If you love wearing your trusty smartwatch, the chances are you put your strap through a lot, rushed workouts, hectic nursery runs, and cleaning the house while try to do three or four other things and yet, your watch strap rarely gets cleaned. Silicone and rubber watch bands are really comfortable, but they do tend to collect sweat, bacteria, and grime very fast.
If you’ve been wondering how to clean a silicone watch strap, you’re not the first person to ask this. Skipping this small task can lead to smells and increased skin irritation around the wrist. The good news though? It’s very easy to clean it properly as long as you avoid a few of the most common mistakes.
In this handle little guide, we’ll show you how to do it the right way without damaging the watch strap while you do so.
What Happens If You Never Clean It?
As time goes by more and more dirt, sweat, and oil will continue to build up on your watch strap, especially if it’s silicone or rubber. That grime doesn’t just look bad from a style point of view, it can trap bacteria agaist your wrist and irritate your skin.
For busy parents who are always on the go and wear their watch all day, this can quickly lead to itching, redness, or even a rash on the wrist. Plus, the strap starts to smell and wear out faster. A simple and well executed clean once per week can keep it fresh and skin-friendly all week long.
How to Clean Rubber Watch Strap? Don’t Make These Common Mistakes
When your watch strap starts looking a little bit grubby, it’s very tempting to reach for strong chemical cleaners, but these can actually do much more harm than good. Harsher chemicals such as bleach and antibacterial sprays, or anything that is alcohol-based really can dry out and weaken silicone or rubber over time.
Make sure that you always avoid scrubbing with rough pads or soaking the watch strap for too long, as doing this can cause fading, warping, or cause cracks to appear in the watch band. And definitely don’t place it in boiling whatever, even if it does sounds like a shortcut, the heat is too much and will actually damage the material. Silicone might be very durable, but it still needs a gentle clean to stay soft, flexible, and skin-friendly when you next wear it.
How to Clean a Rubber Watch Band the Right Way
Whether you’re wearing your watch to track your rushed workouts, handle that chaotic school run, or just stay on top of your daily chores, silicone watch straps pick up dirt very quickly. Sweat, sunscream, and in fact just wearing them every single day can leave them looking dull and feeling very sticky, but cleaning them properly is actually extremely fast and easy.
Here’s a safe and simple method that works perfectly:
- Remove the watch strap from your watch.
- Mix up some warm water with a tiny little drop of mild soap (baby shampoo is ideal choice here).
- Use a soft microfibre cloth or toothbrush with the softer bristles to gently scrub the strap down, especially around the more textured areas or any visible buildup of dirt or stainage.
- Now rinse it thoroughly with clean water.
- Pat dry with a towel and let the watch strap air-dry fully before reattaching it to your device.
If you use an Apple Watch, this handy cleaning guide from FitstrapsUK walks you right through the cleaning process step-by-step, specifically for Apple Watch bands. It’s ideal if you want to keep your watch strap looking fresh while protecting the material from damage.
How Often Should You Clean It? (And How to Make It a Habit)
For most people who wear a watch with a silicone band, cleaning your silicone watch strap once per week should easily be enough to keep it looking (and smelling) nice and fresh. But if you wear it while exercising, doing housework, or when chasing the kids around the park, it’s worth giving it a quick wipe down slightly more often than that.
The easiest way to stay consistent with this is to tie it with something you already do on a regular basis such as charging your watch or cleaning your phone screen. A quick rinse and dry takes less than five minutes and helps prevent any buildup that can lead to discolouration of the strap or irritation around your wrist. Making it part of your weekly routine keeps your watch strap in better condition, and keeps your skin feeling a lot happier, too.
Bonus Tips: How to Prevent Buildup and Keep It Looking Fresh
A little daily care really does go a long way. Here are a few quick and easy to action habits to stop the grime build up at the gate before it starts:
- Wipe it down after workouts or sweaty days using a damp cloth or gentle wipe.
- Rotate your watch straps if you have more than one, you can rotate for different occasions and it gives each one a break and lets them dry properly.
- Avoid lotions and perfumes on your wrist before putting the strap on, as they can stick and stain.
- Keep it dry when possible, especially after a sweaty workout, swimming or showering.
These small steps help extend the life of your watch strap and keep it looking as good as the day that you bought it.
Final Thoughts: Stay Fresh, Stay Comfy, Stay Smart
Cleaning your silicone watch strap each week might not be the most exciting job on your to-do list, but it can make a real difference. A quick and regular routine once per week keeps your watch strap looking much better, lasting even longer, and feeling more comfortable than ever on your skin.
Whether you’re juggling your rushed workouts, busy school runs or just getting through a hectic day at work, your watch goes everywhere with you, so it deserves a little care and attention too.