Cleaning Ionic pebble

[ron8an]

There is a known issue - a gap between the screen and the bezel. All related responses I've seen so far were around the device intactness and user-experience, but what about the user health?

Fitbit personnel: please don't be evasive, as a customer I expect a direct response to my concerns.

What about hygiene?

We are talking about a device operated by touch. One that is meant to be worn during training and also for breakfast lunch and dinner. The gap between the screen and the bezel is expected to get filled with sweat, dead skin and dirt.

How can you say that wearing a bacterial culture on your hand is something we don't need to worry about. Note: I am talking specifically about the gap since it is too hard to clean and an actual bacteria trap.

Seriously: How should I clean the gap? am I supposed to use a toothbrush? How often should I clean it? How do I know it's clean?

It is my responsibility to make sure that the watch is clean, no doubt and no argument. But it is your responsibility not to make it difficult.

Needless to say, if I knew it will come with this gap I would never consider buying it.

This is a serious problem. Awaiting your reply.

Moderator edit: edited title for clarity and format.

[MattFitbit]

@ron8an Thanks for your inquiry. 

To be clear, Fitbit does not believe that the small gap between the screen and bezel to be a health hazard, though you do raise a good point about keeping this portion of Ionic clean. 

I can recommend regularly wiping down the pebble and band after workouts with a damp cloth or with a small amount of rubbing alcohol. This should help to avoid any buildup of sweat and/or dirt in between the screen and bezel. 

Additionally, you could swipe around this area of the Ionic pebble with a q-tip dipped in a small amount of alcohol to provide some additional cleaning if needed. 

You can find more information on keeping your Ionic clean by checking out our Wear and Care tips.

If you have any other questions, you know where to find me!  

[ron8an]

Matt, 

I appreciate your response. However, you must agree that there is no way to 100% ensure nothing gets in the gap. And you didn't deal with the case that some dirt and sweat (or any other solid/liquid substances) already got into the gap. What then?

How would I find out that the gap needs cleaning? Should I carefully look in there every day/week/month? 

The cleaning methods you described are great for the surface and are to be used with any tracker/smart watch. 

How am I supposed to clean the gap between the screen and bezel?

And about Fitbit not believing that the small gap may become a health hazard - just think about the different people that may be wearing the watch, their profession, their medical condition, the medical condition of people they meet,  the people that touch/borrow/buy their Ionic. 

[SunsetRunner]

You'll touch more germs just using the door handle of your local public convenience...

[ron8an]

Iostlogik,

Will you be wearing the door handle on your hand at all times?

[N8teGee]

Perhaps the OP would be better off with this. 

Seriously though, I don't really think there is much of an issue if you follow the cleaning instructions that were posted. Well not unless you plan to eat your food off of your Ionic. Like @SunsetRunner said, other items on your person come into contact with just as many germs. 

[ron8an]

N8teGee,

Hilarious. 

No need to eat your food of it, just a touch will do.

It may be funny to you. But I see it as a serious defect.

Do you take showers? Do you wash your hands once in a while? Does it make you a germophobe?

If something you wear on your hand and touch regularly is too hard to clean, there's a problem. 

[edit001]

---

@ron8an wrote:

There is a known issue - a gap between the screen and the bezel. All related responses I've seen so far were around the device intactness and user-experience, but what about the user health?

What about hygiene?

We are talking about a device operated by touch. One that is meant to be worn during training and also for breakfast lunch and dinner. The gap between the screen and the bezel is expected to get filled with sweat, dead skin and dirt.

How can you say that wearing a bacterial culture on your hand is something we don't need to worry about. Note: I am talking specifically about the gap since it is too hard to clean and an actual bacteria trap.

Seriously: How should I clean the gap? am I supposed to use a toothbrush? How often should I clean it? How do I know it's clean?

It is my responsibility to make sure that the watch is clean, no doubt and no argument. But it is your responsibility not to make it difficult.

Needless to say, if I knew it will come with this gap I would never consider buying it.

This is a serious problem. Awaiting your reply.

Moderator edit: edited title for clarit

---

I have the same exact gap on the Ionic and from the looks of it (read about it) it's normal !

Now concerning the Hygiene :

1. I own an Polar V800 and it does have a lot of gaps where the dirt can settle in

    - it has 2 gaps between the screen and the case and 2 more between the screen and the strap

    - each button has a gap between it and the case and the buttons have some soft of texture that      collects dirt (if you don't clean it of course)

    - I used it for more then 2 years, never had an issue concerning hygene, but as I said I wash it often

2. I own an Fenix 3 HR, it's full of gaps where things can get in or stuck

    - between the screen and the bezel there is a small gap that collects dirt

    - between the bezel and the watch body there is another gap

    - between the buttons and the watch body, more gaps

Having said that I find the Ionic to have a pretty clean design with minimal gaps compares to the other watches presented above that I encourage you to have a look at both in a shop to be able to judge for yourself the differences.

If Hygiene it's a serious issue for you as you said this is my advice :

1. I wash my watch pretty frequently with soap either it's a swim day (when I need to take the chlorine smell out of it and the strap) or not

2.if you are concerned for that gap you can make a custom screen protector that can cover the gap and extend to the sides... it's not big of a deal, you just need to be carefull with the measurements and choose the right material (so it can stretch and bend).

3. simply don't use the watch or the phone while you are eating, The phone screen can gather even more dirt, germs and bacteria as the watch as you use it quite a lot and not always your hands are clean.

In the end, if you whole decision hangs only on that gap, and nothing else matters maybe this product is simply not meant for you or maybe you need to hang on to something (anything) to convince yourself that it's not for you.

[edit001]

---

@ron8an wrote:

There is a known issue - a gap between the screen and the bezel. All related responses I've seen so far were around the device intactness and user-experience, but what about the user health?

What about hygiene?

We are talking about a device operated by touch. One that is meant to be worn during training and also for breakfast lunch and dinner. The gap between the screen and the bezel is expected to get filled with sweat, dead skin and dirt.

How can you say that wearing a bacterial culture on your hand is something we don't need to worry about. Note: I am talking specifically about the gap since it is too hard to clean and an actual bacteria trap.

Seriously: How should I clean the gap? am I supposed to use a toothbrush? How often should I clean it? How do I know it's clean?

It is my responsibility to make sure that the watch is clean, no doubt and no argument. But it is

your responsibility not to make it difficult.

---

I have the same exact gap on the Ionic and from the looks of it (read about it) it's normal !

Now concerning the Hygiene :

1. I own an Polar V800 and it does have a lot of gaps where the dirt can settle in

    - it has 2 gaps between the screen and the case and 2 more between the screen and the strap

    - each button has a gap between it and the case and the buttons have some soft of texture that      collects dirt (if you don't clean it of course)

    - I used it for more then 2 years, never had an issue concerning hygene, but as I said I wash it often

2. I own an Fenix 3 HR, it's full of gaps where things can get in or stuck

    - between the screen and the bezel there is a small gap that collects dirt

    - between the bezel and the watch body there is another gap

    - between the buttons and the watch body, more gaps

Having said that I find the Ionic to have a pretty clean design with minimal gaps compares to the other watches presented above that I encourage you to have a look at both in a shop to be able to judge for yourself the differences.

If Hygiene it's a serious issue for you as you said this is my advice :

1. I wash my watch pretty frequently with soap either it's a swim day (when I need to take the chlorine smell out of it and the strap) or not

2.if you are concerned for that gap you can make a custom screen protector that can cover the gap and extend to the sides... it's not big of a deal, you just need to be carefull with the measurements and choose the right material (so it can stretch and bend).

3. simply don't use the watch or the phone while you are eating, The phone screen can gather even more dirt, germs and bacteria as the watch as you use it quite a lot and not always your hands are clean.

In the end, if you whole decision hangs only on that gap, and nothing else matters maybe this product is simply not meant for you or maybe you need to hang on to something (anything) to convince yourself that it's not for you.

[Crazy-Fritter]

---

@ron8an wrote:

Matt, 

I appreciate your response. However, you must agree that there is no way to 100% ensure nothing gets in the gap. And you didn't deal with the case that some dirt and sweat (or any other solid/liquid substances) already got into the gap. What then?

How would I find out that the gap needs cleaning? Should I carefully look in there every day/week/month? 

The cleaning methods you described are great for the surface and are to be used with any tracker/smart watch. 

How am I supposed to clean the gap between the screen and bezel?

And about Fitbit not believing that the small gap may become a health hazard - just think about the different people that may be wearing the watch, their profession, their medical condition, the medical condition of people they meet,  the people that touch/borrow/buy their Ionic. 

---

I gotta ask..... are you related to Howie Mandel? 😀

[ron8an]

edit001,

Frankly, I wasn't aware that such gaps exist in many other watches. I still find it as a serious problem, but if it is that common known and approved I can see what brought you to write what you wrote in your reply.

I still think that as a customer I have all the reasons to be disappointed finding out about the gap only after opening the box. 

If the gap is a common known and approved part of smart watches and trackers:

Fitbit and others should add a warning and recommend a solution. They should at least notify the customers and let them decide if they want to do something about it or not.

Fitbit and others should provide detailed descriptions of the solution options.

It seems like there are 2 options, fill the gap or cover it. I would go for the filling option, but what material to use and how to apply it?

[N8teGee]

---

@ron8an wrote:

edit001,

Frankly, I wasn't aware that such gaps exist in many other watches. I still find it as a serious problem, but if it is that common known and approved I can see what brought you to write what you wrote in your reply.

I still think that as a customer I have all the reasons to be disappointed finding out about the gap only after opening the box. 

If the gap is a common known and approved part of smart watches and trackers:

Fitbit and others should add a warning and recommend a solution. They should at least notify the customers and let them decide if they want to do something about it or not.

Fitbit and others should provide detailed descriptions of the solution options.

It seems like there are 2 options, fill the gap or cover it. I would go for the filling option, but what material to use and how to apply it?

---

Bare in mind if you do fill the gap with something, your warranty will almost certainly be invalid.

Personally I would just forget about it and enjoy your new device. Unless you have a particularly weak immune system I really don't think you need to worry. I've had mine since launch and honestly don't see anything visible within the gap, not with my naked eye at least. 

[wickedathletes]

People clean these things? Shower is good enough for me. Whoa haha.

[rederin]

I'm immune compromised and let me say there are more things I touch that concern me far more. I'll clean this as I did my Blaze - with a toothbrush to get in any nooks and around the buttons. It's on my wrist, away from things, it's never caused an issue for my delicate health.

I could list list the things that get my germophobe juices pumping, but I'd not like to add to your woes. Not to dismiss your concerns, as we're all going to have individual issues, and this groove may be a deal breaker for you. I'll just leave you with this provocative thought; do you sanitize your refrigerator door handles daily? 

[ron8an]

rederin,

First, I wish you good health. 

The issue is the device. Not you,  not me and even not Fitbit in general (which I see in very positive light).

Should a touch device have cavities?

Is it potential health hazard for the user?

I don't see how the refrigerator door remark relevant. There are a million ways you can cut your hand, does it mean that you would accept a watch with sharp edges that can cut you? 

[Crazy-Fritter]

---

@ron8an wrote:

edit001,

Frankly, I wasn't aware that such gaps exist in many other watches. I still find it as a serious problem, but if it is that common known and approved I can see what brought you to write what you wrote in your reply.

I still think that as a customer I have all the reasons to be disappointed finding out about the gap only after opening the box. 

If the gap is a common known and approved part of smart watches and trackers:

Fitbit and others should add a warning and recommend a solution. They should at least notify the customers and let them decide if they want to do something about it or not.

Fitbit and others should provide detailed descriptions of the solution options.

It seems like there are 2 options, fill the gap or cover it. I would go for the filling option, but what material to use and how to apply it?

---

Just ask yourself, what would Howie Mandel do? 😋

[rederin]

I misunderstood your concern, I think. I didn't catch that about you getting cut or worrying about it. I was only trying to point out germs lurk in places most people don't consider. I'm imagining there are more hiding in the buckle holes of my Fitbit strap than in grooves that I'm not coming into contact with.

Best of luck finding a solution to your concern.

[racertempo]

Wow, of all concerns I have seen thus one takes the cake for sure.  The Blaze had several spots along the frame that could capture "germs" as well.  The hungers on the straps... The buckles will also capture and gather germs.... But 99.99% of that will be your germs which are not bad for you. 

Either take your watch off the next time you reach I to a cow to inseminate it..... or just deal with it. 

How about this..... Seriously, just dip it in 70% iso alcohol for a few seconds a couple times a week? 

I have to ask, do you scrub under your nails daily too? Because those fingers are in more direct contact with germs then you wrist is. 

[ron8an]

racertempo, 

Did you pay anything for your nails?

Did you buy your hands and only then found out it comes with nails?

Bacteria is everywhere, I get it, so what?? Does it mean that all devices can have cavities where bacteria can find everything it needs to reproduce?

The gap is a serious problem. It is potentially a bacteria culture on your hand (not just bacteria, but also nutrients and all the conditions a bacteria needs to reproduce). You paid for it and no one told you anything about it beforehand.

Anyone that considers joining the "but bacteria is everywhere" Professors -  I heard this argument, I was aware even before I heard it, and I don't accept it. A smart watch must not be too hard to clean and must not have cavities. This is how I see it and I explained why.

And again - I generally see Fitbit in very positive light. I am sorry to be a critic, but this issue is not something I can ignore. Terribly sorry for not being as "cool" as you. 

[Crazy-Fritter]

---

@ron8an wrote:

racertempo, 

Did you pay anything for your nails?

Did you buy your hands and only then found out it comes with nails?

Bacteria is everywhere, I get it, so what?? Does it mean that all devices can have cavities where bacteria can find everything it needs to reproduce?

The gap is a serious problem. It is potentially a bacteria culture on your hand (not just bacteria, but also nutrients and all the conditions a bacteria needs to reproduce). You paid for it and no one told you anything about it beforehand.

Anyone that considers joining the "but bacteria is everywhere" Professors -  I heard this argument, I was aware even before I heard it, and I don't accept it. A smart watch must not be too hard to clean and must not have cavities. This is how I see it and I explained why.

And again - I generally see Fitbit in very positive light. I am sorry to be a critic, but this issue is not something I can ignore. Terribly sorry for not being as "cool" as you. 

---

I don't know....Howie Mandel is a VERY open germaphobe but he's still pretty cool 😋