How to Clean a Leather Watch

Clean leather watches with saddle soap.

Watches with leather bands absorb oils from your skin and outside dirt into the material, dulling the surface and resulting in stains on the underside of the band. Leather needs cleaned and conditioned regularly to keep its soft texture and glossy appearance. Saddle soap, used for cleaning leather saddles and boots, can also be used to clean other leather products, such as leather watches.

Things You'll Need

• Clean cloths
• Damp cloths
• Saddle soap
• Leather conditioner

Instructions

1. Remove the leather band from the watch. If you cannot remove the leather band, be careful not to get any soap on the watch.

2. Wipe the leather watch band with a clean cloth to remove any dust.

3. Place a dime-size amount of saddle soap on a damp rag. Rub the saddle soap into the leather watch band. You may also use a clean toothbrush to scrub the underside of the leather watch band. The brush digs deep into the leather where oils from the skin absorb deep into the leather. Discard the toothbrush after using.

4. Wipe the saddle soap from the leather band with a clean damp rag. Make sure the rag is damp, not wet. Be careful to remove all traces of the saddle soap.

5. Spray a leather conditioner onto the leather band and wipe clean with a dry soft cloth.

6. Reattach the leather band to the watch if you removed it before cleaning.

Tips & Warnings

• Leather watches should be removed nightly to allow the leather to breathe.

• Do not immerse a leather watch band in water as it will erode the leather material.

References

• Jewelry Secrets: Cleaning Watch Bands