Cleaning A Sub - What I do

[LA_LEC]

I do not baby my sub...I wear it all the time as my daily. I do clean it and some might think that I am quite fanatical about cleaning my sub BUT it works for me, and take a mere 10 minutes a week to do!

I wash it once a week (under normal wear - more if needed because of an activity such as diving). I use mild dish soap. Not directly on the watch but a couple of drops in the hand...then lather up...THEN apply to the watch. I do not use a toothbrush or any brush...just fingers. I turn the bezel while soapy to get anything that might be lodged loose.

Next rinse under the tap with warm water until all soap is gone. Next I do a final rinse with distilled water...yes, distilled water as it has NO minerals so there is no accumulation of any residue (calcium often found in tap water which is what causes the white residue that builds up around your shower or sink). Just a quick rise is all that is needed.

Next, dry with a soft towel. Don't forget to pull out the divers extension to get dry under there. As for the bezel, I use canned air (the stuff you blow dust out of your keyboard) to blow the excess water out from under between the bezel and the actual case so it is not only clean but also dry.

I have done that for weekly for over a decade and my sub is as good as the day I bought it new!

[boogiebot]

nothing wrong with keeping it clean

[T. Ferguson]

I too work the soap in by hand rather than use a brush. I do like to give the bracelet an ultrasonic bath once or twice a year to get dirt and grit in the link pins/holes that is unreachable and just won't come loose any other way.

[mjclark32]

Lately I've just been using soap/water and a toothbrush in the shower. Quick and easy. I, too, wear my sub daily for everything. Some days it gets dirtier than others.

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by mjclark32

Lately I've just been using soap/water and a toothbrush in the shower. Quick and easy. I, too, wear my sub daily for everything. Some days it gets dirtier than others.

You've got more courage than me, LOL. I've dropped too many bars of soap and bottles of shampoo in the shower to work that high without a net.

[mmmmp]

Originally Posted by T. Ferguson

You've got more courage than me, LOL. I've dropped too many bars of soap and bottles of shampoo in the shower to work that high without a net.

Just put a towel / cloth in the sink. If it slips, damage will be minimal
Good luck.

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by mmmmp

Just put a towel / cloth in the sink. If it slips, damage will be minimal
Good luck.

Good idea, but I don't have a sink in my shower.

I usually wash mine in the kitchen sink. I fill it 1/2 way with water and there's a rubber coated grate on the bottom so should I drop my watch the water slows it's descent and it lands on the rubber grate and doesn't hit the porcelain bottom.

[77T]

A bit more than is really needed but if you like doing 500+ washings and have the spare time, more power to ya!

[powerband]

Originally Posted by LA_LEC

I do not baby my sub...I wear it all the time as my daily. I do clean it and some might think that I am quite fanatical about cleaning my sub BUT it works for me, and take a mere 10 minutes a week to do!

I wash it once a week (under normal wear - more if needed because of an activity such as diving). I use mild dish soap. Not directly on the watch but a couple of drops in the hand...then lather up...THEN apply to the watch. I do not use a toothbrush or any brush...just fingers. I turn the bezel while soapy to get anything that might be lodged loose.

Next rinse under the tap with warm water until all soap is gone. Next I do a final rinse with distilled water...yes, distilled water as it has NO minerals so there is no accumulation of any residue (calcium often found in tap water which is what causes the white residue that builds up around your shower or sink). Just a quick rise is all that is needed.

Next, dry with a soft towel. Don't forget to pull out the divers extension to get dry under there. As for the bezel, I use canned air (the stuff you blow dust out of your keyboard) to blow the excess water out from under between the bezel and the actual case so it is not only clean but also dry.

I have done that for weekly for over a decade and my sub is as good as the day I bought it new!

My wife would accuse me of taking better care of my Sub than my baby.

[AK797]

I wash it once a week or so with fingers in the shower.

[VICI]

You could always use a power washer to get everything off ... lol

Just use Veraet - it's the best product for bringing a dirty watch to life. A couple of sprays, spread w fingers, rinse and dry.

Brand spankin' new.

[cop414]

Usually once a week I'll give mine a good rinse with warm water, then a good scrubbing with a soft tooth brush and Dawn dish soap, rinse then a spray with Varaet, another scrub with the tooth brush, dry on a microfiber and done. I look at it as a labor of love and don't mind doing it at all.

[nauticajoe]

I place the liquid baby soap directly throughout the watch, then brush with warm water. All good!

[WatchWeb]

Had my GMT from new last November. Haven't washed it yet. I will one day.

[Urosfan]

I use varaet rinse with water then microfiber cloth and drying cloth then presto good as new

[Grey.Coupe]

Nailbrush, soap during shower...

[Rolex_Bob]

Originally Posted by Grey.Coupe

Nailbrush, soap during shower...

Yep..... Me too but I use a dedicated soft tooth brush.

My wife wonders what I do in the shower for that long.

Bob.

[Daytona-Dan]

I use carb clean and a wire brush and then rinse it under boiling water direct from the kettle and then I dry it with sand paper. No dirt at all, anywhere!

[Billywiz]

Originally Posted by Daytona-Dan

I use carb clean and a wire brush and then rinse it under boiling water direct from the kettle and then I dry it with sand paper. No dirt at all, anywhere!

LOL...seriously...I wash t least once a week...rinse under running water then use Veraet with a tooth brush. Veraet is stunning stuff...leaves your watch sparkling like new I swear by it.

[Nycturbovr6]

Originally Posted by Daytona-Dan

I use carb clean and a wire brush and then rinse it under boiling water direct from the kettle and then I dry it with sand paper. No dirt at all, anywhere!

Engine bay cleaner or alloy wheel cleaners work well also

[bigrustypig]

Originally Posted by Daytona-Dan

I use carb clean and a wire brush and then rinse it under boiling water direct from the kettle and then I dry it with sand paper. No dirt at all, anywhere!

I use the same technique and it works

[Arch Stanton]

Originally Posted by Daytona-Dan

I use carb clean and a wire brush and then rinse it under boiling water direct from the kettle and then I dry it with sand paper. No dirt at all, anywhere!

Try some if this:-

[Lion]

My intentions are to wash it on a weekly basis but of course that rarely materializes. But when I do I use mild dish soap, toothbrush and lukewarm water. Drying involves a cotton dish towel and replacement on my wrist...nothing fancy just a quick bath and it's good to go. I know many use and swear by Varaet and have heard nothing but excellent results but I'm sure my watch will out live me regardless of how I clean it and my son will be happy to get it irregardless of what I do now!!!

Take it easy.....Leo

[brkanand]

Simple and effective!

[Marianoz]

Originally Posted by Tripsjohn

Had my GMT from new last November. Haven't washed it yet. I will one day.

I got my Sub C ND also back in November and have not washed it either. Heard / read somewhere that showering and using strong detergents are not good for the seals.

[LA_LEC]

Originally Posted by Marianoz

I got my Sub C ND also back in November and have not washed it either. Heard / read somewhere that showering and using strong detergents are not good for the seals.

It should be pointed out that many members wear their watches in the shower and have done so for years with no ill effects so I would not worry about a little mild soap weekly to get rid of the sweat and oil you get on your wAtch with daily wear.

[at7724]

Wear mine 24/7. So it gets cleaned as I shower. I dry it off with soft cloth.

[landroverking]

Nothing wrong with taking a shower with it.
Old Rolex booklets use to state "give it a bath with warm soapy water"
Or something like that.

[Grumpy Badger]

Two "how I clean my watch threads" back to back...

Like I just said in Rashid's Deepsea thread I chucked my sub in the dishwasher a few months ago when it got covered in oil.
Probably not recommend but it certainly worked and she hasn't missed a beat.

[jimbones43]

Just rinse mine once in a while
Just water
Towel dry