We all know that cell phone batteries don't last for an extremely long time. However, the number of charge cycles you get before replacement is necessary can vary greatly from about 300 to 800 depending on how you take care of your cell phone battery. For the average user this translates into a lifespan of about one and a half to three years or more in some cases. In addition, how you care for your cell phone batteries can affect performance between charges. Since everyone of course wants their batteries to last a long time and achieve maximum performance, here are 10 great ways to help you protect and get the most use out of your cell phone batteries.

1. Always charge a brand new battery fully before using it the first time. Batteries typically take at least 2 to 4 full charge / discharge cycles after that to achieve maximum capacity. Also, new batteries can sometimes be hard to fully charge at first. In some cases the device's charger might stop charging your cell phone battery before it is fully charged. If you experience this, then just remove the battery from the device, reinsert it, and continue charging. Sometimes you may have to do this a couple times during the initial charge.

2. Li-Ion batteries do not have a memory effect. This means after the first couple of charge cycles you don't have to let them drain all the way before recharging again. If you have a Ni-MH or Ni-CD cell phone battery however, then you should fully charge and discharge it at least once every two to three weeks. Failure to do this can shorten the battery life significantly.

3. Do not let the battery get exposed to water (including rain and moisture).

4. Do not store or place your cell phone battery near a fire or area of extreme heat. Not only can this affect the performance of the battery later, but it could even explode. Never incinerate a battery.

5. Remember a cool place is better for a battery than a warm place.

6. Do not hit, drop, or abuse the battery in such manner as this could result in exposure to the corrosive cell contents.

7. Do not short-circuit. A short-circuit can cause severe damage to your cell phone battery.

8. You should try and keep the battery contacts clean. If they appear dirty, try cleaning the contacts with either a soft cloth or alcohol and a cotton swab to help maintain a good connection.

9. Try not to let your cell phone batteries lie dormant for long periods of time without charging. If you don't plan on using it for more than a month, it is recommended that you remove it from the device and store it in a clean, cool, dry place. Note that the battery is still losing its charge and life even when not in use. If you haven't charged it in awhile, you should break it in again. In some cases if you haven't used it in a very long time you may even find the battery won't charge again and you'll have to buy another.

10. Don't charge the battery constantly (in other words, don't leave the charger or cradle plugged in all the time). This can reduce the life of the battery, so you really should only plug the charger in when necessary.

A great place for finding out more information all about batteries can be found at BatteryUniversity.com. And when your cell phone battery does die, be sure to dispose of it properly. A good resource for recycling your battery is Call2Recycle at RBRC.org.

If you plan to still use your cell phone, you simply need to get a new battery. This way you'll not only save money since you won't be buying a new phone, but you'll also keep that phone from going into the landfill anytime soon. Most of us already know that thousands of electronic devices are thrown into landfills every year, which ultimately can't be good for the environment. By continuing to use your cell phone (or selling, donating, or recycling it when you are done), you are doing your part in helping our planet. You can get your cell phone batteries at Infinity Batteries, where you can find one of the largest selections of cell phone batteries at great prices. 1% of sales are also donated to nonprofit environmental organizations.