Apple Experts Agree: 4 Common Mistakes That Could Be Completely Ruining Your Phone

If your iPhone isn’t behaving well — if it’s refusing to hold a charge or load web pages as fast as it used to — consider the possibility that you could be making a few mistakes with it. Don’t worry: all of the most common iPhone mistakes also have very simple solutions. Apple experts agree: these are the four common mistakes that could be completely ruining your phone. The more you know, the better — and the less likely you’ll be to make these common errors. Tech Expert Leslie Radka, founder and hiring manager of GreatPeopleSearch, advises against these practices.

“It’s tempting to settle for a low quality charger since Apple products are so expensive,” Radka says. “However, by using cheap, off-brand chargers, you might be damaging your expensive iPhone itself. Therefore, always avoid counterfeit chargers and keep these tips in mind: Only use Apple products or a product approved by Apple’s MFi program.”Radka adds that it’s also important to be careful around wireless chargers as knockoff wireless chargers can be lethal to your battery’s lifespan. Only go for those high-quality ones or you can just avoid them.

Trying to clean your iPhone with the wrong products can damage it. “Only use a clean, lint-free microfiber cloth,” Radka says. “Don’t use rough clothes that might scratch the screen or finish. Never use chemicals. Some products contain chemicals that can damage the screen’s protective coating or reduce water resistance.”