Fitbit Flex band - how to clean/replace?

[Best Aunt]

How do you clean a light-colored Fitbit Flex band?

The edges of my turquoise Fitbit Flex band look grimy, as though I got pencil or newsprint on it (which is not the case). I tried cleaning it with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser because I saw that suggested online and my parents happened to have a bottle at their house. The band overall got cleaner, but the edges did not. I tried using a Mister Clean eraser, and the edges actually look grimier now.

Is it possible to get these things clean? And if not, has anyone had luck using a generic band rather than a band manufactured by the company? If it's impossible to get the bands clean, I'd like to keep the replacements as cheap as possible.

 

[worm761]

https://www.fitbit.com/productcare

• Regularly clean your band and wrist—especially after working out or sweating. Rinse the band with water or wipe it with a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Do NOT use hand soap, body soap, dish soap, or household cleaners which could get trapped beneath the band and irritate skin. Always dry the band well before putting it back on.
• To remove build-up of lotions and oils (such as sunscreen, insect repellent, and moisturizers) that can be trapped beneath the band, we recommend using a soap-free cleanser (like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser or Aquanil), rinse thoroughly, and dry well.
• For tough spots, stains, or build-up on your band, scrub with a wet soft-bristled toothbrush.

I've never used a different band. Never thought to even look for one to be honest. LOL... I really should have. Etsy has some cute ones but not sure what you consider affordable. Best Buy has some. A set of 2 for 19.99. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/griffin...304157&skuId=8897194&st=fitbit flex&cp=2&lp=7

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I just bought a knock-off replacement at Target for $10. My sister had given me her Flex when she upgraded and I think I misunderstood how to insert the gizmo into the bracelet and wound up tearing the band. Anyway, it works just fine and actually I like it a little better than the other band - it has more notches to choose from and seems a little longer than the original even though it's also a small.

 

[kamik86]

I just bought a knock-off replacement at Target for $10. My sister had given me her Flex when she upgraded and I think I misunderstood how to insert the gizmo into the bracelet and wound up tearing the band. Anyway, it works just fine and actually I like it a little better than the other band - it has more notches to choose from and seems a little longer than the original even though it's also a small.

You may not have done it wrong with the original band... they just tear sometimes. My flex had 2-3 bands break while I had it. My mom has that one now and I upgraded to a charge though.

 

[lakelandgal70]

My original band tore it was pretty flimsy. But I have a turquoise one now and it seems like it is made better. I have only just used water to clean mine and never had any issues.

 

[angierae]

My original band tore it was pretty flimsy. But I have a turquoise one now and it seems like it is made better. I have only just used water to clean mine and never had any issues.

The bands do tear, but if you contact support, they will sometimes send you a new one for free.

 

[lakelandgal70]

The bands do tear, but if you contact support, they will sometimes send you a new one for free.

Oh I never thought to do that lol. They have replaced one battery that was defective so they probably would have sent me a new band. But I wanted a turquoise one haha

 

[ajwolfe]

My current bands are getting grimy too, so I just ordered some cute ones off of Amazon last night. I didn't have any luck when I tried cleaning mine.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Several months back I got a package of knockoff replacements from Amazon.com. I have picked out one and been using it for a long time now. It has actually held up much better than the original band. It is looking pretty faded and ugly now, but it took the original one only a couple months to break. This generic one is still tough as ever.

 

[elphaba91]

My original band started to tear after quite a few months. I bought some knockoffs from Ebay for a few bucks and they're fantastic. Plus, there is a much bigger variety of colours and patterns - floral, stripes, spots, etc.

 

[Best Aunt]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to check eBay and Amazon for a new band. I think I'll leave the old one in my Owner's Locker to use when I'm on vacation, because I won't care if I get sunscreen on it.