To ensure Google Nest devices work properly, keep them clean. Gently dust the outside of Nest devices with a soft, lint-free cloth.
If you need to thoroughly clean your device, follow these recommendations.
Important: Do not spray Nest thermostats directly with water, or use cleaning solutions or polishes, as doing so may damage your thermostat.
- Dampen a soft, clean cloth with water.
- Wring out any excess water from the cloth.
- Gently wipe the display and sides of the thermostat. Make sure no drops of water accumulate around the ring or in the grill at the bottom of the display.
Important: Do not spray Nest Temperature Sensors directly with water, submerge them, or use abrasive cleaning solutions or polishes.
- Gently wipe dust with a slightly damp cloth.
- If it’s really dirty, use isopropyl alcohol.
- Use a soft, lint-free cloth. Do not use paper towels, tissues, or rags to clean your camera. These materials can leave lint behind and can even scratch lens coatings.
- Do not clean your camera with glass cleaner for windows and mirrors, rubbing alcohol, or other household cleaners. These cleaning fluids might contain harsh chemicals and can leave behind residue.
- Do not submerge your camera in water or any other liquid.
Clean your Nest camera as you would any high-quality optic. If your video consistently appears out of focus in a specific area, check the lens for debris. A dirty lens also makes sun glare worse.
Indoor cameras
- Nest Cam Indoor
- Nest Cam IQ Indoor
- Nest Cam (battery) that’s been installed indoors
- Nest Cam Indoor (2nd gen)
- Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen)
Clean the body
Wipe it with a soft, damp cloth to remove any dust or dirt.
Clean the lens
Gently wipe any dust with a soft, lint-free cloth. Eyeglass and optics cleaning cloths are ideal since they don’t damage lens coatings. You can also use a compressed air duster made for electronics.
For tougher smudges like oily fingerprints, dampen the cloth with a drop of cleaning solution that’s made for cameras or eyeglasses.
Outdoor cameras
- Nest Cam Outdoor
- Nest Cam IQ Indoor
- Nest Cam (battery) that’s been installed outdoors
- Nest Cam Outdoor (wired, 2nd gen)
Over time, your outdoor camera may collect dust, pollen, water spots, and other debris.
Clean the lens
- Hold your camera in place and gently wipe your camera’s lens with a soft, lint-free cloth. You can use compressed air to blow off dust and particles.
- To clean water spots or other materials on the lens, moisten a soft cloth with water and wipe the lens. You can also use a drop of cleaning solution that’s made for cameras, eyeglasses, and other optics.
Clean the body, the power adapter, or the power cables
Although outdoor Nest cameras are designed to withstand the elements, we don’t recommend spraying one with a high-pressure hose. Wipe it with a soft cloth after cleaning to prevent water spots.
- Unplug your camera from the power outlet.
- Moisten a soft cloth with water and a little dish soap.
- Hold your camera steady and gently wipe its surface clean with a cloth. Keep soap off the lens.
- Rinse the cloth and wipe down the surfaces again to remove any remaining soap.
- Plug your camera back in.
Clean & remove water from the Nest Cam (battery) magnetic connector
- If an accessory (like a camera stand) is connected to the camera, disconnect it.
- Use a dry cloth or a Q-tip to absorb the water present in the magnetic connector area until dry.
- Use the same method to clean the connector of any camera accessory before you reattach it.
Over time, your video doorbell may collect dust, pollen, water spots, and other types of debris from its environment.
- Do not use paper towels, tissues or rags to clean your doorbell. These materials can leave lint behind and can even scratch lens coatings.
- Do not clean your doorbell with glass cleaner for windows and mirrors, rubbing alcohol, or other household cleaners. These cleaning fluids may contain harsh chemicals and can leave behind residue.
- Do not submerge your doorbell in water or any other liquid.
Nest doorbells
Although Nest doorbells are designed to withstand the elements, we do not recommend spraying it with a high pressure hose. Wipe it with a soft cloth after cleaning to prevent water spots that can obstruct your camera’s view.
Gently wipe your camera’s lens and body with a soft, lint-free cloth. You can use compressed air to blow off dust and particles.
To clean water spots or other materials on the lens, moisten a soft cloth with water and wipe the lens and the body. You can also use a drop of cleaning solution that’s made for cameras, eyeglasses, and other optics.
Unplug the device and its power adapter before you clean it. Also, unplug it during lightning storms or when it goes unused for extended periods. Use a clean, soft, and dry cloth to clean the device and its accessories.
Do not use any chemical detergent, powder, or other chemical agents (such as alcohol or benzene) to clean the device or accessories.
Like any smoke alarm, dust buildup on the outside or inside can damage your Nest Protect. As a part of standard maintenance, thoroughly clean the outside and inside of your Nest Protect.
For regular maintenance, wipe the outside of your Nest Protect with a soft, slightly damp cloth. If you need to thoroughly clean your Protect, take it off the wall or ceiling and follow these steps.
Nest Protect sensors can be damaged by common cleaning chemicals, paint, or too much water.
- Do not use detergents or solvents (like glass cleaner)
- Do not spray air fresheners, hair spray or other aerosols near Nest Protect.
- Do not get water inside your Nest Protect
- Do not paint any portion of your Nest Protect. Paint seals the vents and affects its ability to detect smoke and carbon monoxide
Clean the smoke chamber
There are different cleaning instructions for the smoke chamber of 1st and 2nd generation Nest Protects.
2nd gen Nest Protect
- Remove your Nest Protect from the wall or the ceiling. Turn it counter-clockwise until it comes off the backplate. Detach the power connector if needed.
- Wipe the outside with a clean, slightly damp cloth. Do not use any soaps or solvents.
- Place the Nest Protect on a soft, dry cloth with the Nest button facing down. Open the battery compartment door and remove the batteries. This door is designed to stay open until they're all replaced.
- Remove the screws and lift off the back.
- Gently vacuum the inside. Make sure to clean all around the mesh sides of the smoke chamber (the large metal circle).
Tip: Before you remount your Protect, you might want to clean the area where it connects to the wall or ceiling.
1st gen Nest Protect
- Remove your Nest Protect from the ceiling or wall.
- Turn it counter-clockwise
- If you're cleaning a wired Protect, gently pull and unplug connectors
- Wipe the outside of Nest Protect with a clean, slightly damp cloth. Do not use any soaps or solvents.
- Place your Protect down on a soft, dry cloth with the Nest button facing down. You can prop up one side to avoid accidentally pressing the button.
- Unscrew the back of your Protect. Be careful not to lose either of the screws.
- Remove the batteries.
- To clean the battery cover, use a can of dry, compressed air (the kind used to clean computer keyboards). With a sweeping motion, spray the keyboard from one corner of the battery cover to the other.
- Make sure to blow into the smoke chamber, the large circle in the middle of your Protect. Carefully blow air the entire way around. Don't try to remove the smoke chamber itself.
- Finish by blowing air across your Protect, just like you did with the battery cover.
- Place the batteries back into your Protect. Wait for a minute, until you hear "Hello, from Nest."
- If Nest doesn't speak again, screw the battery cover back on.
- If it begins to alarm or chirp, you may have to give it another few blasts of compressed air.
Tip: Before you remount your Protect, you might want to clean the area where it connects to the wall or ceiling.
- Do not use solvents or abrasive cleaners. This destroys the protective clear coat finish.
- Avoid cleaning products that state on the label that they remove tarnish and rust or that they contain acids.
Clean the lock
- Lightly dampen a soft, clean cloth with water. You can use mild soap to remove oil or accumulated dirt build-up. Wring out any excess water from the cloth.
- Gently wipe the front display including the sides of the keypad to remove fingerprints.
- Gently wipe the back of the lock. Make sure no drops of water accumulate around the thumb turn and battery cover.