How to clean a watch strap: 5 steps for metal, leather and silicone

You wear a watch every day, often for years – and hardly anyone thinks of cleaning it. Yet sweat, skin flakes, hand cream and soap residue collect between the links, on the caseback and in the leather. If you want to know how to clean a watch strap, there is one thing to find out first: how much water can the watch take?

Metal, leather and silicone each need different care, and the movement does not forgive water damage. These five steps show how to get the strap and case clean safely – from a classic automatic watch to a smartwatch.

Why cleaning your watch strap is worth it

Under a watch strap, the climate is warm and humid. Sweat, sebum and skin flakes settle between the links of a metal strap and, over time, act like a grinding paste. Leather straps absorb sweat, start to smell, discolour and crack. Dust and fluff cling to silicone, and a grey film forms on the caseback.

It's not just unsightly: a dirty strap can rub the skin, and grime stuck around the crown and pushers makes the watch harder to operate.

1. Check the water resistance first

Before your watch goes anywhere near water, check the rating on the caseback or in the manual. Important: the metre or bar rating refers to a test pressure, not a diving depth.

The manufacturer's manual always has the final say. Push or screw the crown fully in and never press the pushers under water. Seals age, so have the water resistance tested by a watchmaker, especially after a battery change or on older watches. If in doubt, treat a vintage watch as not water-resistant.

2. Metal straps: soapy bath and soft toothbrush

A watch strap made of stainless steel or titanium is robust, but it collects a lot of dirt between the links.

1. Remove the strap: the spring bars can be released with a spring bar tool – if you're unsure, have a watch shop do it.
2. Soak the strap for 10–15 minutes in lukewarm water with a drop of washing-up liquid.
3. Brush between the links and inside the clasp with a soft toothbrush.
4. Rinse thoroughly under lukewarm water.
5. Rub dry with a cloth and let it air-dry completely before refitting it.

You need nothing more than water and a little mild washing-up liquid or plain soap – both are among the simple household remedies that the Swiss consumer protection foundation (Stiftung für Konsumentenschutz) recommends instead of lots of special products. A removed stainless steel strap can also go in an ultrasonic cleaner, but the watch itself never can. Clean gold-plated or coated straps without abrasives or polishing paste.

If the strap can't be removed and the watch is sufficiently water-resistant, brush it on your wrist with a toothbrush that is only damp, then wipe it off thoroughly.

3. Leather straps: damp only, never wet

Leather and water don't get on: wetness leaves a strap stained, hard and cracked. So a leather watch strap should only ever be cleaned with a damp cloth:

1. Take the watch off and wipe the strap with a soft, barely damp cloth.
2. If it is dirty, put a touch of mild soap or saddle soap on the damp cloth, rub gently and wipe off with a clean, damp cloth.
3. Let it dry at room temperature – never on a radiator, in the sun or with a hairdryer.
4. Then apply a little leather conditioner, testing it on the underside first.

If the strap smells, air it regularly and swap it for a rubber or textile strap for sports. You can read more about caring for leather in our guide on how to clean leather.

4. Silicone, rubber and textile

Silicone and rubber straps are the least demanding:

• Silicone and rubber: remove them, wash in lukewarm soapy water, clean the grooves and holes with a soft brush, rinse and rub dry. Solvents attack the material.
• Light-coloured straps: sunscreen and insect repellent can stain them, so give them a quick wipe after applying cream.
• Textile and nylon: once removed, hand-wash with a little mild detergent, rinse well and lay flat to air-dry – not in the tumble dryer.

5. Case, glass and smartwatch

Wipe the case with a soft, slightly damp cloth and the glass with a clean microfibre cloth. Loosen dirt around the crown and bezel with a soft, dry brush.

For smartwatches and fitness trackers, the manufacturer's instructions come first:

• Switch the device off and take it off the charger.
• Wipe it with a lint-free, slightly damp cloth and gently clean the sensors on the back.
• Keep the charging contacts clean and dry, otherwise the watch won't charge properly.
• Only use alcohol wipes if the manufacturer expressly allows them, and never press buttons under water.

Our guide on how to clean your phone screen, remote and tablet shows how to clean the displays and casings of other devices gently.

Common mistakes when cleaning a watch strap

• Soaking the watch together with the strap: water gets into the movement through aged seals.
• Hot water or the sauna: heat and sudden temperature changes put stress on the seals.
• Holding a leather strap under the tap: the leather goes hard and stained.
• Abrasive cleaners and toothpaste: they scratch polished surfaces and coatings.
• Methylated spirits or acetone on rubber: the material turns brittle or sticky.

Priority Clean editorial teamOur cleaning team from Alberswil, Canton of Lucerne, shares hands-on experience from move-out, house, office and window cleaning across Central and Northwestern Switzerland.