Anyone who purchases an Apple Pro Display XDR or Studio Display will receive an Apple cleaning cloth as standard. This is important because the special glass used requires precise cleaning.
You will not receive a cleaning cloth with all other Apple products. Of course, there are many different solutions to clean the screen of your iPhone, iPad or Mac. However, you have to be careful about which products you use, because you can damage the screen. Do you want to safely clean your Apple screen? Then it is best to use the Apple cleaning cloth.
Why an Apple cleaning cloth?
When Apple put the cleaning cloth on sale separately, there was some commotion on the internet. People laughed about it, especially because the cloth costs about €25 and what could be so special about that? But as it turns out, the cleaning cloth is a success. The stock was sold out in no time and you had to wait about 8 to 10 weeks. The Apple cleaning cloth is now widely available again.
Obviously €25 ($19) is an absurd amount for a cleaning cloth, Apple of course asks this price because it is Apple. But this is not a ‘cheap’ cleaning cloth of Action quality.
Apple uses premium material for their cloth and a special weaving technique so that no sand or food particles can remain in the cloth that could potentially cause scratches. The cloth also has no abrasive effect, which could cause the coating to come loose from the screen. Many MacBook screens have been repaired in the past because the coating was cleaned using the wrong cleaning products. With Apple’s cleaning cloth you can safely clean any screen, just with the cloth and without the use of cleaning agents.
Design and material of cleaning cloth
The design of the cleaning cloth is typically Apple, as is the packaging. You can easily open it and inside the box the cloth is folded around a sturdy card. Use this box to store the cloth neatly so that no dirt, crumbs or sand can get into it.
The light gray cleaning cloth has a square shape with rounded corners, a size of 16 cm by 16 cm and an Apple logo in the bottom right corner. Apple’s cleaning cloth is made of “soft, non-abrasive material,” but the company doesn’t specify what exactly that material is.
Well it is clearly that it concerns two specially woven wipes. The microfibers used can best be compared to the inside of an iPad Smart Folio cover or Apple iPhone case, but woven even closer together.
When you pick up the cleaning cloth, it feels a bit strange. It is stiff and soft at the same time and feels ‘greasy’, while the cloth is actually not.
Suitable for many devices
In principle, you can use Apple’s cleaning cloth on all screens. From the iMac to MacBook, from Apple Watch to iPad. For example, Apple lists all iPhones from the iPhone SE (first generation) and iPhone 6 Plus on their website, but older generations are of course also possible. The reason why Apple does not mention ‘old’ products on their website is because they no longer officially receive support from the company.
Of course, you can also use the cloth on non-Apple products such as your TV screen (handy!), Windows laptop or external monitor. It is advisable to only use the cloth for the screens of devices. It is better to use a different cloth for the inside of your car.
Cleaning cloth in practice
The cleaning cloth feels a bit greasy, soft, but also stiff. This makes it excellent at removing fingerprints, smudges and dust from your screen without having to use cleaning agents. With a size of 16 cm by 16 cm, the cloth is sometimes a bit on the small side, but cleaning works well and you can easily use both sides. The thickness is especially nice, for example a microfiber cloth for glasses is too thin and too slippery compared to Apple’s cleaning cloth.
Do you notice that some stains cannot be removed? Then Apple recommends moistening the cloth with a solution of 70 percent isopropyl alcohol (IPA). However, don’t do this too often. In most cases, the cloth alone is sufficient or you can lightly moisten the screen with your breath.
Cleaning Apple Cleaning Cloth
Over time, the Apple cleaning cloth may become dirty. You don’t have to buy a new one because you can clean the cloth yourself. To do this, clean the cleaning cloth by hand with some water and preferably a natural dishwashing liquid without aggressive chemicals. Then rinse thoroughly and let the cleaning cloth dry in the open air for at least 24 hours.
Conclusion: Apple cleaning cloth
REVIEW SCORE
With Apple’s cleaning cloth you can safely clean any screen without having to use cleaning products. Thanks to the extra tightly woven fibers and non-abrasive material, you can clean the screen with just the cloth. If you want to remove stubborn stains, you can occasionally moisten the cloth with a solution of 70 percent isopropyl alcohol (IPA).
The cloth is not cheap, but it ensures that you do not damage the coating of the screen and you can also clean the most sensitive displays with nano texture. Is it necessary to purchase such a cloth? Maybe not if you only have one Apple product. But it is worth it for anyone with a MacBook, iMac and/or external display. Because you can also clean other screens with the cloth, such as your TV, cleaning is not just limited to your Apple products.
- Soft, non-abrasive material
- Sturdy and thick for easy use
- Suitable for many screens, not just Apple products
- Easy to clean with water and dishwashing liquid
- The dimensions of 16 cm by 16 cm are a bit on the small side
- The cleaning cloth is quite pricey
Buy Apple Cleaning Cloth
