Mist is not for nano-texture glass. Check your screen before you use it.

Care Guide

Mist was made to clean the outside of your Mac. Here’s how to do it properly — and where to follow Apple’s guidance instead.

Made to Apple’s rules

Mist was developed in a Ukrainian product design lab by Pole, working from Apple’s published device-care guidelines and the wider body of guidance on screen coatings and the products used on them.

No restricted ingredients. Nothing on Apple’s “don’t use” list is in the formula: no ammonia, no bleach, no acetone, no hydrogen peroxide, no chemical solvents, no abrasives. It isn’t an aerosol. It’s water, a trace of surfactant, a preservative, and fragrance.

Barely a surfactant at all. The active cleaning content is deliberately kept to a fraction of a percent — far below what you’d find in anything sold as a cleaning product. Enough to lift the oils your fingers leave behind, not enough to act on the coating underneath.

Tested over time, not just on day one. Pole tested the formula across screen types and then kept checking the same surfaces at intervals, because a product that looks fine after the first wipe and hazes a coating six months later is the exact failure a screen cleaner has to rule out.

That said, where Apple publishes a specific instruction for a specific surface, follow Apple. The sections below are those surfaces.

The ritual

  1. 1

    Power down.

    Shut the device down and unplug the power adapter, cables and accessories.

  2. 2

    Mist the cloth. Never the device.

    Two or three presses onto the microfiber, not onto the glass. Liquid sprayed directly on a screen runs down to the bezel, finds an opening, and can drip inside the display. Liquid damage isn’t covered by Apple’s warranty or AppleCare.

  3. 3

    Wipe gently, in one direction.

    Light pressure, long strokes. Let the cloth do the work — Apple specifically warns that excessive wiping can cause damage. Pressing harder won’t help.

  4. 4

    Keep moisture away from openings.

    Ports, speaker grilles, the hinge, the gap around the keyboard. Nothing should be wet enough to drip.

  5. 5

    Let it dry before you power back on.

    A minute or two. Then enjoy it.

A note on the cloth: use the microfiber that came with Mist, or another soft, lint-free cloth. Not paper towels, not a hoodie sleeve, not a kitchen cloth — Apple is explicit that abrasive cloths and towels can damage the surface, and scratches are forever. When the microfiber needs cleaning, hand-wash it with dish soap and water, rinse thoroughly, and let it air dry completely before using it again.

Where to follow Apple instead

Nano-texture glass — use Apple’s guide

This is the important one.

Nano-texture is Apple’s matte, anti-glare finish: glass etched at the nanometer scale rather than coated. Apple’s instruction for it is specific and narrow — clean it only with the polishing cloth that came with the device, and for infrequent, hard-to-remove smudges, moisten that cloth with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution.

That’s the guidance we defer to. Don’t use Mist on nano-texture glass, and don’t use any other cleaning product either. Damage to the etched surface can’t be polished out — the panel has to be replaced.

Devices that may have a nano-texture display:

  • MacBook Pro
  • iMac
  • iPad Pro (M4)
  • Apple Studio Display
  • Apple Pro Display XDR

Nano-texture is a configure-to-order option, so owning one of these doesn’t mean you have it. If you ordered standard glass, Mist is fine.

How to check:

  • Your original order or receipt — it’s a paid upgrade, named explicitly.
  • Look at the screen with the device off. Nano-texture scatters light into a soft haze instead of giving you a clear mirror reflection.
  • Nano-texture devices ship with a polishing cloth in the box. If yours came with one, that’s a strong clue.
  • Still unsure? Don’t mist. Use the cloth dry.
How to clean your nano-texture Apple display

Apple Vision Pro — do not use

Apple advises against using alcohol wipes and disinfecting wipes on Vision Pro, as they can damage the device. Follow Apple’s dedicated Vision Pro guidance.

Fabric, leather and woven surfaces — do not use

Leather and FineWoven cases, HomePod fabric, woven straps and bands. Mist is made for hard, nonporous surfaces. Apple publishes a separate routine for each soft material.

Touch Bar and Touch ID — cloth and water only

On MacBook Pro models with a Touch Bar, Apple’s instruction is to clean the Touch Bar and the Touch ID power button exactly as you would the display: a soft, lint-free cloth dampened with water only.

Anywhere there’s existing damage

Cracked glass, a lifting coating, a device that’s already taken on liquid. Don’t add moisture to the problem — contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

And, generally

Don’t use Mist on delicate, polished or untreated surfaces without testing a small, inconspicuous area first. Always check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions for your specific model — Apple keeps a full, device-by-device list here: How to clean your Apple products

Good to know

Where it works
Mac screens with standard glass, keyboards, trackpads, aluminium enclosures, and the hard exterior surfaces of most Apple devices. For iMac and standalone displays, Apple’s own guidance allows a cleaner intended for use with a screen or display — applied to the cloth, never sprayed on the glass.
On iPhone and iPad
Both have an oleophobic coating that repels oil. Most days, a dry wipe with the microfiber is all you need. When you do use Mist, go light and don’t scrub — rubbing wears the coating down faster.
Keeping Mist well
Tightly closed, cool and dry, out of direct sunlight and away from heat. Between +5°C and +25°C (41°F–77°F). Good for 12 months from manufacture.
Safety
External use only. Keep away from eyes and mucous membranes. Don’t spray onto skin. Not for ingestion. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Discontinue use if irritation occurs.
One more thing
CleanMyMac has a Screen Cleaning Mode that locks the keyboard and trackpad while you wipe, so you don’t open seventeen tabs mid-ritual. Same idea as Mist, just on the other side of the glass.