A well-chosen wrist watch looks stylish. But lovers of this accessory should know how to clean a metal watch bracelet or a strap made of another material. After all, even with careful wear, particles of skin remain on it, sweat is absorbed, and other impurities are possible. At home, it is enough just to put them in order. But the mechanism is better to entrust the master.
Cleaning a metal bracelet
How to clean your watch depends on the material. If the strap is leather, then not all procedures available for a stainless steel product are suitable for it. And with a gold bracelet, you must be especially careful.
If possible, the strap should be separated from the watch. Then it will be more convenient to operate, because the risk of water and detergent getting into the mechanism will disappear. To clean a metal product, warm water is recommended, in which dish detergent or the most common shampoo is added. Use it like this:
- pour into a shallow container;
- immerse the watch strap in it and leave for half an hour;
- then they take it out and wipe it with a polishing cloth or just a soft, lint-free one;
- fold and unfold several times to get to hard-to-reach corners, it is there that dead skin particles and dirt tend to accumulate;
- a toothpick can clean the most difficult places;
Before use, you need to completely dry the bracelet with a soft cloth or just in the air.
If the watch has lost its luster, then you can restore it in this way: shape the aluminum foil into a bowl, put a bracelet in it, then pour baking soda and add hot water. Leave for half an hour, then take it out and wipe it off so that there are no streaks left. The same effect is obtained by mixing water and ammonia.
You can prepare a special paste to wipe the watch: combine baking soda and vinegar in equal proportions. The same tool is useful if the question arose of how to clean a titanium watch bracelet or a piece of precious metal.
How to fix a leather strap?
Leather straps are popular. Caring for them will not be difficult if you do it regularly.
As with a metal bracelet, a soapy solution will do. To enhance the effect, you can add a little ammonia. This mixture should be applied to a cotton pad and used to clean the accessory. Then it should be washed off - it is convenient to use wet wipes for this - and dry with a towel. After that, it is recommended to lubricate the product with a small amount of olive oil. This measure will help soften the skin and protect it.
To clean a white watch leather bracelet, you can use an egg and milk. To do this, stir the protein in a glass of drink, after which the strap is treated with a cotton swab. In this way, two goals are achieved: impurities are removed and the original radiant appearance is restored.
A bracelet made of fabric must also be maintained in order. It is easy to take care of it: you need to wash it in water, to which soap or any other detergent is added, and clean especially soiled places with a toothbrush.
What to do with a bracelet made of gold, titanium or ceramic?
Gold watches need the same care as other products made from this metal. It is quite soft, so that with excessive zeal it can be scratched. Therefore, it is necessary to act carefully, but with caution. It is convenient to use a toothbrush, the bristles of which will penetrate even into hard-to-reach places of the watch. Only choose the best baby, very soft. It should be moistened with water, then walk along the entire bracelet, pressing not too hard.
Gold watches can be polished with ordinary cosmetic powder applied to a soft cloth.
If it was not possible to clean a gold watch, a bracelet with ordinary water, then toothpaste is allowed. The foam on the brush may soon darken. This should not cause concern: dirt comes off in this way, quality products cannot be damaged in this way. Toothpaste must be completely removed after the procedure is completed: if the watch has metal parts, they will begin to rust.
When the bracelet is so heavily soiled that the usual means did not help, you can try using a lubricant, such as WD-40. A drop of the substance should be applied to the soiled place of the bracelet or watch, wait a couple of minutes and wipe with a soft cloth. Residues should be washed off well. 
Titanium watches are lightweight and look stylish. No wonder they are popular. You can clean them in the same way as gold ones. Titanium is a soft material, so the watch can be scratched during wear. Minor damage is easy to clean up yourself. You should take an ordinary school eraser and draw it several times along the strap in one direction. The view will improve immediately.
If the question arose of how to clean a ceramic bracelet on a watch, then it is very simple to do it. The material is resistant, not subject to corrosion and other damage. It is enough to wipe the bracelet with a soapy cloth so that it takes its original form.
Watches add style to any look. If you take care of them properly, they will last a long time.
Any wrist watch needs regular maintenance. Aggressive outdoor environment, dust, rain - all this affects not only the watch case, but also its internal elements. Therefore, even the most expensive watches need regular cleaning. You can clean the watch yourself at home, without contacting a watchmaker. You just need to follow a few simple rules.
How to clean a watch?
How can you clean a watch - the question is quite natural. We hasten to please you: for accurate and thorough cleaning, you do not need to purchase special expensive cleaning products.
To clean a leather strap, you need a cloth with a leather cleaner applied to it. A stainless steel bracelet can simply be cleaned with a toothbrush (expensive, with soft bristles so as not to scratch the case) dipped in soapy water. A bracelet made of silver or gilded should be carefully cleaned with a napkin.
The outside of the case and the dial can be wiped with a flannel cloth coated with glass cleaner. Wipes for cleaning office equipment or optics are well suited for these purposes.
If you find ingrained dirt on the bracelet or case that soft products “do not take”, you will have to resort to harder ones. For example, clean it with a toothpick with a soft tip or with a cotton swab wound around the tip.
The same toothpick is quite suitable for cleaning the mechanism. The main thing is to make sure that its tip does not break off and does not get stuck inside. It is also convenient to use tweezers for work.
How to properly clean a watch?
First of all, we clean the external parts: we wipe the strap or bracelet, the back wall and the cover, we scrape out the old dirt. It is important to remember, especially if your watch is not waterproof, that you must carefully protect it from drops of water and cleaning agent. Then, we move on to cleaning the internal parts - the watch mechanism.
This process takes place in several stages:
- carefully remove the cover from the mechanism. To do this, you will need either tweezers or the smallest screwdriver with a magnetized tip, which is usually used when repairing tablets and laptops;
- we disassemble sequentially all the details, laying them with tweezers in the order in which you will collect them;
- prepare a container with alcohol: 2 centimeters of liquid are enough;
- First of all, we clean the balance. We hook it with tweezers and gently rinse in alcohol. After that, you need to shake the part a little in the air so that it dries out and put it on a lint-free cloth;
- next to clean the bridge of the anchor fork and engagement and the anchor fork itself. The cleaning process is similar to that described in the previous paragraph, only after drying in air, the parts should be laid on a sheet of smooth paper;
- then the rest of the details are cleaned in turn: large ones are placed on a napkin, small ones - on a sheet of paper;
After washing all the parts, we wait about 10 minutes until they dry;
- Once again, before assembling, carefully inspect the parts so that they are free of lint and dust. If we find any - brush off with a soft brush;
- We try to assemble as quickly as possible so that dust does not get on the mechanism again.
Watch Cleaning Tips
In order for your watch to take on the same appearance after cleaning as immediately after purchase, be sure to lubricate it. To lubricate watches, only ultra-refined liquid oil marked “for watches” is used. You should not use any other mechanism oil, as it can interact with the material of the watch mechanism. You need to drip oil from the tip of the toothpick, because an excessive amount of lubricant is just as harmful to the mechanism as its lack.
After fully assembling the watch, you can use a dry microfiber cloth to final clean the case and apply gloss.
The thorough cleaning of your wristwatch, which is discussed in our review, does not need to be done too often. It is enough to carry it out every three to four years, not forgetting to lubricate the mechanism. And then your watch will delight you for decades.
Often on the shelves of jewelry stores there are gilded silver items. They look chic, but are cheaper than gold. Unfortunately, over time, the gilding fades. You can restore the former shine to jewelry and cutlery, for this you need to properly care for them. How to clean gilding at home?
How to properly clean gold from blackness
The process of cleaning gilding at home can be divided into three stages:
- Preparatory. Removal of grease, dust and dirt from the gilded surface. This is especially true of the jewelry that we wear on the body.
- Basic. Direct stain removal.
- Final. Suede polishing to make the product shine.
Basically, gilding is applied to silver and cupronickel. The metal from which the product is made does not affect the method of cleaning gold plating. Therefore, popular methods and means are applicable to gilded items from both silver and cupronickel.
How can you clean silver jewelry with gilding
Means for cleaning gilded products from dust, grease and dirt should be soft, not damaging the thin top layer.
Removing dust and dirt from spoons
You can wash cutlery with gilding with improvised means. Suede, alcohol or vinegar are best suited for this purpose.
- suede fabric is used for minor pollution. Wipe the cutlery with it until the dirt and dust completely disappears;
- alcohol. Treat the spoons with a cotton swab pre-moistened with alcohol. Use a toothpick in hard-to-reach places. After processing, wipe the surface with suede;
- vinegar is used if the appliances have acquired a greenish tint. Dip dirty spoons into the solution (per 1 liter of water 2 tablespoons of vinegar), leave for a quarter of an hour. You can simply wipe it with a sponge moistened with a solution of vinegar (2 tablespoons per 250 ml of water). Remove, rinse with water, wipe dry and polish with chamois leather.
Clean products with gentle gentle movements. Any strong pressure can erase the gilding.
We clean jewelry and watches with gilding from black spots
The most effective for removing blackness from gilding are beer, egg white, onions. Water solutions with soap and ammonia or a mild detergent also remove dark stains well.
- Fill the container with beer, put decorations in it and leave for half an hour. Then rinse with water and dry.
- Dip a cotton swab in egg white, treat the surface, rinse off the remaining protein and dry.
- Rub the gilded item with onions. Wait 60-90 minutes. Rinse with water, dry and polish.
- Dilute a teaspoon of mild detergent and six drops of ammonia in 1 liter of warm water. Immerse gold-plated jewelry in the solution for 30 minutes. Watch the time! With longer exposure, the gilding may come off. Remove, rinse with water and leave to dry.
- Add a mild detergent to warm water (when cleaning products with stones, it is better to use regular shampoo). Dip the jewelry in the resulting foam for half an hour, then brush with a soft bristle brush and rinse.
After using any product, polish the jewelry with a piece of suede, they will become shiny.
Home remedies for cleaning cupronickel and silver with gilding - gallery
Beer well cleans dark plaque from gilding 
Rub onions on gilded cupronickel cutlery - they will become clean and shiny 
Egg white gently cleans jewelry without scratching gold 
A solution of ammonia and detergent removes stubborn dirt on gilded items 
Shampoo suitable for cleansing gold-plated jewelry with stones
Little tricks
- Be careful when cleaning jewelry with stones. By wiping the product or immersing it in a solution, you can accidentally damage the stone mount.
- The clasp of many gold-plated chains is made of ordinary metal, which rusts in contact with water. Therefore, it is recommended not to lower them into the solution, but to wipe them.
- Special pastes that can be purchased at jewelry stores are great for cleaning.
What tools can not be used
The main rule when cleaning is the absence of any abrasive components, even the softest ones, such as chalk or toothpaste.
The layer of gilding on some products is very thin. Any, even the softest abrasive can simply erase it.
Ways to save gold plating
Unfortunately, gold plating wears out over time. Constant contact with various surfaces: body, sweat, water, soap, dirt has a very unfavorable effect on the condition and appearance of jewelry. Simple rules help to extend the life of gold-plated products.
- Wipe jewelry and cutlery with chamois leather as it gets dirty.
- Protect them from exposure to water, perfume, various creams.
- Store gold-plated products so that they do not touch each other. Wrap the jewelry in suede cloth, and place the cutlery in special cases.
Tips for cleaning gold plated rings, chains and bracelets - video
Gold-plated items require careful handling. It is very easy to spoil the bright look of gilding. Cleaning gives a good result, restores the original appearance of jewelry and cutlery, but do not forget about preventive measures. You can extend the life of gilding if you know the rules for handling it. Take care of your things and they will last you longer.
In fact, caring for (and in particular cleaning) jewelry is not the easiest thing to do. For the most part, these things are quite fragile and expensive, therefore, incorrect and / or inept attempts to clean or repair them, as they say, on their own can result in unpleasant and often irreparable damage. To a large extent, this also applies to gold and gold-plated watches.
However, we are not talking about the fact that every time when it becomes necessary to clean a gilded watch, you should turn to the master for help. Timely and proper care helps to keep such products in good condition for a very long time, if everything is done correctly.
So, how to tidy up a gold or gold-plated watch.
1. Watches in a gold case or in a gold-plated steel case are recommended to be cleaned regularly with a slightly damp cloth or cotton swab. To do this, a corner of a clean, lint-free cloth or a small piece of cotton wool should be gently moistened with warm water so that the cloth or cotton wool is just damp, not wet. Then carefully wipe all the gold-plated elements of the watch, making sure that moisture does not get inside the case in any case, especially if the watch is not water-resistant. If such a procedure is carried out systematically, then the dirt from the watch is easily removed and the gilding regains its original appearance.
2. If an old one has accumulated on a gold-plated watch or bracelet, which cannot be washed off with water, you can try to remove it with toothpaste. Apply a small amount of toothpaste (regular toothpaste, not gel) to a piece of clean cloth or directly to the dirty area of the watch case and rub thoroughly but gently until the dirt is completely removed. It is better to start from the inner surface of the bracelet, then go to the outer and then directly to the watch case.
3. Use a soft-bristled baby toothbrush to clean indentations, indentations, ornamental patterns, gaps between bracelet links and other hard-to-reach places where a cotton swab or cloth can't reach. First, the brush should simply be moistened with warm water (see item 1), and if the water does not produce the desired effect, then you can use toothpaste (see item 2). By the way, if after some time the foam on the bristles of the brush begins to darken, do not rush to worry, these are traces of dirt, high-quality gilding cannot be damaged in this way.
4. After cleaning, gently wipe off any remaining toothpaste with a damp cloth. This procedure must be performed with extreme care, since toothpaste can corrode the metal elements of the watch case and bracelet. To remove toothpaste from hard-to-reach places, use a toothbrush dipped in clean water.
5. In cases where it is impossible to clean a gold-plated watch with water or even toothpaste, it is recommended to use WD40 grease. Apply a drop of WD40 to the pre-moistened area of the contaminated surface of the watch or bracelet and wipe it with a piece of cloth or your hand, then wipe it off with a cloth dampened with clean water.
6. After cleaning, dry the watch and bracelet. Make sure there is no moisture left in the recesses.
7. Using a piece of dry, soft and clean cloth, polish the watch, paying special attention to places where gold or gilding has faded.
IMPORTANT!
Gold or gold-plated watches should be cleaned carefully, but carefully, without applying excessive force, otherwise the product may be damaged or the gilding may be ruined.
Do not allow water to get inside the watch case. Moisture can damage or disable the watch mechanism.
And further:
In Pulp Fiction, Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) remembers how Captain Koontz (Christopher Walken) gave him a family heirloom, a gold watch. So, the real LANCET WWI Trench of the Swiss brand Langendorf (also known under the Lanco brand), which in the 1890s was considered the largest manufacturer of wristwatches in the world, “starred” as this watch. 
LANCET military watches manufactured by Uhrenfabrik Langendorf SA (the manufactory was founded in 1973 by Colonel Johann Kottmann. At the beginning of the last century, Langendorf produced wristwatches under various brands, in particular Aliada, Barracuda, Carex, Cavalier, Lancet, Stratford and Valogene, many of which were exported to other countries, and some were even assembled outside of Switzerland.During the First and Second World Wars, Langendorf produced special wristwatches for officers of the ground forces and combat pilots.
Wristwatches have not lost their popularity, although today it is easy to find out what time it is on a cell phone. Many people still prefer mechanical watches, but to keep them accurate, they need to be cleaned at least every three years. This is due to unfavorable external factors that affect their mechanism: the ingress of dust and dirt into it, the drying of parts.
clean the watch
The easiest way is to take them to a watch shop, but you can clean your watch at home if you are sure that after cleaning you can assemble it so that it does not leftover details, and the instrument will still walk accurately.
It is worth taking up cleaning only if the watch is functioning normally, that is, it is fully functional
If observed some malfunctions in their work, then they need not only and not so much cleaning as repair. Let's see how do-it-yourself watch cleaning is done and what should be at hand for this.
What do you need to clean your watch?
First of all, you need to make room for work by removing everything superfluous from the table and taking care of good lighting– the work is delicate, the details are small, and none of them can be overlooked.
From materials you need to prepare:
- rubber medical pear;
- tweezers for small parts;
- clean pipette;
- toothpick;
- brush with soft thin bristles, thoroughly soaked in gasoline or alcohol;
- soft toothbrush (it also needs to be soaked);
- solvent gasoline "Kalosha" or ethyl alcohol;
- watch oil;
- small capacity (cup, glass);
- cotton pad or swab;
- cloth napkin;
- several thin sheets of white paper, preferably cigarette paper;
- wood sawdust or shavings, birch is best.
Soft toothbrush for cleaning watches
Sequence of work
Watch cleaning is not limited to cleaning the mechanism itself, it is also necessary for the watch case, including glass and a strap or bracelet.
Although it is usually recommended to start cleaning the movement right away, it is advisable to first clean the case with glass, since after cleaning the movement itself, it will need to be placed in the case as soon as possible during prevent dust particles from entering. You can, of course, cover it with paper or cloth, but particles almost invisible to the eye can get into the mechanism from them, which will negate all your work.
So, cleaning a mechanical watch produced in the next sequences.
Watch disassembly
- Disconnect a winding screw that secures the mechanism in the case.
- Open the case and carefully take the mechanism out of it.
- If it contains large, clearly visible contamination, which is easily accessible, then they can be removed with a toothpick. But be attentive: if its tip breaks off and remains inside, it will damage the mechanism, and then you definitely cannot do without a watchmaker.
- Use a rubber blower to clean the mechanism with compressed air. Make sure that the pressure is not too strong, otherwise miniature parts may be damaged.
- Clean the case in the same way - here pressure may be stronger.
Watch disassembly
Case cleaning
- wadded disk or swab dipped in gasoline/alcohol, wipe the watch case.
- If there are intruders pollution They are easy to remove with a brush or toothbrush.
- To clean the dial, use first wet and then a dry cloth.
- Do not wipe the glass with gasoline/alcohol, as this transparency may be impaired.(this applies to inexpensive watches with poor quality glass).
- Finally, wipe the body with a tissue dry.
Wet wipe for cleaning the watch
Mechanism cleaning
Remember that you need to clean the watch mechanism very carefully, without too much pressure on parts, otherwise they may be deformed - this is an indispensable condition for home cleaning. Ideally, it is desirable to find instructions for this particular watch model, since if assembled incorrectly, they will simply become unusable.
- Need to start with balance: it is immersed in alcohol or gasoline poured into a cup or glass to a height of about 2 cm. Take the balance with tweezers by the rim, immerse it in a cup and rinse, then move it through the air to let the gasoline / alcohol evaporate, and place it in birch sawdust for final drying - they absorb liquid better than others.
- anchor fork and engagement cleaned in the same way, but dried on paper, since these parts are smaller.
- In the same way clean and all other details. Large ones are placed in sawdust for drying, and small ones are placed on paper.
- Give all the details dry out. If after that you notice plaque on them, gently brush it off with a brush or toothbrush.
- The assembly of the mechanism must be done after complete drying parts and do it as quickly as possible so that dust does not get into it.
- After assembly, lubricate the parts with watch oil (it is convenient to do this with a pipette) and immediately insert into the case.
Cleaning the strap or bracelet
Straps and bracelets are an integral part of watches. They are made from a variety of materials: from traditional metal and leather to ceramics, plastic, silicone, etc.
Of course, the strap / bracelet needs to be cleaned much more often than the mechanism: every two months
And the point is not only that it loses its appearance, but also that due to pollution, especially on the inside, it creates the most favorable conditions for the reproduction of harmful microorganisms.
Watch band cleaning
To clean the strap / bracelet can be done in the most inconvenient places for access, it must be removed from the watch:
- The ceramic bracelet on the watch is the easiest to clean - it is enough wipe with a soft cloth moistened with glass cleaner, it will be like new.
- It is recommended to clean the leather strap on the watch wadded disk, dipped in soapy water, to which a few drops of ammonia are added, after which the soap residue is removed with a damp cloth. The silicone strap / bracelet is also cleaned with the same solution. Leather strap not recommended to soak in solution, and also be cleaned with gasoline or alcohol. If the skin on the strap is light, and even more so white, it is cleaned with a mixture of milk and egg white.
- Cleaning is recommended for plastic, rubber and fabric straps/bracelets toothpaste or a solution of laundry soap.
- Wristwatches made of stainless steel, as a rule, also have a stainless steel bracelet, which is cleaned with a mixture of table vinegar and soda (vinegar can be replaced with ammonia). The silver bracelet is cleaned with the same solution. This can also be done with regular shampoo or mild detergent for dishes. Although the bracelet is stainless, it should be wiped dry with a dry cotton cloth or microfiber.
- A gold bracelet is not steel, from constant wear it can become dull and get dirty with sweat and fat, which secrete the pores on the arm. It cannot be cleaned with any aqueous solutions - only a mechanical cleaning method using baby powder, crushed chalk or powder. They are applied to dry flannel, polish the bracelet on both sides, and then wipe it with a dry cloth.
Watch cleaning chalk
As you can see, there is nothing supernaturally difficult in cleaning watches on your own, especially if you have experience with delicate mechanisms. If there is no such experience, then you have two options: either experiment with your watch, or just take it to a watch workshop. The choice is yours!