Look Familiar?

How have you taken care of used cell phones past? Did you let past used cell phones crack, chip, and get buggy? Whether you’re anal retentive or just tired of having your phone look ghetto after a week, there are plenty of (apparently) not-so-obvious tips to protect your cell phone, both in terms of function and aesthetic appeal.

Here are two big tenets of cell phone care: don’t drop it, and keep it from getting wet. These are two ways to kill your cell phone. If you haven’t already learned from experience of used cell phones past, here are some other basic tips:

1) Put your phone in a secure pocket. More specifically, don’t put it in a wide-mouthed pocket, like that of a hoodie or cloth jacket, which it’s very prone to fall out of. Also, avoid rolling your phone into the band of your sweats. That’s a great way to drop it into a toilet.

2) If your phone came with a case, use it. Cases protect phones from fabrics that leave hairline scratches, from the inside of your bag, and provide some insulation for it if dropped. If you don’t have a case, consider a (clean) sock (if you like to keep it in a bag or your purse), or buy something suitable (check the mp3 player isle for accessories that might also work for your phone).

3) Ask your eye doctor for a cloth for glasses, or borrow one from a case of no longer worn sunglasses. Why? Touch screens are notoriously smudgy, and cloths designed for your glasses work just as well on keeping a touchscreen (or camera display, or a screen pressed to your ear…) nice and shiny. The spray that you can use to clean glasses can also be handy, just don’t apply it directly, apply it to the cloth.

4) Reconsider dangly add-ons. Phone charms are cute, but some are ill-conceived and may scratch your phone when shoved in a pocket together, or may get caught and cause your cell phone to fall screaming to the floor (maybe not actually screaming). Also, while we’re on it, don’t pair your keys and cell phone in the same pocket, you may scratch it (unless you’re using a case).

5) If you do manage to mangle your phone, talk to Cellular Trendz. They have an awesome repair service, and can let you know if, for a reasonable rate, they can restore your phone.

6) Screw it, I want a new phone. Consider donating your phone to a charity, or sending it in to become a shiny refurbished cell phones. Then consider choosing among used cell phones and refurbished cell phones, which have all the shine and function at a fraction of the cost.