From tan to suede, different leather types have different cleaning methods.

Probably every watch enthusiast owns at least one leather watch strap. This is not surprising at all, as leather straps are indeed very durable and comfortable, making them a must-have for formal occasions. But some people find them difficult to care for. Leather is indeed very sensitive to many environmental factors. If the leather is not properly cared for, it will not only produce an unpleasant odor in the summer, but also shorten its service life. Having said that, cleaning leather is not as complicated or difficult as you might think. In this article, we’ll explain how to keep all types of leather watch straps clean and tidy.

Basics of caring for your leather watch strap

 

As I mentioned before, leather has many natural enemies, so we need to be particularly careful when handling and cleaning it. Here are some basic tips for caring for leather:

  • avoid contact with liquids

    Leather contains oils, so leather straps are both durable and elastic. However, if leather comes into contact with water or any other liquid, once the water evaporates, the oil in the leather will be lost with the liquid. When leather loses its oil content, it becomes hard and brittle, making it prone to cracks.

    Some web pages claim that disinfectant alcohol is effective in cleaning leather and removing ink marks. But in fact, its stain removal effect is not that significant, and alcohol can cause the leather to discolor or even damage the leather.

  • Avoid exposing the watch band to any heat source

    For the same reason, heat can drain moisture from leather, causing it to harden and eventually crack. Not only that, if the leather watch strap is exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, strong ultraviolet rays will cause the leather to fade.

  • Avoid tearing the strap

    Leather is a natural material, and when you pull it hard, there is a chance it will tear.

 

(Left) The original leather strap; (Middle) The upper section is the original leather strap, while the lower section has been soaked in disinfectant alcohol; (Right) The entire strap has been soaked in disinfectant alcohol. You can see that the strap on the right has completely lost its moisture and is getting darker.

How to clean a leather watch strap

 

Before cleaning the leather, you will need to remove your strap from the watch. Squeeze the "prongs" of the springbar tool between the strap and the lug, then press down on the lug to remove the strap.

But if your leather watch strap is purchased from our store, all watch straps are already equipped with quick-release lugs. The strap can be easily removed by simply pushing down on the spherical lever on the lug.

How to Clean Tanned/Genuine Leather Watch Straps

 

  1. Wipe the watch strap with a dry cloth to remove surface dirt. A microfiber cloth or polishing cloth is a good choice for leather polishing.

  2. Lightly dampen a soft cloth with soapy water. Using circular motions, gently clean the strap.

  3. If you find any stains on the watch strap, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush dipped in a little soapy water and scrub the area gently. Remember to do a "patch test" on an inconspicuous area before scrubbing the entire strap.

  4. Using another clean, damp cloth, gently wipe the leather clean.

  5. Place the leather strap on a flat place to dry.

 

How to clean a suede/suede watch strap

 

  1. Dry brush the surface of the strap with a suede/suede brush to remove loose dirt and repair the fine hair on the strap.

  2. Use a suede/suede cleaning eraser to rub the stained area. If you don’t have an eraser specifically designed for cleaning suede/suede, you can also use a regular eraser.

  3. Sweep away the eraser shavings.

  4. Spray suede/suede cleaner evenly on the strap.

 

How to clean an alligator leather watch strap

 

  1. Dampen a soft cloth with warm water and wipe the alligator leather strap clean. If you want to deeply clean the watch strap, you can also use a cleaner specially designed for exotic leather to clean it.

  2. Using another clean, dry cloth, wipe the strap clean.

 

How often should you clean your leather watch strap?

 

If you want to regularly clean a leather watch strap that you wear frequently, you can do it every other week. However, you can make changes based on your frequency of use and living environment. For example, if you often jog with your watch on, the band will absorb a lot of sweat, and you will need to clean it more frequently. Or, if you only wear it when working in the office, it can take a little longer to clean.

Not only that!

 

I think your leather watch strap should be as clean as new now. But if you want your watch strap to last longer, it’s best to perform regular care to maintain its quality and durability. In fact, leather is like our skin. Apply lotion or moisturizer after a shower to replenish lost moisture. That's the thing with leather: it loses some of its natural oils when it's cleaned, so we put something on it to rehydrate it. That is leather care. After you've cleaned your watch strap, you can refer to our How to Care for Leather guide to learn how to care for various types of leather.