How to clean a watch (face and strap)

Watches have come a long way since the first wristwatch was invented in the 19th century. However, although millions of people across the UK now own a watch, many of us overlook how to care for it. That’s despite most people wearing their watch every day. Whether you have a smartwatch or an antique, you must learn how to clean your watch effectively to ensure it looks as brand new as the day you bought it.

What should you use to clean a watch?

You don’t have to use anything fancy to give your watch a thorough clean. You’ll probably have most of the items below at home already. Before you start cleaning your watch, make sure you have:

• antibacterial wet wipes or a gentle soap, warm water, and a bowl
• a soft-bristled toothbrush
• a microfibre cloth
• toothpicks or cotton buds

Whether you can clean your watch with soapy water or wet wipes depends on its water resistance. You'll need to ensure that your watch has a water resistance of 50 meters and above to use soapy water, or you risk causing water ingress to the watch face.

Depending on the material of the strap, you may also need some additional products to keep it looking its best, but we’ll cover this in more detail in the next section.

How do you clean a watch?

To get your watch ready to clean, take the strap off first if you can, as this will make things a lot easier. How you clean your watch strap and the watch face will vary, so take a look at our instructions below to find the right cleaning method for your watch.

How to clean a watch strap

Watches come with a range of different straps, so how you clean yours will depend on its material. Below, we’ve covered the cleaning instructions for each material:

How to clean a leather watch strap

You can easily clean a leather watch strap by wetting a cloth in mild soapy water (making sure you wring it out so that it’s only damp) and wiping both sides of the strap. You might need to do this a few times to make sure the strap is completely clean, and on the final wipe, check that the cloth is damp with just water to ensure all the soap has been removed.

It's best to let the strap air dry naturally as trying to speed up the drying process can cause the leather to crack. To further prevent this from happening, you could even apply a small amount of leather oil to the strap once dry.

How to clean a silicone or rubber watch strap

A great way to remove stubborn stains from silicone or rubber straps is to place the strap into a bowl of soap and warm water (once you've removed the watch part, of course). Leave the strap in there for five minutes, and this should help lift any of the stubborn stains.

This is where you'll need a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently scrub the strap. If you still have some lingering stains, these can be easily removed with a pinch of baking soda. Lastly, give the strap one last rinse with water and pat dry with your microfibre cloth.

How to clean a metal watch strap

If you have a metal watch strap, it's most likely made of stainless steel. You'll need a bowl of soapy water again for this, ideally at room temperature. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, dip the strap into the soapy water and scrub each individual link of the metal band. You can afford to be heavier handed with your scrubbing here, as the soft bristles should not cause any damage to the metal.

Make sure you rinse all the soap off the metal before you begin drying and then wipe with a microfibre cloth. It's best to leave the strap to air dry for half an hour or more to ensure all the water has evaporated from between the links before you wear it again.

How to clean a fabric watch strap

Cleaning a fabric watch strap is most effective if you use washing detergent and warm water. Leaving the fabric material in the water for around half an hour will help loosen any dirt lodged in it, which you can then fully remove with a soft-bristled brush. Don't scrub too harshly, though, as this can fray the fabric.

Rinse out the strap with clean water to remove the soap, then roll it up in a towel and press to squeeze out any excess. Leave the strap to then fully air dry before wearing it again to avoid mildew appearing.

How to clean a watch face

To thoroughly clean your watch, use an antibacterial wet wipe (or some soapy water and a cloth if your watch is water resistant) and scrub every surface. If you notice some dirt built up in hard-to-reach areas such as the edge of the bezel and crystal, try wrapping a toothpick in your wet wipe and use it to get the grime out of all the nooks and crannies.

Take extra care if you're cleaning a silver or gold-plated watch, as these metals can scratch more easily. Your watch then needs drying with a microfibre cloth.

How often should you clean your watch?

How often you clean your watch depends on how frequently you wear it. If you wear your watch every day, you'll want to give it a weekly clean to avoid dirt building up. However, if you don't wear your watch that often, cleaning it monthly should be enough.

Specialist watch insurance through Ripe

Now you know how to keep your watch looking its best, you may want to consider getting specialist watch insurance for an extra layer of protection.

Specialist watch and watch collection insurance through Ripe can cover your watch against theft, loss, and damage in the UK and worldwide. Plus, you can tailor your policy to your specific needs, so you’ll never pay for cover you don’t actually need.

Find out more about specialist watch insurance or get a quick online quote today.