evaporates MUCH faster than water, even in the presence of a desiccant.

Note that some alcohols cosmetically damage some plastics, so it might be worth test-dabbing the alcohol you plan to use on a small, non-obvious spot before you dunk/rinse the whole device, if the device has any plastic.