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Old 7 January 2012, 07:28 AM   #1
JustABreathAway
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Soap?

What kind of soap do you use when cleaning your Rolex?

My AD said a 'mild' soap in warm water, plus a very soft tooth brush. As I have no idea where to find a 'very soft' tooth brush, I am just using warm water and pump hand soap from Bath & Body Works to wash my DDII, for fear of a newly purchased tooth brush scratching my golden beauty.

What do you use, especially you members with 18K models??
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Old 7 January 2012, 07:30 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JustABreathAway View Post
What kind of soap do you use when cleaning your Rolex?

My AD said a 'mild' soap in warm water, plus a very soft tooth brush. As I have no idea where to find a 'very soft' tooth brush, I am just using warm water and pump hand soap from Bath & Body Works to wash my DDII, for fear of a newly purchased tooth brush scratching my golden beauty.

What do you use, especially you members with 18K models??
I just wash it off in the shower every night. Then every so often I visit my AD and let him clean it real good while I look at watches and drink coffee.
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Old 7 January 2012, 07:33 AM   #3
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I just wash it off in the shower every night. Then every so often I visit my AD and let him clean it real good while I look at watches and drink coffee.
When they clean it, are they polishing it, or just using non-abrasive chemicals?
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Old 7 January 2012, 07:35 AM   #4
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I think mild soaps refers to the ingredients not irritating the skin at all - some soaps have artificial fragrances and chemical substances to enhance cleaning. Toothbrushes come in Firm, Medium, and Soft and usually different sizes depending on the size of your mouth.

I use the same thing you do - a hand pump soap from Bath & Body Works. This months version is Candy Apple, lol. I use a new toothbrush, soft, small version for cleaning. It does not scratch anything but I'm SS. 18kt is more malleable, so not sure if it's the same approach...
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Old 7 January 2012, 07:40 AM   #5
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I use soft bristle toothbrush and dish soap as it is formulated to cut dirt and grease and yet come off very completely.

Denatured alcohol is a good thing to soak your bracelets (only) in. So not soak a rotating bezel watch in it as it will remove the lite grease under the bezel.
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Old 7 January 2012, 07:50 AM   #6
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If you wash it once in a couple weeks, soap n fingers should do. If you wash it once a year, yes you need brush!
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Old 7 January 2012, 08:02 AM   #7
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I use this, they have good stuff.

http://www.veraet.com/

Cheers,
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Old 7 January 2012, 08:12 AM   #8
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I use a mild pump hand soap and a soft toothbrush I purchased from Veraet.
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Old 7 January 2012, 08:27 AM   #9
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I find a little Tom's Natural toothpaste and a soft toothbrush makes my Sub C sparkle like new!
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Old 7 January 2012, 08:31 AM   #10
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I use dishwashing soap on my TT DJ, I use a soft toothbrush to clean the bracelet and the back of the endlinks.
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Old 7 January 2012, 08:32 AM   #11
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Bath & Body Works here also... I like the concept of 'watch & sniff'. I use an old toothbrush.

PS: works fine for 18k YG, Pt, and SS.
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Old 7 January 2012, 08:49 AM   #12
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I've read that you want to keep soap away from the winding crown as it dries out the gaskets which can compromise water resistance....so I basically just use hand soap (dial gold or ivory), and give everything but the crown a soapy bath, then rinse off the body carefully w/crown up so that I don't get soap in the crown area. Works great.
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Old 7 January 2012, 09:01 AM   #13
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Very Simple...........

I once heard Johnson & Johnson "no more tears" baby shampoo because it contains no harsh ingredients. But I don't think you really need soap at all and I would not use a toothbrush either (no matter how soft), those bristles do leave fine marks over time.

I just rinse it under the tap (not the shower) for a few seconds while rubbing the surfaces. No need to subject it to anything more.

I know it's a Rolex and can take much more punishment, but why when you don't have to?

Just my .02!
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Old 7 January 2012, 09:13 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JustABreathAway View Post
What kind of soap do you use when cleaning your Rolex?

My AD said a 'mild' soap in warm water, plus a very soft tooth brush. As I have no idea where to find a 'very soft' tooth brush, I am just using warm water and pump hand soap from Bath & Body Works to wash my DDII, for fear of a newly purchased tooth brush scratching my golden beauty.

What do you use, especially you members with 18K models??
Suave Clarifying Shampoo...its for the hair (obviously) and it is to remove any "stuff" in your hair left behind from other shampoos....

Amazing stuff... squeaky clean hair and watches...

YOU ASKED!

Bring out the natural beauty of your hair with this pH-balanced deep-cleansing shampoo that revitalizes by removing residue without stripping moisture. Then replenish with the fresh-scented 100% oil-free that never builds up or weighs hair down.


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Old 7 January 2012, 09:14 AM   #15
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Originally Posted by improviz View Post
I've read that you want to keep soap away from the winding crown as it dries out the gaskets which can compromise water resistance....so I basically just use hand soap (dial gold or ivory), and give everything but the crown a soapy bath, then rinse off the body carefully w/crown up so that I don't get soap in the crown area. Works great.
I can't imagine using hand soap...No residue???
Screw down the crown...nothing is going to dry out from soap and water if it doesn't get wet!
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Old 7 January 2012, 09:15 AM   #16
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I think mild soaps refers to the ingredients not irritating the skin at all - some soaps have artificial fragrances and chemical substances to enhance cleaning. Toothbrushes come in Firm, Medium, and Soft and usually different sizes depending on the size of your mouth.

I use the same thing you do - a hand pump soap from Bath & Body Works. This months version is Candy Apple, lol. I use a new toothbrush, soft, small version for cleaning. It does not scratch anything but I'm SS. 18kt is more malleable, so not sure if it's the same approach...
Now I know why I'm always hungry around your watches...
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Old 7 January 2012, 09:19 AM   #17
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I use the same liquid soap that we once used bathing our kids when they were infants. I prefer to use a kid's toothbrush because the bristles are softer than the adult version.
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Old 7 January 2012, 09:20 AM   #18
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Whatever I am using in the shower everyday.
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Old 7 January 2012, 09:21 AM   #19
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I use this, they have good stuff.

http://www.veraet.com/

Cheers,
K
X2. And the thought of using a brush on my watch always makes me cringe a bit.
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Old 7 January 2012, 09:34 AM   #20
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Soapy water is what is recommended and that does simplify the matter somewhat, as you are not applying any concentrated chemical to the watch.
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Old 7 January 2012, 09:43 AM   #21
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Originally Posted by JustABreathAway View Post
When they clean it, are they polishing it, or just using non-abrasive chemicals?
Just a non abrasive chemical. No polishing.
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Old 7 January 2012, 09:55 AM   #22
Dr. Robert
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Ivory soap to wash/clean.......Brasso to shine ss, Hagerty's jewelry polish to shine up YG.
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Old 7 January 2012, 09:58 AM   #23
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Vareat has some great products. I also bought a watch cleaning kit from Cartier, through my ad. The kit includes the softest toothbrush for watches made. It also came with a cleaning spray and a microfiber cloth. I use this kit and the Vareat products..
These togather with cape cod cloths, sunshine cloths and gold polishing cloths help to make my babies shine like no others!!!
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Old 7 January 2012, 10:14 AM   #24
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Soft tooth brush & mild dish washing soap makes it look nicea nice...
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Old 7 January 2012, 10:36 AM   #25
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I use a stiff toothbrush. As I'm pretty sure nylon bristles are considerably softer than any surface on my watch. Thus never in a billion years going to damage it.
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Old 7 January 2012, 10:42 AM   #26
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I use Ultra concentrated Joy dishwashing soap, warm water, with a previously used toothbrush (thoroughly cleaned of paste residue of course) where the bristles are nice and flexible and very soft, then after cleaning it, I rinse it, hit it with some non-ammonia glass cleaner and wipe off with a particular microfiber cloth that I use for NOTHING else but my DD2.

I'm kinda weird about my watches being as spotless as possible, though. I know some guys like the patina that develops and how scratches give "character" to theirs, but that never set well with me. Considering how much my stash has cost me, I want those biatches to look like I walked out of the AD with it yesterday, even if it's a 10 yr old watch, but that's just me....
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Old 7 January 2012, 10:56 AM   #27
JustABreathAway
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I like that Veraet link - thanks alot.
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Old 7 January 2012, 11:35 AM   #28
improviz
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I can't imagine using hand soap...No residue???
Nope. I don't use much of it, and rinse it off well, no issues with residue (as anal as I am, I'd notice! )

Quote:
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Screw down the crown...nothing is going to dry out from soap and water if it doesn't get wet!
Yeah, probably so...just recall reading that somewhere, so I'm playing it safe, plus I don't want to hit the crown with the stream of water as I flush the rest of it off pretty good (probably why I don't get the residue, lol).
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Old 7 January 2012, 02:25 PM   #29
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1/2 Mr Clean or Top Job & 1/2 warm water
...with a soft toothbrush.
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Old 7 January 2012, 02:27 PM   #30
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1/2 Mr Clean or Top Job & 1/2 warm water
...with a soft toothbrush.

NO WAY!
Don't they contain Ammonia????
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