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Cellphone cases can protect against damage, but they won't necessarily prevent debris from entering your phone.
While you can't rescue your phone from every drop, spill or scratch, you can take measures to keep it in top-notch shape. If you really love your device, you'll want to avoid as much wear and tear possible.
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Here are some DIY tips and tricks for getting that gunk out of your gadget.
1. Sand
Unfortunately, the beach and your phone don't mix well. One careless move and the gritty sand easily finds its way to the cracks and crevices of your phone.
Before heading to the beach, cover your phone with plastic cling wrap. Cut a sizable piece, apply it to the front of the phone and wrap it around the back to cover all openings. The touchscreen should still work.
Sand could also scratch your phone, so it's best to use a screen protector when you head to beach.
How to remove it: If sand does get into your phone, make sure you turn it off before you start cleaning it. Try using a small can of compressed air, which will blow sand out of the phone's most sensitive spots.
You can find cans of compressed air at most tech and gadget stores, such as Radio Shack and Best Buy. You might even try a vacuum with a small crevice tool.
2. Lint
Stricken with a crippling case of jack-hole lint the internet saves the day w/ this paperclip + tape extraction reco pic.twitter.com/wFeASrfuU3— @mmassie January 9, 2014
Lint is everywhere, and it can accumulate fast.
If you're having connection issues with your headphones, it may be because headset jack of your phone is clogged with lint, and it needs to be cleaned.
How to remove it: As with sand, you can use a small can of compressed air or a vacuum with a crevice tool. If neither method works, another DIY option is to use a mini lint roller made out of a paperclip and tape.
Flatten a paperclip into a straight line and wrap scotch tape around the end, with the sticky side facing out. Be sure to check that the tape is in place, and carefully insert the sticky tape into the headset jack to remove any lint.
Be extremely cautious when doing this, because if it's done incorrectly, there's a chance you can damage your phone.
3. Dirt
"Can you take a picture of us?" "Yeah sure" *drops phone* "whoops, let me clean it" *rubs phone in dirt*— @_brianabombJune 12, 2014
Dirt buildup can live in the cracks and edges of your phone's screen. Regularly cleaning your phone can help prevent this, but we have some tips for when it gets to be too much.
How to remove it: You can take scotch tape and press it over the dirt-covered area, and it should pick up the grime.
Another solution is to take a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth and wipe it down. Clean in single strokes (from the top of the phone to the bottom), instead of cleaning in circulation motions.
If that doesn't help, try dampening (not soaking!) the cloth with a trickle of water, and wipe it down again. Whatever you do, don't use a shower towel, paper towel or napkin when cleaning your phone.
4. Hair
Whether it's your own or your pet's, hair finds its way into your phone. Luckily, hair is visible, which makes it much easier to get rid of than a lot of other substances or objects.
How to remove it: Use any of the methods previously mentioned -- tape is especially helpful.
5. Dust
No matter how hard you try, dust will swarm your phone. It can become quite the hassle, so take action now to prevent it from building up.
How to remove it: The best method is to use a small can of compressed air, which is affordable and will remove any dust instantly. See the first item on this list for more details.
6. Water
I literally wanted to cry when I dropped my phone in water. iPhone and rice sounds nice for dinner pic.twitter.com/TqTqiA9jVW— @DannyWalters_April 19, 2014
You may be a fan of the ocean and pool, but your cellphone certainly isn't. Water can be your phone's biggest enemy.
Next time you're headed to the beach or pool, protect your phone with a ziplock bag. You can't beat the price of a ziplock, and you probably already have them stashed in your kitchen. If this isn't reassuring enough for you, look into purchasing waterproof cases.
How to remove it: This classic trick has been known to work well, and has saved the lives of many phones. Best of all, it's cheap and easy.
As soon as you retrieve your phone from the water, lay the phone on paper towels and remove the battery and SIM card, if you can.
Place your phone in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice or Rice Krispies cereal. The rice will absorb the leftover moisture from your phone. Leave it in there for as long as possible -- at least overnight, if not a few days.
7. Grease
I hope the iPhone's fingerprint sensor can scan through pizza grease and shame.— @Sam_Alan33September 11, 2013
Whether it's grease from your face or greasy pizza fingers, trying to avoid screen smudges can seem impossible. If you don't already have one, we recommend purchasing a screen protector to keep your screen free of oily residue.
How to remove it: First, wipe down your phone with a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth. Use a cotton swab to remove any grease that is in the crevices of the keyboard.
If there the grease is still visible, dampen the cloth to remove the remaining stains. This trick also works with sticky soda or juice stains.
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