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Welsey asked: “How do I clean a ‘DIESEL’ blue rubber watch strap that has grime on it that will not come out with white spirit, WD-40, tar and glue remover or stain remover?”
Dirt 
and grime can build up on a watch band over time, masking its true beauty. While frequent cleanings will help to avoid this situation, when the build-up is no longer removable with normal cleaning, it will require more powerful solutions to break it loose. Three simple ingredients can break through the dirt and help your pieces return to their original shine.
You Will Need:
- Baking soda
- White toothpaste
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton balls
- Water
- Toothbrush or other soft brush
The Cleaning Process:
This process involves a series of steps to tackle the removal of dirt and grime. Once you successful remove the dirt, any additional steps can be disregarded.
- Begin by applying some regular white toothpaste to the area.
- Rub gently with your fingers or a soft brush (only use brushes in cases with heavy build-up as the abrasion from the bristles may damage the surface.
- Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly.
- If the dirt and grime still persists, moisten a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and wipe the dirt away.
- Rinse thoroughly and allow it to dry completely.
- If the dirt still remains, mix baking soda with a small amount of water to create a paste. It should be the consistency of toothpaste.
- Use your fingers or soft brush to gently rub the paste onto the rubber strap. Avoid using too much pressure as the abrasives from the baking soda and the soft brush could damage the surface of the strap.
- Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly.
Additional Tips and Ideas
- Some mild dirt and grime can be erased away using a regular eraser. Simply rub the stained area until removed.
- Damp cleansing cloths designed for computer monitors also work well to remove dirt from rubber straps.
- To keep dirt at a minimum, clean the straps daily with a mild soap and water to remove any oils, lotions, etc. Avoid using any brushes on a daily basis as it can shorten the lifespan of the straps.
- Even with the best care, rubber watch straps typically last a maximum of 18-24 months. After this time, it is usually necessary to replace them.
I have no idea why I never thought of wet wipes to clean my watch strap, but this article gave me the hint, and I’m sure the other tips are useful too!
I’ve been looking for a watch exactly like the one on the top of that pile. Please, does anyone know where I can find it?
It looks like an old style Movado knock off. Either go into a Jared’s or google Movado museum classic with a creme dial.
Max Bill.
Another suggestion on cleaning rubber watch bands, especially white bands, is to use the Mr. Clean Eraser. I am not sure on color watch bands, but the white ones are safe. 🙂
I tried Magic eraser on my rubber band but it did not work. Where do you buy Ajax spray cleaner?
Terry,
There are several types of Ajax spray cleaner, but none appear to be sold in U.S. stores. The Ajax powder cleaner can be found at major supermarkets like Walmart and Target though, as well as online. Here is their Wikipedia page. Good luck!
How can I make my rubber strap become white again from being yellowish?
I hate to say this, but people are talking off the top of their head. Nothing cleans my white-strapped watch, and I have tried everything. 🙁
These instructions are horrible. Alcohol will dry out rubber, causing it to break.
I have a new Pulsar PQ2013 orange band. In only one week, it is totally discolored. None of these things worked (toothpaste, toothbrush, alcohol, eraser; nada). Any ideas?
I agree; nothing in these tips worked… My sister also used a regular eraser, but it’s not working! =S
Try leaving the straps in a glass of Coke or Pepsi and then wash it off.
Nothing works! I have a blue strap that is black and dirty, and toothpaste doesn’t work
I do know that Ajax cleaning spray works on white straps, but I only used it a week ago so I’m not sure what effect it might have on the white band, but it did get it completely clean and it’s still white, not yellow.
I would not use anything that has alcohol. Alcohol will eventually eat away at the rubber. Also, in the instructions for Fitbit bands, it states to use a “soapless” cleaner, otherwise it will become gummy. From the instructions on this site, I would use the toothpaste (paste, not gel) method and/or an eraser.
Also, are there any ideas on how to clean the rubberized part of your phone?
My HTC desire 826 has been getting really dirty along the sides and I would really want to know how to clean it. Thanks in advance.
Check it out! We’ve answered your question! Yay!
None of this worked.
Nothing worked for me…this acts like dye transfer.
I have another problem with a rubber watch band; I just purchased a beautiful pre-owned Omega watch with a rubber watch band I’d rather not replace because it’s specially made for this watch and it’s beautiful too, BUT the previous owner must have really covered themselves in an incredibly strong cologne and I hate it! I can’t believe how strong it is, like it’s part of the band now. I tried something I thought would definitely work, soaking it in white vinegar for hours 3 separate times and nothing, it’s still there, didn’t work at all. Any suggestions???
Peter,
First, try washing the band with a grease-fighting dish liquid to remove any oils that may be holding the smell. Next, try cleaning it with isopropyl alcohol. Colognes are usually alcohol-based and like dissolves like. If any smell remains, you can try putting it in a bowl with baking soda overnight. Good luck!
Although the article claims that rubber wristbands typically reach the end of their life around 24 months of use, I’ve found that Apple’s fluoroelastomer rubber wrist straps (standard on all models of Apple Watch) can take a serious beating for years without any signs of potential structural failure, as my fluoroelastomer strap is 33 months into its use and in spite of visual wear, it’s still highly flexible and still doesn’t seem to take any damage from rare accidental brushes up against harsh materials such as brick/concrete or rough trees.
I suppose it also works in my bands’ favor as far as keeping them presentable that all the ones I get are black or dark gray.