A little tender loving care and advance planning can go a long way towards preventing damage to your cell phone. If you have an expensive phone like a Blackberry Curve, Sidekick or iPhone it is especially worthwhile to protect your investment.

1. Get a screen protector. A thin plastic film can be bought the exact size of your phone’s screen or you can cut it to size. They say the eyes are the window to the soul. Well the screen is literally your window into your cell phone. A screen protector will prevent the little scratches that tend to accumulate on an LCD screen over time. LCDs are often the most expensive part of a cell phone to replace, so it’s worth taking some precautions.

2. Don’t play rough. Try not to toss your phone around too much or let your kids play with it. Besides the potential for dents and scratches, phones are sensitive to shock. Having a designated place for your cell phone at the office, in the car and at home can really help with that. Cell phone cradles designed to protect your phone while you’re in the car or even to stabilize the phone while it is charging reduce the likelihood that your phone will fall and break – or end up getting stepped on. By the way, lots of purses are starting to have a special cell phone pocket. If you have one, use it.

3. Keep your phone away from moisture. Moisture can corrode a cell phone, causing it to behave strangely or even stop working altogether. A cell phone case will keep water away from your phone in style, but a sealed plastic sandwich bag will work in a pinch. It’s a great option for those days when you look out of your office window and notice that a previously sunny day turned into a rainstorm. Another tip: Get into the habit of keeping your phone off any table where drinks are. They tend to spill at the worst possible times.

4. Make sure you use a surge protector when you charge your phone. An unexpected electrical surge can wreak havoc on electronic devices – including your cell phone. Most of us already use a surge protector for electronics at home, but it’s important to have a travel surge protector too for when you’re on the go. As the boy scouts motto goes, be prepared.

5. Protect your phone from theft. Now that portable electronics have become so advanced and expensive, they have become very attractive targets for criminals. Ipods are a common victim, but so are cell phones. This site has some suggestions for precautions you can take and even what to do if your phone does get stolen.