Now that you have that watch you’re crazy about, you want to make sure that it stays in the best possible condition. So, it’s essential to clean your watch now and then.
Grime and dirt build up over time. First of all, It looks filthy. But it doesn’t only affect the watch on a cosmetic level.
Dirt on the tube can cause the crown to turn very slowly, for example.
It also adds a layer of grime to your leather strap. That’ll cause sweaty wrists because the leather won’t be able to breathe.
Your water-resistant watch needs some special attention. If you wore it in the ocean or the swimming pool, you need to clean it with fresh water as soon as possible. Saltwater and chlorine wreak havoc on the rubber gaskets of your watch.
If you don’t, the rubber gaskets will dry out, and your watch is no longer water-resistant.
This article explains how to clean a watch and your strap or bracelet.
How do you clean a watch?
Water-resistant watches
Water-resistant watches are the easiest to clean.
Use water and soap (hand soap or dish soap, for example) and a soft (tooth)brush to clean your watch. You could also take your watch with you while taking a shower and use your body wash to clean it. Make sure that the screw-down crown is screwed down!
Properly dry your watch with a soft towel. You can also use a dust blower or a can of compressed air to dry hard-to-reach places.
Non-water resistant watches
Use a peg wood or a toothpick to remove hardened grime and dirt and use a soft toothbrush to clean the rest.
Don’t forget the hard-to-reach places because that’s where the dirt piles up! Underneath and on the inside of the lugs, around and underneath the crown, the notches of the case back, etc.
Don’t use water and soap because the watch isn’t water-resistant!
I often use one of those alcohol wipes that are commonly used to clean a pair of glasses.
While you’re at it, it can’t hurt to polish the crystal to make it look new again!
How do you clean a watch strap or bracelet?
Metal bracelets
Metal bracelets are the perfect dirt magnets. Skin grease, dead skin cells, and hairs pile up between the links underneath the end links and around the clasp.
It’s a good idea to clean your bracelet twice a year. Even more, if you wear it often or if you sweat a lot.
Remove the metal bracelet from the watch.
Use a proper tool! Invest $25 to keep your watches in the best condition possible.
You WILL damage your watch if you use a screwdriver, pair of scissors, kitchen knife, etc. Especially if the bracelet has end links because they don’t leave a lot of room to work with. Use a watch strap tool with a small fork (3 mm is too wide), so you can reach in and remove the spring bar.
It’s straightforward to use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean your watch bracelet, and they’re not that expensive. You can buy them for around $50. They won’t be suitable for everyday use in the professional workshop, but they’re fine to clean your bracelet now and then.
You don’t need to fill it with fancy cleaning solutions. Hot water and a bit of dish soap work perfectly.
If you don’t want to use an ultrasonic cleaner, you can also use hot water, dish soap, a toothbrush, and good old elbow grease.
Some people like to use a mix of water and ammonia, and that does work. However, it’s aggressive, and more prolonged exposure can damage certain metals or even discolor them. Just stick to dish soap to be safe.
Leather straps
Remove the strap from the watch. Again, use a proper watch strap tool.
Clean the leather with water and a gentle soap like a face wash or a PH-neutral soap.
Always mix the soap with water (1 part soap with 5 to 8 parts water depending on the filthiness of the strap).
It’s important to dilute the soap because any left soap residue will clog the leather, and this will prevent it from breathing. This means sweaty straps!
Leave the strap to dry. Keep leather away from direct sunlight and central heating because that will cause it to crack.
Use some leather grease to feed and protect the leather.
Sometimes I use leather wipes that combine a detergent with oil so you clean and nourish the leather at the same time.
Do you have some more tips for cleaning your watch? Leave them in the comments below.
Thank you for reminding that metal bracelets are really good dirt magnets. Mom would be repulsed by the idea that metal watch bands trap in oil from skin, dead skin cells, and hair underneath it, so it’s best she gets her watch bracelets professionally cleaned twice a year. Since she sweats a lot, she could either have them cleaned more often or opt for crystal watch bands that are more resistant to dirt.