How to Clean Your Watch
No matter how careful you are, your watch (especially the bracelet) is going to get dirty, especially if you wear your watch day-in and day-out. However, dunking your watch in a bath of soapy water is a quick way to cause a more serious issue than just a dirty watch.
So how do you safely clean your watch? We’re here to tell you.
But before we begin, it is important to remember that an overzealous cleaning will do more harm than good! Vigorously scrubbing your watch can lead to scratches or rubbing away the plating. Treat your watch carefully every single time you clean it.
Table of Contents
How to Clean Your Watch
- If possible, remove the bracelet or strap from the watch.
- Fill a dish with warm water and a bit of mild detergent. Make sure that the soap you use does not contain harsh ingredients that can damage your watch.
- Dip a wash cloth or a soft-bristled toothbrush into the soapy water and gently brush the top of the watch face. Do NOT scrub vigorously; this may damage or scratch your watch.
- If your watch is water resistant up to 50 meters, you can quickly rinse it under lukewarm water. If your watch is not water resistant, use a clean moist towel to finish the cleaning process.
- Dry your watch with a soft towel. Do not wear your watch until it is fully dry.
How to Clean Your Watch Bracelet or Strap
Metal Bracelet
- If possible, remove the bracelet or strap from the watch.
- Fill a dish with warm water and a bit of mild detergent. Make sure that the soap you use does not contain harsh ingredients that can damage your watch.
- Dip a wash cloth or a soft-bristled toothbrush into the soapy water and gently brush the bracelet. Work gently to avoid scratching the metal. Don’t forget to clean between the links because that is where most of the dirt will accumulate. If your strap needs a deep clean, allow it to sit in the soapy water for a few hours before cleaning it with a toothbrush.
- Rinse the metal bracelet in lukewarm water or use a clean moist towel to fully remove the dirt and grime.
- Dry your bracelet with a soft towel. Let the bracelet dry completely before refastening it to your watch.
Leather Strap
- Remove the strap from the watch.
- Wipe down the leather strap with a damp cloth. If your cloth is particularly dirty, you can use a small amount of hand soap to help clean your strap.
- Use a clean cloth to gently dry the leather watch strap.
- Because it’s harder to clean a leather strap, we recommend removing your watch whenever you’re going to exercise or sweat excessively.
Rubber Strap
- Although you may think that rubber straps are more durable, these straps tend to absorb sweat and oils. You’ll need to clean your rubber straps frequently to avoid cracks and breaks.
- Remove the strap from the watch.
- Using mild detergent and warm water, gently scrub the rubber strap until clean. If your strap needs a deep clean, allow it to sit in the soapy water for a few hours.
- Allow the rubber strap to dry completely before refastening it to your watch.
Nylon Straps
- Remove the strap from the watch.
- Wash your nylon strap in your next load of laundry; however, we recommend washing it in a mesh bag to keep the strap looking new.
How Often Should You Clean Your Watch
If you wear your watch daily, we recommend wiping down the watch bracelet and watch back with a damp cloth every night. This will help keep your watch from accumulating dirt and grime. You’ll still need to deep clean your watch every month or so, but wiping down your watch daily will make the deep clean easier and less time consuming.
We recommend cleaning your watch monthly if worn daily. If worn less regularly, a deep clean can be done every few months.
Remember to clean your watch immediately if it has been exposed to salt water.