Caring for Your MP3 Player

By Sarah Borroum

Any time you invest a few hundred dollars in an electronic device, you'll want to take good care of it. Whether you're trying to extend your MP3 player's life or prevent theft, these tips will help you enjoy a long, loud life with your player.

MP3 players are susceptible to moisture. If you alternate between a humid or cold environment and the great indoors, wrap your player tightly in a plastic bag before you get back inside. This will prevent moisture from invading and collecting inside the display screen. Give the player anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour before you remove it from the bag; you'll be good to go after this.

You should also store your device in an interior pocket when you're around water. Playing music while you're boating at the lake is great, but dropping the device into the water won't make for a happy ending. And if you store your player in a pocket, you also eliminate the problem of sand or dust getting in.

If your model uses disposable batteries, you should make sure that any batteries you use are fresh and in good shape. The old AA that's been sitting in Mom's junk drawer since you were in grade school is much more likely to leak and ruin your player than a brand-new battery. Should you notice anything unusual about the battery, toss it and use a fresh one. Bulging AAs aren't good; nor are discolored or leaking batteries.

Most players have digital or LCD screens. Scratches and nicks make these difficult, if not impossible, to read. If you can buy a carrying case for your model that doubles as a screen protector, you should go ahead and get it. Dropping your player, leaving it in a pocket filled with change or even unintentional rubbing against your jacket's zipper can all damage the screen - which isn't cheap to repair.

Extreme heat isn't good for your MP3 player either. Leaving your device in a hot car almost guarantees that something will be wrong when you come back.

You might think that the armband accessory looks stupid, but wear it anyway if you're jogging, riding your bike or doing something similar. If you're moving around a lot, the player can easily fall out of your pocket and face plant on the asphalt.

Some MP3 players can be engraved with your name and phone number, or any other information that you might want to put on them. You can check with your local police department for information on this. In the event that someone rips off your player, you can prove that it belongs to you if it's recovered.

If you're a college student, visit your campus police department. They often engrave electronics and other valuables, but they can also register the serial numbers so that they can track stolen goods.

This might seem like a waste of time, but fill out and submit any warranty or registration information that came with your MP3 player. You should also save your original receipt (if applicable). If something goes wrong, you should be able to ship the player back to the company for repairs or a replacement.

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