How To Clean Rubber Watch Band From Dirt & Grime (4 Methods)
Back in the 1980s, mounting a rubber strap on a watch face was a tacky thing to do. Today, rubber straps are used from diving watches to dress watches. Most G-Shock watches come with resin and bands.
The two primary types of rubber used in most watches are natural rubber and silicone. These bands can withstand years of use if handled with care. They are durable than clear plastic bands.
Advantages of using a rubber strap
Rubber watch bands are valuable than other watch bands in certain circumstances. The following advantages explain why rubber straps for watches are so appealing for diving, sports, and general leisure use.
- They are durable
- They are waterproof, so they dry quickly.
- They are available in a wide range of textures and colors. So you can use them to match your sports outfit.
- You can cheaply replace them if lost or damaged.
- They are scratch-resistant.
- You can clean them quickly and
- They are non-allergic and non-toxic.
Problems of Rubber Watch Bands
One major problem with rubber bands is its breathability. Rubber watch bands are not breathable, especially if you wear them tight to the wrist.
Because they are not breathable, dirt and grime can build-up on them quickly, covering their true beauty.
As a quick solution to this, you can clean them regularly to get rid of the dirt build-up.
Also, it’s essential to rinse off your watch band after any outdoor or athletic activity. This prevents salt from sweat and other oils from dehydrating the rubber band.
However, there are situations where the build-up is no longer removable by merely rinsing the rubber band with running water.
If you encounter this problem, please read on. It will require some recommended solution to break the dirt or grime off the watch band.
How to Clean Dirt and Grime from Rubber Watch Straps
To remove any grime that builds up on your rubber strap, you can use any of these solutions. Each of them has its merits and demerits.
Before we move on, it’s essential to know that these are chemicals, and they can have different reactions on the skin. So use with care. Also, we take no responsibility if you hurt yourself or damage your watch strap.
Clorox
While Clorox is used as a household cleaner, you can use it to remove grease and dirt from your rubber watch strap. To use this cleaner to clean your watch band, do the following.
- Put some water in a container and add some Clorox solution to dilute it.
- Get a soft brush or toothbrush, dip it into the diluted Clorox, and rub the stained part of the watch strap gently.
- Repeat until the stain is removed. Then rinse in clean water and dry with a piece of clean cloth.
Isopropyl Alcohol
You can use this 99% pure alcohol to buff out dirt from your rubber band. Moisten a cotton ball with this alcohol solution and rub it on the stained area gently. This will break up the dirt or grime and clean it out.
Safety Measures:
Continuous use of this method can weaken your watch band and eventually break it. Limit its usage. Also, after handling the alcohol, wash your hands and any exposed skin thoroughly.
Baking Soda
Though baking soda is usually used on food, you can also use it to give your rubber band a good scrubbing. To use it on your rubber band,
- Take a small amount of it and make a paste from it by adding some water to it.
- Remove the rubber bands from the watch face.
- Use a soft brush or your fingers to apply the paste on the strap and rub lightly. Avoid applying too much pressure as the abrasives from the baking soda can damage your watch strap.
- Finally, rinse with clean water and dry with a clean cloth.
WD-40
WD-40 is safe to use on all materials, including rubber. To use it properly,
- Start by rinsing the watch band with clean water.
- Then apply a minimal amount of the product to the watch strap.
- Agitate the area you applied the product to with a soft sponge or smooth brush. WD-40 is designed to effectively remove dirt, grease, and grime quickly.
- Finally, rinse thoroughly with clean water.
- Then dry with a clean cloth or towel to leave an excellent finish on your watch band.
Safety Measures:
WD-40 has a damaging effect on your rubber band if done harshly. If your rubber strap is low-end quality, please don’t use this product on it. It may break it.
Make sure you rinse your rubber band once you are done agitating with a brush. Rinsing washes away the product, thus preventing any damage it may cause.
