I can't answer all your questions, but rubbing alcohol is completely safe for stainless steel itself. However getting it into crevices of the watch case where it may contact rubber gaskets, or even worse seep into the movement wouldn't be the best thing.

Alcohol is volatile and I'm so crazy with my watches that I try not to expose them unnecessarily to any types of fumes.... However, that probably is an unnecessary concern of mine. Mainly, I wouldn't let alcohol in liquid form the opportunity to seep into any possible entry points in the watch case.

 

Not sure if it is safe, but I do not see the need to use rubbing alcohol to clean watches. As to other products, that would depend on whether the bracelet was brushed or polished. As an example, many people like to use a Cape Cod cloth on their bracelets and/or cases.

 

Also, YouTube is a great resource for this topic because you can actually watch how it is done.

 

Personally I bought a small ultrasonic cleaner.

Simply remove the bracelet, drop bracelet in the tank with some water and a drop of dish liquid and 5 minutes later it sparkles like new. Cleans every nook and cranny and is perfectly safe.

When your done do the wifes rings and you're a hero. $50 bucks

 

Personally I bought a small ultrasonic cleaner.

Simply remove the bracelet, drop bracelet in the tank with some water and a drop of dish liquid and 5 minutes later it sparkles like new. Cleans every nook and cranny and is perfectly safe.

When your done do the wifes rings and you're a hero. $50 bucks

Looking into getting one. Do you know what kind you have and do you recommend that brand? Thanks

 

No problem if you remove the bracelet from the watch. Alcohol can however solve substances from some types of rubber, making them harder and brittle in the long run. Not sure if that's true for the gaskets in a watch case, and it's probably no problem if you don't do it overly often and wash the watch with clean water afterwards. But then again I can't see why I would want to risk it either..

 

Just use a little Dawn and water.

 

I also seem to recall reading that rubbing alcohol may affect anti-reflective coatings. Most watches that have AR coatings have them only on the inside of the crystal, but I would be careful with a double-AR coated watch.

 

Not sure but I’ve owned watches for ages and never needed to use anything like alcohol on them - a bit of spit and a microfibre cloth will do the job just as well - maybe even better.

 

Not sure but I've owned watches for ages and never needed to use anything like alcohol on them - a bit of spit and a microfibre cloth will do the job just as well - maybe even better.

This, except I use running water to save spit.

Sent from my LG-H932 using Tapatalk

 

No need to use any solvent (including alcohol). Some liquid soap, lukewarm water and toothbrush are all you need.

 

I usually follow the cleaning instructions that come with the watch. If you do not have the aforementioned, soap mixed with water and a soft toothbrush will do.

 

Stay away from Rubbing alcohol. Soap and water is the way to go.

 

every spring I use Dawn dishwashing soap to remove the polish from my car prior to rewashing, claying, washing and then applying several coats of fresh polish.

less familiar with watches, and obviously there's variability in finish, AR coating, etc., but I'd be hesitant to use dishwashing soap on watches for fear of it being too harsh given its ability to strip car polish.

 

every spring I use Dawn dishwashing soap to remove the polish from my car prior to rewashing, claying, washing and then applying several coats of fresh polish.

less familiar with watches, and obviously there's variability in finish, AR coating, etc., but I'd be hesitant to use dishwashing soap on watches for fear of it being too harsh given its ability to strip car polish.

Dawn strips car polish (car wax, specifically) because it's an emulsifying agent. Dish soap is formulated to dissolve grease and oil and waxes are, chemically, closely related to oils. Most soaps similarly attack/dissolve grease and oil (and therefore car wax) to some degree, but dish soap is especially good at it. It's not because it's some kind of harsh or caustic chemical that will attack any surface it touches. Dish soap will not harm the metal or crystal. After all, you wash your stainless silverware with dish soap with no ill effects, right? And your glasswear and ceramic dishware? Now if for some reason you apply wax to your watch to shine it up, you might have to re-apply if you clean your watch with dish soap.

 

For bracelet only... nothing to do with the watch head itself.

Definitely remove bracelet from watch. That Dawn with water, a toothbrush and some good ol elbow grease... and she'll be looking like new. The ultrasonic is a great way to go too, without the elbow grease, or a lot less of it!

 

Liquid soap and water is the safest way to go, I don't know about using alcohol and it doesn't feel right to me

 

Reading between the lines on this... is this a germ thing or a general cleaning thing. Most people don't head to alcohol for cleaning anything unless they're trying to disinfect in some way

 

IP Alcohol is a good solvent, so it can work pretty well for cleaning. It works pretty well as a degreaser.

 

Safe quite alright but you have way better options than alcohol check this link out it might be of good help to you. https://www.esslinger.com/cleaning-supplies-1/

 

I currently use eyeglass or lcd screen cleaner to clean the crystal and occasional wipe the case and bracelet with the same cloth. I know there’s usually slightly abrasive stuff in those types of cleaners but I figure if it’s safe for your eyes or smartphone screens, it has to be safe for rubber baskets.

Should I stop using that and switch to plain water and eyeglass/lcd microfibre cleaning cloths?

 

Alcohol can dry out and even ruin some materials.Be careful using it on anything (watches) that you might not want to possibly damage.

 

The sonic cleaner is a good idea. My mom bought one for her jewelry and I use it on my bracelet and it sparkles like new.

 

OxiClean for bracelets. Then a clean water rinse.

 

On the dish soap issue, I prefer mild soap with no moisturizers and as little fragrance or added coloring as possible. To me dish soap isn't ideal. The primary concern for most watches would be the rubber gaskets which are also lubed up to some extent. Dish soap is especially active at stripping oil, so I don't like that. You also have lubrication under your dive bezels that you may not want to strip out sooner than necessary. Furthermore care manuals often warn against subjecting the watch and its gaskets directly to perfumes and cosmetics. I don't know if this is to be applied also to fragrance in soaps, but dish soap has some of the highest amount of fragrance added. A milder liquid soap with minimal additives is a better choice, to me.

I remember when I worked in a lab, there was this very basic powder soap called something like Alcinox, or something like that, we used to soak and clean glass vials. If it's free of any abrasives, that product would seem to make an ideal soap solution for delicate items.

Edit: It's called Alconox, and it is also a product that is used in ultrasonic cleaners.

 

Alconox makes a range of products. That said, many Alconox detergents will attack silicone grease as readily as dish soap. We use it at my workplace to clean surfaces prior to applying paint (where you want all oils and greases removed). It's as much a threat to drying out watch seals as any other good detergent.

 

An ultrasonic cleaner is the only way to go.

 

I believe dishsoap usually contains sodium/salt compound. Not the ideal soap for polished metal. But a good liquid soap and tooth brush is great advice.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

ALL rubbing alcohol contains water that will leave a residue that will need to be removed after it evaporates.
It is "safe" only on human skin.
It is a universal solvent that can and will effect any and all coating or petrochemical based materials.
I'd never use it on any watch or watch part.
What's wrong with using luke warm water with a little pure soap that has no or at least very few additives such as plain ivory or a castile soap using a soft tooth brush and making sure it is well rinsed clean and wiped dry?