A GUIDE TO KEEPING YOUR WATCHES CLEAN
Here at H.S Johnson, our fabulous range of watches are available from a variety of different brands, such as Bulova and Casio. However, few people know how important it is to take care of your watches, more specifically to clean them. It will drastically improve the appearance of the watch, as well as prolong its lifespan. Read on to learn more about the recommended ways to keep your watches in their best condition.
Prepare the watch for cleaning
Before you begin cleaning your watch, there are a few things that you should do to prepare your watch. Firstly, determine the type of material that the watchband is made up of, as different materials may require different treatment. After this has been established, you should then proceed to dismantle the watch as far as you can. By this, we don’t mean that you should remove the battery and the insides, but rather detach the band from the watch face itself (if you can) to prepare it for cleaning. It will help you save time and allow you to do two things at once.
Cleaning the face of your watch
The face, sometimes known as the crystal, of your watch is a delicate area that needs to be taken care of. Before cleaning, your first step should be to examine the face to see whether there are any scratches. If there are, you should have it replaced as soon as possible and only use a dry cloth to buff the screen, otherwise you could compromise the functionality of your watch by allowing in moisture. If the face appears fine, carry on with these steps:
- With a tiny dash of soap, create a soapy water mixture, being extra careful to make sure that you do not use too much dish soap. Although it shouldn’t hurt your watch, it can cover it with suds, which is extremely difficult to remove. We stress that you should never use bleach for this process or any other chemical compound as it can be harmful to your watch.
-
Wipe the face of the watch with a damp soft cloth, such as a microfibre, making sure that it is well rinsed out so that it is only slightly wet. You want to make sure that no water enters the watch, but that you are able to wipe off any residue. Leave to air dry afterwards, which will ensure that no streaks are left. However, if there are streaks, you can simply buff them out with a microfibre cloth.
Alternatively, if you do not want to use water on your watch or are afraid of damaging it, buff any dirt off with a dry cloth. Most watches are at least splash proof, though, so cleaning them with a small amount of water should do no harm. Check with your manual beforehand if you are unsure. - Clean the areas surrounding the face, like the areas that connect the face to the watchband. As this area is often small and holds lots of detail, you can use a Q-tip for this. The better care you take of your watch, the longer it will last.
Cleaning the watchband
- Nylon watchbands: One of the easiest watchband materials to wash is nylon, as you can wash it the same as your clothes. Either hand wash them in the sink with laundry detergent and hang it to dry or put it in the washing machine with your other clothes, but be sure to keep it in a separate mesh bag. Hand washing will make them last longer though, because machines can sometimes be quite rough. We don’t recommend putting them in the dryer as this can wear them – always air dry.
- Leather or cloth watch bands: Leather and cloth can be washed with vinegar, believe it or not. The absence of metals means that you can use an acid to wash them, as ordinary dish soap can cause them to become dry and crack. Mix a little vinegar with water and place the band inside this mixture for a few minutes and dry it with a lint-free or polishing cloth, ensuring that all dirt is removed. Sometimes debris from your skin can become lodged inside nooks and crannies, so investigate it all and ensure that everything is cleaned properly.
- Metal (such as stainless steel or silver) watchbands: Metal watch bands can be cleaned the same as leather or cloth bands would be, except you cannot use vinegar. Instead, either use plain water or add a tiny amount of dish soap for a mild mixture.