It was a little anticlimactic when I went from the iPhone 14 Pro Max to the 15 Pro Max. Side-by-side, they look an awful lot like the same phone. The one thing that stood out was how shiny and clean the 15 looked.

You don’t have to shell out a lot of money – jump into the settings and use a little elbow to make your phone sparkle.

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Wipe it out

No kidding, one information technology genius at Komando HQ wipes his phone once a year. Seems like a pain (and it is, a bit), but it can keep yours running fast and smooth. Think about it – there’s so much less junk piled up if you clear it all out regularly.

Be sure to back your phone up first, then a factory reset makes it easy to onboard all your important info.

On iPhone:

◾ Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.

◾ Select Erase All Content and Settings.

On Samsung

◾ Open Settings > General management.

◾ Swipe to and tap Reset, then Factory data reset > Reset.

◾ Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm, then tap Delete all.

On Google Pixel

◾ Open Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).

◾ To erase all data from your phone’s internal storage, tap Erase all data.

Your texts are an inbox too

I bet you make time to sort your email inbox when things get out of control. Do you ever do the same for your text messages? Over time, old conversations, marketing texts, spam and other junk pile up. It’s easy to clear.

Just swipe on a chat to bring up the option to delete. You can also hold down on the chat to bring up options. On iPhone, tap More > trash can > Delete Message. On Android, hold down on a thread then hit the trash can icon.

Update your OS

Never-updaters are the folks who say “No thanks” to any system upgrade. Reasons vary, but at the end of the day, it’s a bad idea. Even if you don’t want the new features, updates patch security issues and keep you safe.

Go into your Settings, then look for system updates. While you’re there, you might want to set up your phone to auto update.

Get into the nooks and crannies

First, remove your phone’s case and accessories. They trap so much dirt and muck.

A microfiber cloth works for wiping away smudges and grease, but I prefer screen-cleaning wipes designed for smartphones. They’re scratch-free and made with anti-static tissue that cleans without leaving behind streaks or lint.

Speaking of, skip paper towels. They’re too rough for delicate jobs like this.

Your phone’s ports collect dust, grime, and dirt. Cotton swabs leave behind fuzz and could leave you worse off than when you started. Toothpicks are OK if you are very gentle, but breaking off the sharp end inside a port is easy. Cheap tools made for the job work better.

Then give that case a thorough cleaning. For plastic, rubber, and silicone cases, grab an old toothbrush and a bit of warm, soapy water. Very lightly dampen a microfiber cloth with water and mild soap for leather cases. Lightly rub the case in circular motions.

Keep your tech-know going

My popular podcast is called “Kim Komando Today.” It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode.

PODCAST PICK:FB Marketplace best sellers, $661K bank scam & malware targets kids

Plus, I'm talking to Professor Scott Galloway about his views that Gen Z should be educated on mating dynamics – especially with sexbots on the rise. I’ll also show you how to spot phony retail sites, introduce a woman who turns her dating app matches into music, and tell you all about ChatGPT Plus's new file analysis tool.

Check out my podcast “Kim Komando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.

Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, “Komando.”

Learn about all the latest technology on the Kim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website.