No cell phone info site would be worth its salt if it did not address cell phone problems.

The number one problem to avoid is moisture. If your cell phone gets wet, it will stop working. If it stays wet long enough, the internal parts will corrode and the damage will be irreparable. If you are naturally a klutz, if you spend a lot of time around water, or if you’re just worried about getting your cell phone wet, consider a protective case. Some of the better cases protect your phone so well that you can bounce it off the concrete and into the pool and still have it survive. At any rate, don’t use the phone with wet hands, don’t use wet fingers to push the buttons, and whenever possible avoid dropping your phone in the toilet.

Extreme temperatures can damage the battery of the cell phone. If you leave your phone in your car on a very hot day, chances are you’ve depleted your battery’s ability to work at optimum capacity. You may also have damaged the electronics of the phone itself. Extreme cold can cause the screen display to stop working.

The screen on the face of your cell phone is a pretty sturdy thing, but it’s still important to care for it as carefully as you do your eyeglasses. Use a microfiber cloth to clean it and if that’s not enough, try just a drop of alcohol on the cloth to clear away minute scratches and serious smudging.

There are less tangible problems with cell phones. If you have teenagers, make sure that they understand how much it costs for them to have a cell phone. Set specific limits on their time and texting, and make sure they understand that it is not appropriate to use the cell phone at school except in an emergency. A cell phone is a great gift for teens and a great tool for parents, when used wisely.

The bottom line is, most cell phone problems can be avoided with a bit of forethought. It’s a lot more fun to play with cell phone features than to correct cell phone problems.