cleaning watches

[happie33]

hi all
advice please
best way to clean - get ride of every day dirt dust etc from casing , glass

using general household cleaning stuff

wanting to give my collection a good clean and spruce

thanks

[mickyh7]

Ultrasonic cleaner.
£10 -£15 from Aldi.
Waterproof watches only!

[RichTT]

mickyh7 said:

Ultrasonic cleaner.
£10 -£15 from Aldi.
Waterproof watches only!

Good lord, I wouldn't put a whole watch into a ultrasonic device!

Warm soapy water and an old toothbrush will do fine.

[Mr Pointy]

RichTT said:

Good lord, I wouldn't put a whole watch into a ultrasonic device!

Warm soapy water and an old toothbrush will do fine.

This - for a waterproof watch of course (for some value of "waterproof"). A bit of toothpaste helps get the skanky bits out of the braclet

[Doofus]

RichTT said:

Good lord, I wouldn't put a whole watch into a ultrasonic device!

I do.

[mickyh7]

RichTT said:

Good lord, I wouldn't put a whole watch into a ultrasonic device!

Warm soapy water and an old toothbrush will do fine.

Professional watchmakers do?
I've done it for over 35 years.
However Fairy Liquid on a Toothbrush is quite the norm as well.
Brilliant for jewellery as well just not Pearl's, Corals Opals etc.

[Mr Pointy]

mickyh7 said:

Professional watchmakers do?
I've done it for over 35 years.
However Fairy Liquid on a Toothbrush is quite the norm as well.
Brilliant for jewellery as well just not Pearl's, Corals Opals etc.

Watchmakers put all the parts of a watch in an ultrasonic cleaner once it's disassembled. They wouldn't put a complete, assembled watch into one.

[mickyh7]

How long have you been a Watchmaker?

[mickyh7]

The Ultrasonics even come with plastic discs to sit complete watches on for goodness sake.

[Wills2]

I just use warm soapy water and a small sponge followed by drying off with a waffle weave drying cloth, I do that once a week as I find my watches really show up grease/fingers marks etc..

I'll get a soft tooth brush as mentioned for getting into smaller nooks and crannies.

[RichTT]

Well I spent 4+ years as a hobby putting them together and taking them apart for various people. Not once, in any single forum, watchmakers book, guide, blog post, instructional video have I ever seen a watchmaker put a whole watch in an ultrasonic cleaner.

You find me some evidence saying that this is a recommended practice then by all means, i'll have a look.

mickyh7 said:

How long have you been a Watchmaker?

Is it safe to put a watch in an ultrasonic cleaner?

It is not advised to place your whole watch inside an ultrasonic cleaner. If you are going to clean your watch, it is therefore advised that you remove the bracelet and only clean this using the ultrasonic cleaner. The case of the watch can in turn be cleaned using a soft brush. Whilst it is possible to put many watches in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, it is not advised.

It is, however, a different story if the watch and movement are completely disassembled. In that case, ultrasonic cleaners are the tools that watchmakers use when servicing a watch. After disassembly, the watch parts are cleaned in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, before they are assembled again.

https://millenarywatches.com/best-ultrasonc-cleane...

Before cleaning your watches, disassemble them, removing the watch face. Set aside the delicate parts of the watches, such as the main spring, balance, and pallets, as these cannot be placed in the ultrasonic machine.

https://www.lrultrasonics.com/blog/post/an-ultraso...

Edited by RichTT on Sunday 9th January 14:56

[Dolf Stoppard]

Anybody who thinks it's a good idea to put a complete watch in an ultrasonic cleaner is wrong. A disassembled watch, yes, the bracelet, yes. The whole watch, no. The fact some people do and get away with it does not mean it's a good idea.

[mickyh7]

Whilst it is possible to put many watches in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, it is not advised.

Crikey I've done it for years, maybe I'm just lucky?
Never had a problem or comeback.
Picked it up from 'thewatchforumuk' in the 80's.
Autos and Quartz.
I've been buying, modding and selling for 35 years!
Everyday is a learning day, but I don't think I'll be changing anytime soon!

[Fiedka]

I just use warm water, brush and then towel.
Would not recommend soap for watches with rotating bezels- it has caused my Seiko diving bezel to get firmly stuck once dried.

[NDA]

happie33 said:

hi all
advice please
best way to clean - get ride of every day dirt dust etc from casing , glass

using general household cleaning stuff

wanting to give my collection a good clean and spruce

thanks

As above. It the watch is waterproof, then warm soapy water and a toothbrush is all you need.

Do NOT put the watch case in an ultrasonic cleaner!! The combination of soap and ultrasonic vibrations is a disaster waiting to happen. You might get away with it on new seals, but I wouldn't risk it.

[glazbagun]

Yeah it's a risk/reward thing. Being submerged in hot soapy water isn't what they were designed for and there's always a risk that if your water resistance is largely made of of the caked dirt you're in the process of removing you'll let moisture in. I'm sure if you put your brand new divers watch in the tank it would be fine far more often than not, but given how expensive the potential repair bill can be I wouldn't risk it. Anything vintage would be madness.

Great for bracelets though and the cases if stripped down.

Toothbrush is fine. Some bezels are lubricated and might get stiffer if you clean them too well, but then they don't work so well caked with dirt either, so whatcha going to do?

Edited by glazbagun on Sunday 9th January 18:30

[CRA1G]

Mines washed everyday with me in the shower and has done for the last 35 + years..... saves time.....

[HocusPocus]

Moist micro fibre cloth for most watches, but gentle soap rub plus dunk in warm water for dive watches if I need to get bezel clogging dried salt off.

[Buster73]

CRA1G said:

Mines washed everyday with me in the shower and has done for the last 35 + years..... saves time.....

About once a month for my Submariner in the shower , wet it , cover in shaving foam and leave it whilst I get showered.

Then give it a good scrub with a nail brush , wash the remnants of shaving foam off then dry it with a towel.

Looks like new every time .

[Ninjin]

CRA1G said:

Mines washed everyday with me in the shower and has done for the last 35 + years..... saves time.....

Yup, same here but rather than everyday, only when I think it's dirty. That's the watch, not me...