Man, my wife’s Patek watch had lost its shine after a year of daily wear. Scratches and smudges everywhere! Decided it was time for DIY cleaning instead of expensive professional service.
Stuff I grabbed from around the house
- Soft baby toothbrush (unused!)
- Distilled water in a spray bottle
- Microfiber glasses cloth
- Hair dryer with cool setting
- Q-tips
Started by brushing dirt from bracelet links with dry toothbrush. Saw nasty gunk build-up around clasp hinges! Held watch under faucet at low pressure – didn’t want moisture getting inside.
The gentle scrub down
Sprayed distilled water on bracelet section by section while scrubbing with toothbrush. Used Q-tip soaked in water for tricky spots near crown. Found toothpaste residue near clasp – guess that explains the weird smell! Rinsed everything thoroughly.
Pat dry with microfiber cloth first. Then blasted air at bracelet gaps using cool hair dryer setting. Almost dropped the watch twice! Pro tip: place towel in sink when working over hard surfaces.
Final polishing tricks
Rubbed case back gently with microfiber cloth – saw immediate difference! For crystal surface, breathed fog then wiped in circles. Avoided paper towels completely after reading horror stories about scratches. Checked near lugs with magnifying glass – all clean!
Total time? About 25 minutes. Watch looks way better now! Wife noticed instantly. Still sending for professional service next year though – not messing with movement.
