How to Clean Your Watch
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Watches are an incredible investment, and keeping them clean can prolong their lifespan and boost resale value. There's a reason why 20+ year-old watches that look incredible sell at a premium. And the same thing can be said about newer watches with an exceptional look and adequate maintenance. That's why it's important to clean your watch since it protects your investment and it also helps increase its durability. Here are some tips and tricks on how to clean your watch!
What items do you need to start cleaning your watch?
Getting started with the watch cleanup process is not very difficult. Before you start working on the watch, you need to acquire a few items. These are vital for the cleanup process, and they will help you do a thorough job!
- Get a soft-bristled watch cleaning brush. The reason why you need soft bristles is because tougher ones can lead to damage. You also want to clean and dry the brush before using it on your watch.
- A microfiber cloth that's clean and dry
- Toothpicks
- Eco-friendly, anti-bacterial sanitary wipes
Using these products can be very helpful since they allow you to remove all the accumulated dirt, dust, or grime. Once you have all these items ready to go, you can move on to the step-by-step watch cleaning guide below. As a side note, you can find some watch cleaning kits as well, so you might want to look into that if it sounds interesting.
Start by inspecting the watch
The first thing you want to do is to assess the watch, its condition and see what parts of the watch need immediate cleaning. A good rule of thumb is to check any watch damage, but also the crown condition and the moving parts. In case you encounter severe damage, watch face chips, and so on, then the watch might need a professional service. But if that's not the case, you can go onward with the cleaning process.
Remove the bracelet
You can't thoroughly clean your watch without taking it apart. Remove the strap or bracelet; a spring bar tool is recommended here. Then, you can remove the end link and the inner part of your lugs. The problem is that not only does the watch itself tend to get dirty and full of dust, but the bracelet also encounters that problem. Plus, if you don't clean it often, that dirt and moisture will end up affecting the watch. So it's important to clean your watch at least once every few months or even more often if you wear it daily.
Wipe your watch
Take a sanitary wipe and clean your watch face carefully. The entire process needs to be thorough, and you should address every nook, facet, and part of your watch. What's great is that this process won't take more than maybe 2-3 minutes. However, it will improve the look of your watch and take it to the next level.
After wiping the watch, the next thing you want to do is to use your brush or toothpick. The reason why this is important is because your cloth won't always remove all the dust or grime. Take a toothpick and then wrap it in a wipe, then start cleaning the grime and dust that didn't go away the first time. You can also use a brush, but make sure that you use it softly to prevent any damage.
At the end of this process, you can use the microfiber cloth to perform a clear finish. The cloth will also help remove any of the extra moisture. Since the microfiber cloth is very soft, it won't damage your watch. It's very important to use it for any of those spots that might be hard to reach. Those include the caseback, the edge of your watch's crystal, or the lugs.
Cleaning the bracelet
Now that the watch itself is cleaned, you want to focus on cleaning the bracelet. Thankfully, this process is also quite simple, and it reiterates some of the steps shown above.
- Prepare a small bowl that has warm, soapy water inside.
- Remove the spring bars and check the clasp as well as the end links. If the bracelet is very complex, it's a good idea to check the manufacturer's guidelines on how to clean it.
- Keep the bracelet in soapy water for a few minutes, and then take it out. Brush it with the toothbrush or specialized brush that you have.
- After that, you lay it on a folded paper towel right after tapping the water out of it. At the end, you can use the microfiber cloth to ensure there's no moisture or any remaining dirt.
Cleaning the watch strap (rubber/silicone or leather)
If you have a silicone or rubber strap, you have to take it out, add it to a soapy water solution, and use the tips above. However, things are a bit different when it comes to leather. Here are the steps to focus on if you have a leather watch strap.
- Wipe the strap using a microfiber cloth. The main focus is to remove any dust or dirt that accumulated on your leather strap.
- Now you can wet down another cloth and place a bit of hand soap on it. Make sure that the soap is already embedded into the cloth before you start wiping the strap.
- After that, you can use circular, light movements to clean the leather strap. You can use movements similar to those when you're brushing your teeth.
- Rinse the cloth you just used and wring it so it's damp. Now,you can use it to wipe any remaining residue.
- At the end, you want to place the watch on a dry microfiber towel. Leave it like that for a few hours, maybe more. The focus is on air drying your leather strap and not using a hairdryer, as that can lead to damage.
Conclusion
These tips and tricks on how to clean your watch are very effective and also easy to follow. It's very important to ensure that you're cleaning your watch often, especially during summertime when you're sweating, running, etc. Regular cleanup will keep your watch looking like new while also eliminating any potential long term damage. We highly recommend sticking with a proper watch cleanup routine, as it can make a huge difference!