If you've gone out and gotten yourself a bamboo iPhone case then you already know just how great these cases can be. They are lightweight, strong, and have some of the best natural wood grain structures of any wooden cases on the market today.

Although they might not stand up to the kind of impacts that an Otterbox type industrial case can withstand, they certainly are strong enough to protect your phone from the day to day handling and jostling that occurs.

However, like all wood products, regular care and a little bit of maintenance will go a long ways towards extending the lifetime of your bamboo case. Most of the tips related to this apply to many other wood products - most people are most familiar with wood cutting boards and can apply the same principles.

The number one rule of extending the life of your case is to keep it dry! That said, nothing horrible will happen if it happens to get a bit of water, soda, or other liquid on it. What you don't want to have happen is constant contact with these liquids - which would probably be bad for your iPhone as well! Just remember to not set the case down on a wet countertop or things like that - the repeated wetting and drying of the bamboo will cause the wood to swell and shrink which will result in stresses that can pull apart the case. if you do happen to get some liquids on your case, wipe it off as soon as you can.

The second thing that you can do to keep your case in top shape for a long time is to apply a bit of mineral oil. This is the same process that owners of good wood cutting boards use to keep them slightly moisturized and to prevent liquids from affecting them as much. Mineral oil is very inexpensive and can be used in many places; if you don't already have some you can pick it up at nearly any grocery or hardware store. Apply the mineral oil to a clean rag or towel and then rub it into the bamboo case. Make sure that you take the phone out of the case so that you can get the inside and edges of the case as well - this helps make a "seal" for the wood that will keep it protected.

If you do happen to drop your iPhone with the bamboo case on, check it for cracks. Catching cracks when they happen can help you to fix it right away instead of letting it grow into something that will ruin the case. If a small nick or crack is noticed, use some wood glue or transparent epoxy to join the area back together. Afterwards you may need to file or sand the area to remove any raised glue nodules. Not only will this look better, but you will be keeping the crack from spreading.

These three quick tips will help keep your new bamboo case looking good for a long time to come. Don't forget to occasionally reapply the mineral oil with a clean rag for the best look and protection.