Your iPhone and iPad screen collect skin oils every time you touch them, which is every few minutes. The screens have an oleophobic coating specifically designed to make those oils easy to wipe away, but the coating is thin and it wears down fast if you clean it with the wrong product. Most of what people reach for - tissues, shirts, hand sanitiser, glass cleaner - damages that coating. The right method takes 30 seconds and keeps your screen feeling new for years.
This guide covers iPhone (every model from iPhone 8 through the latest 17 series), iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air and iPad Pro. The method is the same across all of them because the outer surface and the coating technology are the same. What changes between models is the frame material and the water-resistance rating, both covered below.
The short version: apply an alcohol-free, ammonia-free screen cleaner to a clean microfibre cloth (never directly onto the screen), then wipe gently. Skip the rest. Why that matters and what Apple specifically recommends is covered below.
What Apple recommends for cleaning screens
Apple's official guidance for iPhone and iPad is straightforward: use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Avoid aerosol sprays, bleaches and abrasives. Avoid getting moisture into any openings. For disinfection, Apple permits the occasional use of a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, but explicitly not as a regular cleaner.
What Apple does not say in public documentation, but is true and worth knowing: the screen cleaner used in Apple retail stores globally, including in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, is WHOOSH! Screen Shine. The reason is specific. Apple stores clean demo iPhones and iPads dozens of times per day, and every clean with a solvent-based product would degrade the oleophobic coating on the demo units. WHOOSH! is biology-based rather than solvent-based, which means frequent cleaning does not wear the coating down. If you want the same result at home, use the same product.
The exception to all of this is Apple's Nano-texture glass, which appears on the Studio Display, Pro Display XDR, and as a paid option on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. Nano-texture is a matte etched surface that requires Apple's specific polishing cloth and specific cleaning guidance. WHOOSH! is not suitable for Nano-texture displays. None of the iPhone or iPad models currently sold have Nano-texture glass, so this caveat does not apply to a standard iPhone or iPad.
Why iPhone and iPad screens need a specific approach
Three things about the surface matter.
The oleophobic coating. Every iPhone from the iPhone 5 onward, and every iPad from the iPad Air onward, has an oleophobic (oil-repellent) coating applied to the glass during manufacturing. This layer is what makes fingerprints wipe away cleanly. Without it, skin oils bond directly to the glass and spread out in a thin film that smudges rather than wipes. The coating is roughly 5 to 20 nanometres thick and cannot be restored once worn down. Read more about oleophobic coatings and what destroys them.
Water resistance has limits. Modern iPhones carry an IP68 rating (iPhone 12 Pro onward rated up to 6 metres for 30 minutes) and most iPads have limited splash resistance only. These ratings apply to incidental water exposure, not to screen cleaning with liquid sprayed directly on the device. More importantly, the IP rating does not cover chemical exposure. Windex sprayed on an iPhone does not void the IP rating technically, but it does damage the oleophobic coating, and coating damage is explicitly not covered by AppleCare+.
Frame and button transitions catch liquid. iPhones and iPads have a narrow gap where the screen meets the aluminium or stainless steel frame. Liquid sprayed directly on the device runs into this gap and can reach the speaker grilles, the lightning or USB-C port, or the side buttons. Even when the device is technically water-resistant, prolonged liquid exposure around these transitions is the main cause of cleaning-related warranty damage.
What not to use on iPhone or iPad
Apple calls out specific products to avoid. Every item on this list is confirmed to damage the oleophobic coating or other components.
Window cleaner (Windex, Ajax, supermarket glass sprays)
Contains ammonia. Ammonia breaks down the oleophobic coating directly and one use is enough to cause measurable damage. Regular use produces visible patches within weeks where smudges smear rather than wipe.
Household cleaners
Multi-surface sprays, bathroom cleaners and kitchen cleaners all contain surfactants and solvents designed for hard surfaces, not for electronics. They damage the coating and can leave residue that attracts dust and speeds up future smudging.
Aerosol sprays
Apple explicitly warns against aerosols. The pressurised spray drives liquid into openings like the speaker grille and the lightning or USB-C port. This is how cleaning products cause liquid-damage warranty claims on otherwise water-resistant phones.
Hand sanitiser
Typically 60-80% alcohol. The alcohol strips the oleophobic coating fast. This is the single most common cause of prematurely worn coatings since 2020 - people wiped their phones with hand sanitiser daily for a year or two and the coating paid the price.
Rubbing alcohol and methylated spirits at full strength
Even more aggressive than hand sanitiser. Apple allows occasional 70% isopropyl alcohol for disinfection. Full-strength alcohol is not allowed, full stop.
Tissues, paper towels, toilet paper
Wood fibres in paper act as fine sandpaper on a thin coating under pressure. The damage is microscopic per wipe but cumulative. A year of wiping your iPhone with tissues leaves the screen visibly hazier than a year of proper cleaning.
Your shirt or sleeve
The biggest source of cleaning-related coating wear is also the most common habit. Shirts and sleeves carry dust, skin flakes and environmental grit from the day. Using them to clean a screen drags that grit across the coating, and each pass removes a small amount of coating material. After 12 to 18 months you can see the difference in how cleanly the phone wipes.
Bleach and disinfectants other than those Apple explicitly allows
Apple allows Clorox Disinfecting Wipes and 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes for occasional disinfection. Every other bleach-based or disinfectant-based product is not approved and will likely damage the coating.
What to use
Two things: an alcohol-free, ammonia-free screen cleaner, and a clean microfibre cloth.
WHOOSH! Screen Shine is the cleaner used in Apple retail stores, and the reason is exactly the problem this post is about: Apple stores need a cleaner that works on a coated screen without degrading the coating. WHOOSH! is biology-based, which means it lifts oils using a micro-emulsion rather than dissolving them with solvent. Same result as the wrong cleaner in the short term, completely different result over the coating's lifespan.
For iPhone and iPad specifically, the right SKU depends on how and where you use it. The Pocket 8mL is designed exactly for this - it clips to a bag strap or lives in a pocket and cleans your iPhone on the move. The Go 30mL is the right size for a desk or nightstand. The Duo 100mL + 8mL covers home and travel in one box. For households with multiple Apple devices, the 500mL Refillable Screen Shine is the best value - it refills the smaller bottles indefinitely.
If you prefer wipes, WHOOSH! Screen Shine Wipes use the same formula pre-moistened. For a larger cloth or a spare, the XL Microfibre 3-Pack is useful for iPad Pro 12.9 and the full iPad lineup.
How to clean your iPhone or iPad: step-by-step
Takes 30 to 60 seconds. Same method for both devices.
Step 1. Turn the device off
For iPhone, press and hold the side button plus either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off. For iPad, use the top button in the same way. A dark screen makes smudges visible and removes the risk of accidental taps while you wipe. For a quick daily clean you can skip this step and just lock the screen, but for any proper clean turn the device off.
Step 2. Unplug any cables and remove the case
Unplug the charger and any headphones. Remove the phone case and the iPad folio. Cases trap dust and oil around the edges of the device; if you clean without removing the case, you leave a dirt line around the perimeter. Clean the case separately with the same cloth later.
Step 3. Dust the screen with a dry microfibre cloth
Before any liquid touches the screen, pass a dry microfibre cloth gently across the glass to pick up loose particles. This step prevents dust being dragged under the damp cloth and abrading the coating.
Step 4. Spray the cloth, not the screen
Two pumps of WHOOSH! Screen Shine onto a clean, folded microfibre cloth. The cloth should feel lightly damp, not wet. Never spray directly onto the device. Sprayed liquid runs into the speaker grille, the charging port, or the gap between the screen and the frame, and any of those can cause damage that is not covered by warranty.
Step 5. Wipe in gentle circles
Hold the device firmly but not tightly. Wipe the screen in gentle overlapping circular motions, working from the centre outward. Light pressure only - the coating does not need force to clean, and pressure can affect the display underneath. On iPad, work in quadrants (top-left, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-right) rather than trying to cover the whole screen in one pass.
Step 6. Don't forget the back and edges
Oils and grime collect on the back and sides too, not just the screen. The back glass on most iPhones has the same oleophobic coating as the screen. Wipe it the same way. For iPad, wipe the back aluminium with a separate pass.
Step 7. Buff dry with a clean section
Fold the cloth to expose a dry section, or use a second cloth, and pass it over the screen once more to lift any remaining moisture. This produces the streak-free finish. Leave the device powered off for a minute or two before turning it back on, so any trace moisture evaporates completely.
How to get fingerprints off your iPhone or iPad screen
Fingerprints on a screen are skin oils, not solid marks. The oleophobic coating makes them easy to lift if you use the right cloth with the right product. The method in the previous section removes them cleanly in one pass.
If fingerprints aren't wiping off as easily as they used to, the coating is starting to wear. This shows up as smudges that smear sideways when you wipe, or a screen that feels draggy under your finger where it used to feel smooth. Two things help: stop using whatever is damaging the coating (see the "what not to use" list above), and continue cleaning with a proper cleaner to extend what's left of the coating's life. The coating cannot be restored at home, but you can slow the remaining wear significantly by switching away from alcohol, ammonia and paper products.
How often should you clean your iPhone and iPad?
For iPhone, once or twice a week is enough for most users. If you use your phone at the gym, during meals, or at work in a dusty environment, increase to every two or three days. WHOOSH! is designed for frequent use, so daily cleaning is fine and will not damage the coating.
For iPad, once a week is typically enough because iPads are touched less continuously than phones. iPad Pro users who draw with the Apple Pencil or use the iPad as a primary work device benefit from cleaning every two or three days, because the constant contact with the palm of the hand while drawing leaves more oils on the screen than regular browsing does.
Cleaning your case and Apple accessories
The same WHOOSH! formula works on the plastic, silicone, leather and polycarbonate used in most phone and tablet cases. Wipe the case with a damp WHOOSH! cloth at the same time you clean the device, inside and out. For leather cases, use minimal moisture and buff dry immediately.
For AirPods, Apple Watch, and the Apple Pencil, WHOOSH! is safe on the main body and charging surfaces. Do not use WHOOSH! (or any liquid cleaner) on the mesh of the AirPods speakers or on the Apple Pencil tip. Both require specific handling outside the scope of this guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best thing to clean an iPad screen with?
An alcohol-free, ammonia-free screen cleaner applied to a clean microfibre cloth. WHOOSH! Screen Shine is the cleaner used in Apple retail stores globally and is specifically safe for the oleophobic coating on iPad and iPhone screens. Avoid Windex, household cleaners, hand sanitiser, rubbing alcohol at full strength, and paper products - all of which damage the coating.
What does Apple recommend for cleaning screens?
Apple officially recommends a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth, and avoiding aerosol sprays, bleaches and abrasives. For disinfection, Apple allows occasional use of 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, but not as a regular cleaner. For routine cleaning, an alcohol-free screen cleaner like WHOOSH! (which is what Apple retail stores use on demo devices) is the appropriate choice.
How do I get fingerprints off my iPad screen?
Fingerprints are skin oils, not solid marks. Spray WHOOSH! Screen Shine onto a clean microfibre cloth (not directly onto the screen), then wipe in gentle circular motions. The oleophobic coating on the iPad is designed to release oils easily when the right cleaner and cloth are used. If fingerprints are not coming off easily, the coating may be wearing down from improper cleaning in the past; switch to a coating-safe cleaner to preserve what remains.
Can I use eyeglass cleaner to clean my iPad screen?
It depends on the eyeglass cleaner. If it is alcohol-free and ammonia-free (like WHOOSH!, which works on both glasses and iPad screens), yes. If it contains propan-2-ol, isopropyl alcohol or ammonia (like most pharmacy glasses wipes such as Bright Wipe or Clearwipe), no. Using alcohol-based glasses wipes on an iPad screen regularly will damage the oleophobic coating. If you want a single product that works on both your glasses and your iPad safely, WHOOSH! is formulated for both.
Is it safe to use WHOOSH! on my iPhone?
Yes. WHOOSH! Screen Shine is safe for iPhone screens, back glass, and the oleophobic coating on both. It is the cleaner used in Apple retail stores on demo iPhones globally. The only Apple product it is not suitable for is Nano-texture glass, which is optional on some MacBook Pro models and the Pro Display XDR and Studio Display. No iPhone or iPad model has Nano-texture glass, so this exclusion does not apply.
Can I clean my iPhone with water?
For the screen specifically, a microfibre cloth lightly dampened with water removes basic smudges but does not clean as effectively as a proper screen cleaner and will not restore the screen's original feel. Tap water also contains dissolved calcium and magnesium that can leave a mineral film on the coating as it dries. For a proper clean, use a dedicated screen cleaner. Modern iPhones are water-resistant enough to survive accidental water exposure but this is for incidental contact, not for regular cleaning.
Can I use Clorox wipes on my iPhone?
Apple explicitly allows occasional use of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes on iPhone and iPad, gently wiping hard, non-porous surfaces. These are not a routine cleaner; they are for disinfection only. Frequent use will damage the oleophobic coating because they contain surfactants that are effective at killing germs but harsh on thin polymer coatings. Use them sparingly for hygiene, and a coating-safe cleaner for everything else.
How do I clean my iPad Pro with Nano-texture glass?
No current iPad or iPad Pro ships with Nano-texture glass. Nano-texture is available only on Apple's Studio Display, Pro Display XDR, and as a paid option on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. If you have one of those devices, follow Apple's specific cleaning guidance with the polishing cloth Apple supplies. For a standard iPad or iPad Pro, the method in this guide applies.
What about cleaning the iPhone charging port or speaker grille?
Those are different components with different cleaning requirements and are outside the scope of this guide. For charging port debris, Apple recommends a soft bristle brush or canned air held at arm's length. Never use WHOOSH! or any liquid in a port or speaker. This guide covers the external screen, back glass and frame only.
Does cleaning my iPhone wear out the oleophobic coating?
Cleaning with the wrong product wears the coating down fast. Cleaning with a coating-safe product, applied to a clean microfibre cloth, has minimal effect on the coating. The worst thing you can do is avoid cleaning because you are worried about wearing the coating down - oils that sit on the coating actually accelerate wear. Regular cleaning with the right product preserves the coating longer than infrequent cleaning.
The bottom line
Your iPhone and iPad have the same oleophobic coating and the same cleaning requirements. Use a cleaner that is alcohol-free and ammonia-free, apply it to a microfibre cloth rather than the device, and the coating will last as long as the phone does. Avoid the habits that damage it: shirts, tissues, household cleaners, hand sanitiser, aerosols.
For an iPhone that lives in your pocket, the WHOOSH! Pocket 8mL is purpose-built for that use. For home use across iPhone, iPad and the rest of your Apple devices, the Duo 100mL + 8mL covers the desk and travel. For a full household, the 500mL Refillable Screen Shine is the best value and refills the smaller bottles indefinitely.
WHOOSH! is the cleaner used in Apple retail stores worldwide. Same-day dispatch from North Ryde, NSW on orders placed before 2pm weekdays. If you are still comparing options, our 2026 buyer's guide to the best screen cleaner in Australia compares WHOOSH! against Laser, Moki and Bright Wipe, which are the other screen cleaners commonly sold on Australian shelves.
For MacBook owners, see our separate guide on how to clean a MacBook screen without damaging the coating. For glasses, the same WHOOSH! formula is safe for prescription lenses and anti-reflective coatings - see our glasses cleaning guide or our glasses cleaner collection.
Related guides
-
How to clean a MacBook screen
Apple-specific guidance for Retina displays, including keyboard transfer marks and Nano-texture warnings. -
What is oleophobic coating?
The science of the layer that repels fingerprints, what destroys it and how to make it last. -
Best screen cleaner in Australia (2026 buyer’s guide)
Compares WHOOSH! against Laser, Moki and Bright Wipe with formula, pricing and sustainability detail.
