Any time you invest a few hundred pounds (or dollars for that matter) 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 thirty 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 or salt corrosion from the seas spray if you are near the seaside.

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.

If you have a Flash player make sure it gets recharged regularly and you also run the battery down from time to time.

For the rugged types who like to enjoy music on the move while jogging, pumping iron or pounding the treadmill there are a number of MP3 player protective covers you should invest in, this becomes particularly important when you have one of the latest iPod video playback MP3 models with their notoriously easy to scratch screens.

Finally, be sensible. MP3 players are perishable and subjecting them to harsh conditions and difficult environments only shortens their lifespan.