If you’re one of the 300-some thousand people who jumped onto the front of the iPad bandwagon on launch day--or just happened to pop into an Apple Store to check one out--you might have noticed that the giant iPod touch collects more fingerprints than Horatio Caine.

But unless you fancy yourself an amateur CSI, you probably don’t want your (and your friends’ and co-workers’) whorls and loops clouding up your screen. We’re here to help:

 

DO: Buy Protection

Remember when the iPod came with a free case? With iPad, you get nothing to prevent scratches, dust or dirt, and after such a hefty investment, you’ll want to spend a little on wear-and-tear insurance. Any of the number of sleeves on the market will do the trick, but a few early entries offer a healthy dose of functionality. Apple’s rubbery iPad case is one of the best--and most affordable--but Incase, iLuv and Belkin all make handsome portfolio-style cases, too. And if none of them float your boat, we’re quite certain the market will be saturated with options any day now.

 

DON’T: Use Windex

iPad’s glass screen may be as big as a window pane, but common household glass cleaner should be reserved for things that aren’t touch-sensitive or LED-backlit. It won’t do immediate harm, but over time, a steady diet of Windex cleanings will wear down the coating and make it much more susceptible to scratches. But if you absolutely must spray something on your iPad before wiping it down, use an LCD/plasma TV cleaner instead.

 

DO: Rub It In

Even with a case, iPad’s screen will get grimy and oily quicker than you can say “oleophobic.” Apple surprisingly doesn’t provide a cloth (though iPhone and iPhone 3G users probably still have theirs), so you’ll need to get your own. Don’t be fooled by cloths made specifically for iPad; any soft fabric or microfiber rag will do the trick, and it only takes a few circular swipes to get your iPad back to factory-fresh condition; even less if you dampen it with a few drops of distilled water first.

 

DON’T: Jet Dry

No matter how dirty your iPad gets during those 10 hours of daily use, try to resist the temptation to slide it into one of the slots in your dishwasher. We’re pretty sure it’ll get it squeaky clean, but likely render it--and your Apple warranty--useless in the process.

 

DO: Wash Your Hands

It’s not so bad that iPad proudly displays every fingerprint it comes into contact with, but the sheen left behind by all those swipes and pinches really cramps its style. A quick rinse of your hands with some good old-fashioned soap and water before a lengthy iPad session will cut down on the oils and keep your screen much more presentable between cleanings. And if you’re on the go, pop a bottle of hand sanitizer in your pocket--it’s not just for swine flu anymore.

 

DON’T: Use Your Pants

Any iPhone user will tell you that one of the easiest way to clear the nasty residue left behind by a conversation is to simply swipe the screen against your pant leg. Of course, that’ll work on the iPad, too, but with such a large screen, the margin of error is drastically increased. Stick to your cotton T-shirt or the above-mentioned cloth for those quick cleanings and you’ll save yourself the regret of an unsightly zipper scratch.

 

DO: Tread Lightly

Your iPad can’t attract fingerprints if you keep your fingers off the screen. With a keyboard dock and a Pogo Sketch, you’ll significantly cut down on the time your grimy fingers need to spend touching the screen. Of course, the experience won’t be quite as magical, but neither are all those sloppy smudges.

 

DON’T: Multi-task

Apple might not let you run Scrabble and Pages at the same time (yet), but it can’t regulate everything else you try to do while using your iPad. Eating, drinking, cooking or brushing your teeth while reading an iBook or playing Flight Control greatly increases the chances of an ugly spill spoiling your new toy’s luster.

 

DO: Be Selfish

Who knows where your friends’ hands have been? Keep them away from your iPad and you’ll never have to know.