What do you use to clean your watch?

[CoolHands]

Yeah obviously there's obvious stuff, like err..., dunno damp cloth?

But is there anything handy and easy to buy on ebay that makes it simple? Eg this black watch it's hard to clean near the edges as the glass is quite depressed, so can't get cloth into corners very easily.

Any tips?

[drivin_me_nuts]

Hot soapy water. IMS (industrial meths) for a deep cleaning and sterilise of straps. Plastic/metal watches. Nothing expensive

[Philplop]

I clean my g-shocks by giving them a good scrub with a nail brush and bunging them in the dishwasher.

[taaffy]

Warm soapy water and an old toothbrush ..

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

This has come up before on here....and my answer for my Omega Seamaster, which I have owned from new in 2000....is that when I get in the bath, I take my watch in with me, and sit and clean it with the same liquid soap that I clean my sorry ass with.

I scrub the watch with a small nail brush, occasonally dunking it back into the bath water. When I am happy that it's all clean, especially all the metal strap links, I rinse it under the cold tap, dry it in a towel, and leave it overnight laying on a towel.

It always comes up perfectly, and has never caused me a problem.

I had comments on here ranging from 'you're mental' to 'yes, perfectly sensible thing to do' so take your pick!

I reckon that a watch that is designed to be water resistant is fine to be cleaned in such a fashion, and doesn't need anything specialist. I'm happy to do it with my 3 grand timepiece, other think differently.

I think that you should make your own decision!

[soad]

Make sure to also wash your wrist if it, too, is stinky.

[Master Bean]

Fairy liquid and warm water on my Rolex.

[simonr100]

taaffy said:

Warm soapy water and an old toothbrush ..

This is what I do but DONT use washing up liquid - there is something in it that damages rubber. As waterproof seals are made of rubber they will perish over a period of exposure.
I read about the washing up liquid on the back of an autoglym car shampoo many years ago.

[bobbybee]

Master Bean said:

Fairy liquid and warm water on my Rolex.

That's possibly the worst idea, degreasing detergents remove the oils out of rubber therefore can cause premature failure of the seals

[SirSquidalot]

Water, if a watch is dirty I pop it into a pint glass of warm water and leave it there for 5-10 mins. Take it out and dry with a microfibre cloth, then buff with a glasses cloth.

[anonymous-user]

Another for Fairy Liquid and warm water. Use a toothbrush sometimes too.

[warren182]

Wouldn't use any soap/fairy liquid if the crystal is AR coated on the front surface. Can cause the coating to break down.

[anonymous-user]

warren182 said:

Wouldn't use any soap/fairy liquid if the crystal is AR coated on the front surface. Can cause the coating to break down.

I'm not sure whether mine are but I have been doing this for 10 years or so and they all look brand new when they've had a wash. I don't wash it every day, so the wear factor would be minimal, at most.

[marcosgt]

G-Shock? Stick it in the dishwasher, surely?

M.

[anonymous-user]

Spit and a tea towel for my g shock

[jshell]

bobbybee said:

Master Bean said:

Fairy liquid and warm water on my Rolex.

That's possibly the worst idea, degreasing detergents remove the oils out of rubber therefore can cause premature failure of the seals

Fairy is fine, watch seals are stable nitrile rubber i.e synthetic rubber. I've used Fairy as a lubricant to install nitrile seals in the past.

[hosedoctor]

Cant beat hot water,washing up fluid and an old toothbrush!!

[bobbybee]

I soak mine in triple refined lighter fuel, place in a steel bucket, light a match, throw it in and stand well back.
Nothing removes the worldly filth like the cleansing properties of a good apocalyptic FIRE

[Hoofy]

marcosgt said:

G-Shock? Stick it in the dishwasher, surely?

M.

Washing machine! Oh, hang on, don't want to kill the appliance.

[Lorne]

bobbybee said:

I soak mine in triple refined lighter fuel, place in a steel bucket, light a match, throw it in and stand well back.
Nothing removes the worldly filth like the cleansing properties of a good apocalyptic FIRE

This method is also perfect for wasps nests. Spray lighter fuel on it and ignite. Best to do at dusk so you get the full effect of 'fireflies' zooming through the sky.