Cleaning watches with tooth paste, thoughts?

[cop414]

Originally Posted by Frosty

There used to be a renter's handy fix using toothpaste many years ago and may not apply with the modern toothpaste, but, I think it is worth considering. If you had a small nail hole in your wall you could put toothpaste in the hole and it would harden. Hole fixed. I would not let it get anywhere near my bracelet for fear of not being able to remove it all.

God, my kids used to to this at their dorm rooms at PSU. I'd come walking in on move out day and ask why do I smell toothpaste, wellllll dad...

[advocatia]

.

[subtona]

when my bezel gets gunked up and becomes difficult to turn, i spend some time flossing underneath the bezel, making sure to get both under and above the washer.

[Rags]

Soap & warm water with a soft toothbrush is all you need.

[Armyguy03]

If it works for you that's all that matters. But I wouldn't.

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Toothpaste?

Why not just use a fine grit sandpaper?

[nauticajoe]

Baby's liquid soap, a toothbrush, & warm water works wonders for me.

[RC2]

Scratched watch on wall in kitchen

Before toothpaste




After toothpaste



Look at the rolex crown for the difference

Rich

[Cesium133]

Make sure you and your watch use toothpaste before you kiss...

[bayerische]

Handsoap and warm water.

[Annan]

Toothpaste is not a good idea IMO. And speaking from experience it can leave fine scratches as well as residue between/inside the links. My bad experience came from using it on a TT Date with the old style Jubilee bracelet. I sincerely recommend Veraet and a soft bristle brush.

[jimbones43]

Just when I'd thought I'd heard it all! Lol

[alanc]

I find dynamite works best for that really caked-on stuff...

[marathonmatt]

I only use whitening toothpaste on Daytonas with white dials... Flossing those tiny hands is the tricky part.

[RC2]

It worked for me on the plastic crystal. I will get buffed when I see my watchmaker - but it sure solved the problem in the short run.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by mrbill2mrbill2

Toothpaste?

Why not just use a fine grit sandpaper?

Use some fine grit sandpaper on your teeth and then get back to us...

[Stevieb]

All I ever do is take my watch off when I'm in the bath (birthday and Christmas Day ), give it a quick swil around to get rid of the gunk and then put it back on.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

Once a year, or every 6 months if I've really mucked them up, I take all of my bracelets off of my watches and I put them in my wife's ultrasonic cleaner with the jewelry cleaning solution that has ammonia in it. The watch heads I clean with a toothbrush and soap and water. Once dry I buff everything up with a synthetic chamois cloth and these days I Spray them with a little Veret. This brings them all back to like new condition save the surface scratches.

I suggest you clean at least your bracelet a bit more frequently to reduce the wear that results in "stretch".

Once or twice a year really isn't enough...

[jolimont]

make sure you Floss the gaps in between your bracelet daily, to prevent buildup of plaque causing stretchivitis, ensure you slide all the way underneath

[Widows Son]

Scrubbing Bubbles and a baby toothbrush.

[Rolexwatch]

Only if mint flavored.

[cop414]

Originally Posted by jolimont

make sure you Floss the gaps in between your bracelet daily, to prevent buildup of plaque causing stretchivitis, ensure you slide all the way underneath

stretchivitis...

[Mickyfin]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

No way but have used it to take scratches off of acrylic crystal and works great!! Cheers,

Ditto, it's the only time I have used toothpaste, to remove fine scratches, not to polish.

[77T]

OK...late to the toothpaste match...but let's go into extended time...

Gel or Paste?
Opinions?

[77T]

Originally Posted by RolexplorerII

Normal toothpaste has no abrasive content whatsoever, not so sure about the whitener type though.

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

Actually it does and it works wonders taking out scratches on vintage acrylic crystals. When you rub it on you feel the micro sand like texture which gently gets rid of the scratches. It acts like a mild abrasive. Of course I prefer to use Polywatch but toothpaste works pretty darn well!

True - it does...
The common abrasives used include dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, insoluble sodium metaphosphate, calcium pyrophosphate, calcium carbonate, alumina trihydrate, magnesium trisilicate and silica gels.

[benlee]

I use toothpaste and toothbrush to clean my watches all the time.

[Speed]

Will you keep using it now?

[Rolexwatch]

I use toothpaste to clean my toothbrushes all the time.

The watch, I use the the toothbrush afterward.

[hsfrank]

Originally Posted by fitter_happier

Toothpaste is abrasive, but there are a lot of variables here. Soft, medium or hard brush? Steel or gold? Sapphire or plastic crystal? If you want to use a toothbrush to get into the cracks, be sure to use a soft one along with grease-cutting dish liquid like Dawn (pro car detailers actually use it to strip wax and grease). I personally wouldn't use toothpaste.

x2 Dishwasing liguid and a very SOFT bristle tooth brush works great. Even better is a shaving brush.

[2th Dr]

Toothpastes ARE abrasive (mildly, but still abrasive). I use liquid soap and a soft toothbrush with warm water.