Yo Manila | How to Clean Your Wristwatch |A watch is a timeless accessory that you use and wears every day. It is an investment that you can spend thousands on, and its value will not deteriorate over time. As such, it is important that you protect your investment, your wristwatch, by properly maintaining it so it does not lose its value. A step you must take in maintenance is to clean your wristwatch. A watch can last decades if it is taken care of properly, and proper cleaning is an integral part of that.
When you clean your wristwatch, there are a couple of things you must first consider. First, is your watch water resistant? If it has no water resistance, your choices are limited. It is recommended that you clean your wristwatch by simply wiping it down with a soft, dry cloth. Second, you must take into account the material of your watch, specifically the watch band. Choose the right cleaning method for your watch band type.
Clean Your Wristwatch Daily
Your watch is exposed to many different elements throughout the day, including sweat and possibly rain. So, it is recommended that you take a few minutes to clean your wristwatch before calling it a day. Take a soft, clean cloth and wipe the inside of the watchband and the back of the watch case. This is done to remove the built-up moisture that may be present from wearing the watch all day. It is possible that the acids in your sweat can even rust a stainless metal, so wiping down your wristwatch is a lot more important than you might think.
A Deeper Clean for your Wristwatch
Here are the steps for if you want to clean your wristwatch more thoroughly than just a nightly wash.
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Wipe it down
Begin by removing the initial layers of dirt and grime by wiping down the strap and watch case with a soft cloth
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Use dish soap to remove grease
Before you proceed, make sure the crown is screwed down securely as it is the most vulnerable spot for leakage. To clean the watch face, fill a dish with warm water and add a couple of drops of antibacterial dish soap. Dampen a cloth and wipe down the watch case. For watches with a higher water resistance than 30m, it is safe to clean your wristwatch with a soft-bristled brush dipped into the soapy water to loosen and remove dirt and dust that may have collected on the watch face. For watches with a water resistance over 100m, it is safe to soak the watch entirely, but it is unnecessary. Another general option is to use a moist cotton bud to roll across the watch face.
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Rinse
Use the same tool in the previous step to rinse your watch down. You can use clean warm water to rinse off any residue, but make sure your watch can handle the moisture.
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Dry with a soft cloth
Pat the watch dry with a soft cloth. It is recommended that you use a microfiber cloth since it will not scratch your watch and will give your watch a nice shine. Just make sure the cloth itself is clean.
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Add shine with a glass cleaner
An additional step you can take, especially for stainless steel watches, is to use glass cleaner to wipe down the watch face, case, and band to refresh its shine. Spray glass cleaner on a soft cloth and wipe down your wristwatch. Wipe it clean with a soft cloth to finish.
Cleaning your watch band
Like cleaning the watch itself, the cleaning process for your watch band is dependent on the material of your watch band. Remove the watch band before cleaning them so you can wipe them down more thoroughly without endangering the watch face itself.
Metal
If your band is metal, you can use the same method above which uses diluted dish soap and warm water. Stainless steel, silver, and gold can actually rust despite their ‘stainless’ claim. Salt and perspiration is a common culprit, so clean the band with the soapy warm water and air dry before wearing it again.
Leather
Leather requires special care because the process of soaking up moisture then drying out again is what causes the material to crack. The key is to make sure the leather stays clean and conditioned. For normal cleaning, just use a soft, dry cloth. However, you may also utilize professional leather cleaning products. Just be careful that they do not discolor the strap and that they are hypoallergenic.
Nylon and Rubber
Nylon bands are probably the easiest to clean as they are waterproof and usually can be thrown in a washing machine with your laundry. Rubber watch bands, on the other hand, need as much care as metal bands. If it absorbs sweat and is not cleaned properly, it can crack and break. Use warm soapy water to clean both the inside and outside of the band, rinse it with clean warm water, and let it air dry. You may also use a rubber protectant.
There may be some cases where cleaning your watch at home is not enough to remove the built-up dirt. Other times, you may just be unsure if the methods listed here on how to clean your wristwatch are safe for your particular timepiece. If so, the safest bet would be to take your watch to a professional who can properly maintain and clean your watch thoroughly. For example, you can take your watch to one of the Timeline service outlets. They offer the following services:
- Maintenance and repair
- Water-resistance testing
- Watch bracelet repair and alteration
- Batty replacement and testing
- Prestige watch servicing
- Personalized engraving
- Other watch care services
Most high-end watches such as quartz watches have moving parts, so they require regular maintenance. It is recommended that mechanical watches, for example, be cleaned and service every three years to ensure accurate time keeping.
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