Your leather watch strap is an essential part of your timepiece, and keeping it looking its best can be tricky. Thankfully, by following a few simple steps, you can keep your watch strap clean, soft, and looking like new! In this blog post, we’ll show you how to clean your leather watch strap at home the right way.
Step 1: Preparing the Leather Strap
Before we begin cleaning, ensure that any dust and debris have been removed from the leather watch strap as much as possible. Using a soft brush, gently pass over the strap several times, making sure to get into any grooves and holes where dirt may accumulate.
Once your watch strap is free of dirt and debris, we can move on to the following steps.
Step 2: Cleaning the Leather Strap
Once your watch strap has been prepped, it’s time to begin the cleaning process. Start by mixing a small amount of mild soap or leather cleaner with some water in a bowl. Although leather cleaner is generally safe to use without water, diluting the cleaner is recommended for a safer, more gentle cleaning.
Dip a soft cloth into the soapy mixture and gently massage it into the leather using small, circular strokes. Continue with this process until all of the leather surfaces of the strap have been covered.
Take care to avoid submerging the watch strap in water or using too much cleaner, as this may damage the material. Once the soapy mixture has been fully applied, use a damp cloth to wipe away any excess cleaner.
Step 3: Conditioning the Leather Strap
After cleaning, it’s important to condition your leather watch strap. Doing so will help keep it soft and supple, and make sure it lasts as long as possible. To condition the leather, you’ll need a specialized leather conditioner or a mild oil.
Apply a small amount of the conditioner to the watch strap using a soft cloth or brush, once again using small, circular strokes. Gently wipe off any excess conditioner with a damp cloth.
Step 4: Drying the Leather Strap
Once you’ve finished cleaning and conditioning your leather watch strap, it’s time to dry it off. Using a soft cloth or towel, pat down the strap to remove any excess moisture before laying the leather flat in a cool, dry place. Allow the strap to dry for a minimum of 60 minutes before reinstalling it onto your watch.
Finally, it’s a good idea to inspect your watch strap at least once a month for signs of wear or damage. Cleaning and conditioning your watch strap regularly will extend its life, and help keep it looking its best.
Keeping your leather watch strap in top shape takes a bit of care and maintenance, but by following these four easy steps, you can keep your timepiece shining for years to come!
Thank you…loved the clear, precise instructions. Cleaned four of my straps purchased from you.
Thank you for being so helpful. And, thank you so much for not making me read 10 pages of BS and at the end finding out that you were prepping me for your asking for my credit card number. What a relief. I was waiting to see what the video had to offer and if it was what I expected I would have closed he window.
Thank you, great advice 👍