How to properly clean a watch strap at home

1. Advantages and disadvantages of silicone watch strap
2. The nuances of cleaning a watch strap
3. Ways to Clean a Silicone Watch Band

There are several ways to clean a silicone watch strap, which are suitable for fitness bracelets or smart watches from Apple or Xiaomi. The peculiarity of this material is that often manufacturers do not indicate how to care for it at all, leaving the owner alone with the problem.

There are a number of methods that are practically safe and cannot harm a silicone product. In our article we will tell you how to clean such a strap, analyze its pros and cons, and also consider ways to care for bracelets made of other materials.

The nuances of cleaning a watch strap

When worn, wristwatches are inevitably exposed to environmental influences. Their strap gets dirty, gathers dust, and absorbs secreted subcutaneous fat. This leads to loss of the original appearance. A dirty watch strap is also an ideal environment for the development of bacteria, which can be unsafe for human health.

How to replace a watch strap: choose a new one, take care of the old one #How to replace a watch strap Read more

For these reasons, the watch must be cleaned periodically. Below we will talk in more detail about how to clean a watch strap, paying attention to the characteristics of the material of manufacture: leather, rubber, silicone, etc.

Those people who wear their watches every day should clean the strap once every two months. To do this, it must be disconnected from the body.

If you can’t do it yourself or don’t know what’s best to use, then try cleaning your watch bracelet with a cotton pad or soft cloth moistened with a special product (it’s best to check the composition in the instructions for your watch and bracelet).

The watch dial should be cleaned with a damp cloth and then wiped dry with a soft cloth. The metal bracelet must be cleaned carefully so as not to scratch or damage it.

The cleaning method and cleaning agent must be suitable for the specific material of your watch case and band (leather, alloy, precious metals, fabric, plastic, silicone or rubber).

If the dirt on your bracelet or watch strap is significant, it is better to have it cleaned by professionals in a workshop. They will be able to quickly and effectively remove dust and dirt from the accessory, as well as carry out restoration if necessary. If you want to carry out all the manipulations yourself, we advise you to follow the recommendations below.

How to clean a silicone bracelet

Most fitness bracelets come with a silicone strap. The elastic material is pleasant to the touch, fits tightly on the wrist, you can find any shade, there are options with a pattern or perforation. But don’t be surprised that after a couple of months the bracelet will lose its original color. This means it's time to clean it. To do this you need:

• get the gadget out of the capsule;
• prepare a solution of water, liquid soap and ammonia;
• soak the bracelet in this liquid for 15 minutes, then clean with an old toothbrush;
• dry well.

How to clean a silicone phone case?

• pour into a shallow container;
• immerse the watch strap in it and leave it for half an hour;
• then 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, which is where dead skin particles and dirt tend to accumulate;
• You can use a toothpick to clean the most difficult places;

Each sponge consists of almost 100% melamine. These are colorless crystals that are practically insoluble in liquid.

How to deal with stains and stubborn dirt

A milk-protein mixture is suitable for cleaning models, which is prepared as follows:

To quickly clean silicone phone cases, choose a method depending on the origin of the contamination.

A vinegar bath removes even stubborn stains

Additional Information! Before the cleaning procedure, remove dust and adhering dirt from the accessory.

How to clean a ballpoint pen from a phone case

Marks from a ballpoint pen are removed with a melamine sponge or eraser. To wipe the handle off the case, also use the following means:

Strokes and blots are smeared, left for 30 minutes, then the item is washed in lukewarm soapy foam and rinsed thoroughly.

Darkening

The darkened protective lining is wiped with an unsaturated solution of citric acid or soaked in diluted bleach, which does not contain chlorine. The defect disappears within 1.5 - 2 months, then the case has to be lightened again or bought a new one.

Sticky traces from stickers, tape and glue are removed with solvents - nail polish remover, diluted alcohol, or choose preparations based on the type of adhesive:

1. Fresh drops of water-based glue (stationery, PVA, carpentry) can be easily cleaned by generous rinsing. Before processing, remove sticky residues with a paper towel.
2. Drops of Moment glue are wiped off with cotton wool soaked in dimexide, then the damaged area is treated with diluted vodka or a damp cloth.
3. Superglue is removed from silicone with essential oil: 3–5 drops are applied to a sponge, and the spot is gently rubbed. After an hour, wipe the cleaned area with dry cotton wool and wash with liquid soap.

Sticky stains can also be removed with transparent Anti-Glue. The applied gel is left for 40 - 60 minutes, then washed with a damp flannel. To make sure that the Anti-Glue will cope with the stain and will not spoil the product, the effect is checked on an inconspicuous corner.

Essential oils cleanse and scent

Stains and dirt

Spots and yellowness are removed with soda slurry or essential oil: apply to the surface with a cotton pad, rub lightly, and wash off after 5-7 minutes. To remove stubborn dirt, the case is soaked in a mixture consisting of the following components:

After an hour, remove from the solution and rub with flannel. Contaminated areas are treated 2 or 3 times.

How I found my ideal hair growth product

Hello dear! I want to share with you my solution to the sensitive problem of hair loss . The problems are very serious, at least for me. I would never have thought that this misfortune would touch me, especially at the age of 29 (read more...)

How to clean a strap made from other materials

For variety, you can purchase straps for your smart gadget from other materials, and each one will have its own cleaning features:

• nylon is a special fabric that is worn for a long time and has dirt-repellent properties, that is, the owner will not often have to worry about its cleanliness. When a nylon bracelet becomes dirty, you need to wash it in warm water and dry it thoroughly;
• leather and eco-leather look expensive and presentable. A fitness bracelet is almost indistinguishable from a classic wristwatch, so it goes well with any style of clothing. The material practically does not need cleaning; it is enough to periodically wipe it with a damp cloth. It is much more important to choose a high-quality strap that will not peel off after a month of use;
• metal bracelets are also close to the classics. They do not need to be cleaned at all, they are extremely strong and durable.

How to choose

To ensure that the strap causes a minimum of hassle and lasts a long time, when choosing, adhere to the following rules:

1. Buy straps only from trusted stores that specialize in electronics. They value their authority and offer customers quality accessories. In any case, bright bracelets will often get dirty, but they will not deteriorate even with frequent cleaning.
2. Choose black or metal bracelets for everyday wear; they don't need to be cleaned.
3. Please note - the more unusual the surface of the strap, the more difficult it will be to clean.

Faux leather

Preventive measures

Cleaning

Faux leather straps are wiped with a soft sponge or cotton swab soaked in a warm solution of detergent for synthetic fabrics, trying to avoid excessive wetting of both sides of the strap and its internal contents. Residues of detergent and excess moisture are removed first with a slightly dampened and then dry soft cotton cloth. Dry the straps in a straightened state at room temperature.

Naturally, it is useless to soften and treat artificial leather with oils; in this case, it is better to wipe it with silicone glitter to make it look a little “fresher.”

Leather strap care

Leather straps will last you much longer if you follow these simple rules:

• Do not tighten the strap on your wrist too much - leave a small gap about the thickness of your little finger. If the product is tightened tightly, then with constant contact with the skin it will begin to intensively absorb sweat. This will also prevent stretching and deformation of the skin. Finally, when fastening, you won't have to bend the leather strap too much to secure the clasp on one of the last holes.
• Do not wear your watch on a leather strap all the time. Try to take off your watch while you sleep - this will allow the strap to maintain its shape and ventilate the smell of sweat.
• Avoid interaction of the leather strap with aggressive substances and chemicals. Washing dishes, finishing work using paint and varnish products - in these cases you should definitely remove your watch.
• Avoid exposure to moisture. All professional diving watches are produced with silicone and similar straps for a reason. Moisture has a detrimental effect on natural leather. Swimming in a pond, taking a bath or visiting a sauna while wearing a wristwatch is not the best solution, even with a declared water resistance of 100 m.

As for moisturizing and polishing an artificial leather strap, these are completely useless activities, and most often dangerous for the material.

You may simply damage the top layer of the product, and then there will be no way to return it to its original appearance.

If you have a leather Apple Watch band

The Apple Watch Sport Band is made from fluoroelastomer, which is particularly durable and sweat-resistant. Feel free to clean your Apple Watch fluoroelastomer band with warm water and mild soap to remove stubborn stains.

Expert opinion

Ksenia Diyanova, expert on beauty, purity, harmony

Ask me any questions, I will be happy to answer!

The soap is washed off with a damp cloth, then wiped with a cotton napkin or cloth and left until completely dry. In order for a textile strap to last as long as possible, it is enough to follow the same recommendations that we described earlier for leather straps. Faux leather Ask me all your questions, I will be happy to answer!

Textile (fabric, nylon) strap

Textile straps, and especially those with special impregnation, can sometimes even outlast leather straps in terms of durability. And this is not surprising, because products made from woven synthetic fibers are less prone to abrasion and deformation than genuine leather. The main thing is to choose straps from a reliable manufacturer and preferably with metal holes for the fastener, as is often the case with NATO straps, for example. The presence of this feature in the strap significantly increases its service life.

Preventive measures

In order for a textile strap to last as long as possible, it is enough to follow the same recommendations that we described earlier for leather straps. But regarding the mandatory drying in the straightened state, everything is not so strict - the textile strap can be dried directly on the hand, which is especially important in the case of frequent water procedures.

Cleaning

Regarding cleaning textile straps, we note that you can use a wider arsenal of synthetic detergents, including dishwashing liquid, than in the case of leather straps. The main thing is not to overdo it too much with the concentration and high temperature of the water. Well, naturally, it is also better to dry such straps without using heating devices.

What kind of sponge is this - “melamine”

Melamine sponges cannot be called know-how, but they appeared relatively recently. They were immediately loved for their ability to remove complex contaminants from the surface that other products cannot cope with.

Each sponge consists of almost 100% melamine. These are colorless crystals that are practically insoluble in liquid.

In laboratory conditions, foam is made from hot melamine resin, which turns into a soft, porous material and becomes the basis for sponges.

The main feature of the sponge is the microscopic fibers with which it is all dotted. It is with their help that even the most difficult stains can be cleaned.

Melamine sponge has abrasive properties. It is capable of scraping off contaminants from the surface and absorbing them into its fibers. Think of it as an eraser that you can use to erase a pencil on a piece of paper.

The advantages of a sponge: it can be used to clean even the most unexpected surfaces, including silicone straps for Apple Watch.

Disadvantages of a sponge: despite the fact that a sponge costs a penny, it is extremely short-lived; and due to its abrasive structure, it can erase excess, so you need to be careful.

Main conclusions:

1. A melamine sponge works great for even the most seriously dirty Apple Watch straps.

2. We even tried using nail polish remover, but a melamine sponge is better.

3. An alternative to a melamine sponge can be a liquid for cleaning mirrors and windows, but a melamine sponge is still cooler.

4. Light-colored straps easily smear on clothes with long sleeves, so it’s better to leave them for the summer and wear dark ones in the cold season.

Be sure to tell us how you deal with dirt on your straps. Just don’t say that everyone only has black ones!

Care to prevent Mi Band from irritating the skin | ITIGIC

1. Soak a clean sponge in cold water and squeeze out excess liquid.
2. Remove the bracelet and, with light pressure, clean the rubber surface. The movements of the sponge should be of a sweeping type, so as not to rub dirt over the surface.
3. Next, you need to rinse the strap in clean water and wipe dry with a paper towel. Before installing the capsule, you should wait until the bracelet is completely dry.

Be sure to tell us how you deal with dirt on your straps. Just don’t say that everyone only has black ones!