Apple advises against using compressed air to clean your iPhone, but they don’t explain why. It turns out that the use of compressed air for cleaning purposes is a somewhat complicated issue. In certain areas of Canada and the United States, using highly compressed air for cleaning in work environments is actually illegal. Additionally, many commercial canned air products contain dangerous solvents instead of air. When these products are misused, they can spray out liquid which could be disastrous for your electronics.

Specifically for iPhones, the risk lies in damaging the internal components of the phone. If you use compressed air to clean the speakers and other openings of your iPhone, there is a possibility that you could blow out the microphone. A Reddit user shared their experience of only picking up static from the microphone after using compressed air.

People often consider compressed air as a suitable option for cleaning electronics because it doesn’t involve water. However, the high-pressure air can still displace or damage delicate parts, and it can turn debris into harmful shrapnel. It’s advisable to follow Apple’s recommendation and avoid using canned air on your iPhone.