How to Clean Watch Band: Which Type Do You Have at Home?

A watch strap is also part of a watch. Albeit it looks insignificant at a glance but have you ever thought about how would you put your watch and make it stays on your body? Well, a pocket watch might do but it wouldn’t let you just take a quick peek to tell the time. Watch straps are an integral part and therefore, taking care of them is also the thing you should pay attention to. So, how to clean a watch band?

As the world of horology has come with choices of watch straps type, you can have different materials to hold your watch securely on the wrist. Whether it is leather, silicone or rubber, or nylon, each of them needs different care as to how different materials need different treatments. As such, understanding the way how to clean a watch band depends on what straps you have. Let’s check on the detail below for each type of watch band.

How to Clean Rubber Watch Band

A rubber watch band is probably the most convenient type to be cleaned. Therefore, rubber is a perfect match if you love physical or outdoor activities. Rubber could naturally repel dirt and grime, it doesn’t absorb sweat and, thus, make them smell less than the other types. However, if you let it wear for a long time without any proper cleaning, it definitely would worn out as well. The dirt and grim would pile up, it wouldn’t look appealing anymore.

Cleaning a rubber watch band should be easy and can be done at home. The materials you need to start cleaning can also be found in the nearest supermarket. As for safety, it’s recommended to remove the strap from the watch case before cleaning it.

The first step in how to clean the rubber watch band is rinsing the strap to remove a large piece of dirt. Then, you can soak it in soapy water to make it easier when brushing the strap. Lastly, you can start brushing your rubber watch strap softly and, then, rinse it in clean water. For more detailed steps, you can click on this article in How to Clean Rubber Watch Band from Dirt and Grime.

Read also: How Watch Service Personnel Clean Your Dial for a Better Look

How to Clean Nylon Watch Band

Compared to rubber, nylon might need a little bit of extra care to make it clean. While rubber can repel dirt or grime, nylon definitely can’t do that — the texture even makes it easier for dirt to pile up. Nylon is made of synthetic materials and, thus, often woven. Therefore, while cleaning the nylon strap, you need to ensure that no dirt is left in small nooks.

Again, removing the strap from the watch is a wise choice in how to clean the nylon watch band. Yet, if you are sure to clean the strap while it’s still attached — as your watch has a good water resistance — you could do it anyway. Rinse the strap in clean water then submerge it in warm soapy water. Let it soak for a few minutes to let the dirt be removed. 

After that, you can do a soft brushing on the strap to thoroughly clean off the dirt. Soak it again in soapy water and let it still for a few minutes. Lastly, you can rinse it, tap it dry, and all done.

How to Clean Leather Watch Band

A watch strap made of leather, I would say, is the most difficult type to be cleaned. Not only that the material can easily absorb moisture or sweat from your wrist, but cleaning the strap also needs extra care to not damage it. Not to mention the fact that leather isn’t supposed to get wet as it will deteriorate and make cracks over time. Therefore, a leather watch strap isn’t a good idea for physical activities as it might just shorten its life. So, how to clean the leather watch straps?

After removing the strap, start by wiping the leather strap using microfiber — be sure to do it gently. The first cleaning would help to take any dust or dirt off the surface. Then, you can continue by cleaning the leather using soap. Damp in warm water and add a small amount of mild liquid soap.
Start rubbing gently or you can do it in a circular motion to prevent damage. Lastly, you can dry the watch strap but don’t put it directly under the sunlight as it could make cracks. So, let it air-dry or dry out naturally. Read for a more detailed explanation in the article How to Clean a Leather Watch Band at Home Properly.

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