Watch out for the build-up of dirt
Ukuleles are prone to grease buildup from natural dirt and the oil from
your hands. The result is a sticky instrument that is unpleasant to play. To
prevent this from happening, make cleaning your uke after every playing
session a habit. Very carefully rub the ukulele with the cleaning cloth to
remove dirt and oil. If your uke is painted or has a shiny finish, you can
use polish products to keep its gloss.
Storage
Never leave your uke by a fireplace, heater, oven, radiator, in a car or in a
place with direct sunlight. The heat can warp your uke's wood and make
it brittle and much more prone to cracking and breaking. Avoid placing
your uke (even in its case or bag) in a place where it might drop. Keep
your uke away from places where it might get wet from spilled liquids.
Changing your strings
From time to time, run your fingers along the strings in search for nicks
or grooves cut into them. These notches or cuts are caused by the
pressure from the frets or the natural stretching of the strings. These
can affect your uke's tuning and intonation and any nick is a sign of
imminent breaking.
Brand new strings tend to go out of tune often because they are still
stretching.
Humidity
Too high and too low humidity can both harm your ukulele. Keeping
the right amount of moisture in your ukulele's wood in relation to the
humidity is a must to keep it in top condition. Your ukulele should be
stored in a place with 40% - 60% relative humidity.
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