Cleaning the Alta band

[M_Y]

My band smells terrible. I wear it all day so it may have picked up smells from me cooking. It smells like cat pee to me but maybe it's from chopping onions. I've tried cleaning it with alcohol and toothbrush. Didn't work at all. Any help?

[rdytolose]

Support suggested I use a little rubbing alcohol.

Also to clean the alta itself, http://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/2005/?q=wear+and+care&l=en_US&fs=Search&pn=1

[Hodges5496]

Rubbing alcohol and a toothbrush didn't help the smell at all.  Mine smells like cat urine as well. It's embarrassing enough that I will stop wearing it. My flex lasted less than a year and died and now my Alta is getting retired at under a year old due to the smell.  I have taken the band off and clasps out to clean it but it still smells.  These products are supposed to be durable enough to tolerate hot sweaty work outs but obviously they do not.  

[MaginB]

Thanks for visiting the Forms @M_Y @Hodges5496 @rdytolose 

In addition to great tips provided above I recommend following the "Wear & Care" tips and keep an eye on it, this would definitely help. 

Let me know how it goes! 

[Hodges5496]

I found the source of the odor. Mold and mildew in the clasps that connect the band to the tracker. I cleaned these with rubbing alcohol and a toothbrush. Unfortunately, one clasp broke off of the band while doing this. So I just need a replacement band and I'm good to go.

Sent from my iPhone

[Annas_soul]

Mine does too! HELP! I really love this product except for the smell. Did they use recycled plastic to make them I wonder?

[Say_what]

I've noticed latley my fitbit also smells like cat pee I tried cleaning it and it still stinks glad I'm not the only one 

[Avidshopper]

My Fitbit Alta HR also smelled like cat urine. I saw this post and tried cleaning the band while it was attached to the Fitbit. This did not work. Then I found the owner’s manual online and found how to simply remove the band from the device by pushing on the two metal tabs. It slid right off and I found the source of the smell. I was then able to give it a thorough cleaning and it smells much better! 

Thanks friends for for your help!

[not_worth_it]

I discovered that the odor comes from the Fitbit, not from the band. Lengthy thread on the Surge forum confirmed that my nose is correct. Can no longer sleep with it because of the smell. I wonder if people around me at work can smell it.  Really disappointing because swapping out the band won't do jack.

[AnneFitz]

Omg. I thought I was going crazy. Like, was the cat peeing on my wrist while I slept??? So glad it’s not just me. I have tried burying the thing in baking soda, it helped for a couple days then the smell came back. I’ll try rubbing alcohol and toothbrush. Would really like to find a solution as I am addicted to my Fitbit but canNOT deal with cat pee smell in my wrist.  

[not_worth_it]

A co-worker takes a needle or pin and picks out all the skin cells that collect in the back of the fitbit (where charging cable connects). She says this has really helped. I do that now, too, and I no longer wear mine to bed. Hope this helps.

[Jemhay33]

I keep getting a smell of cat pee from my strap - I have had to take off ! Any suggestions on how to get rid of the smell. I wash this regularly but does not get rid of smell

[Cherrypit]

It took me a minute to figure out the cat pee smell was my Fitbit. I don't even have a cat so I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I tried cleaning it too and no luck. I guess I won't wear it anymore. Like another commenter said, I really hope other's couldn't smell it. So embarrassing.

[Jemhay33]

Hi

I've stopped wearing mine and should really get in touch with Fitbit. It's
not the bandbut the metal bit inside -it smells awful and is embarrassing.


Thanks for confirming this.

[avanmar]

Regarding fitbit band smelling like cat urine:

I have had this with some of my athletic shoes and found out it is because the rubber used, when exposed to moisture, emits an ammonia smell.  These watch bands are made with some kind of synthetic that when exposed to moisture will emit something that smells like cat urine.  Very nice.  Thank you Fitbit.  I will not buy another of your products because of it.

[avanmar]

It is from the rubber.  Check out athletic shoes and cat urine smell.  It happens with the sythentic rubbers they use in shoes as well when exposed to moisture/water.

[avanmar]

I know why but can't tell you how.