Care · 3 min read
How to Stop Your Watch Strap Smelling
It is not the strap, it is the bacteria. Here is the fix - and the prevention.
If a leather strap starts to smell, the leather itself is rarely at fault. The culprit is bacteria living in skin oils and sweat that have soaked into the underside. Treat it once and prevent it daily and the problem disappears.
The one-time deep clean
- Remove the strap from the watch.
- Dab the underside with a cloth lightly dampened with diluted white vinegar (1 part vinegar, 4 parts water).
- Leave for two minutes, then wipe clean with a damp cloth.
- Air-dry overnight, then condition the top surface as usual.
Prevention
- Rotate two or more straps so each one dries between wears.
- Take the watch off before workouts.
- Avoid spraying cologne directly onto the strap.
- Once a month, wipe the underside with a barely-damp cloth.
When to replace
Leather is a consumable. A daily-worn strap typically lasts 18 to 36 months before the underside is permanently soaked through. When that happens, no cleaner will save it. Replace it - and rotate the next one harder.
Keep reading
