Your smartwatch is a part of you in a way that not even your phone can match. It’s always out there in the open air, and the band soaks up sweat, dead skin, and all the general nastiness of daily life. The answer to keeping your watch bands pristine is a lot simpler than you might think.
I tend to gravitate toward fabric watch bands—mostly nylon, some canvas. The woven fibers of these types of bands easily pick up sweat and anything else you might spill on yourself. However, even silicone bands can pick up funky smells after you wear them long enough. You wash your clothes after only a couple of uses, so why not your watch band, too?
Just Throw it in the Wash
My first thought was to simply wash the bands by hand with some soapy water in a sink. This certainly works, but I realized it could be even easier. We’ve all been told to hand-wash our delicates, but let’s be honest, you don’t have time for that. Thankfully, the solution was invented long ago: washing machines. Just toss your watch band into your next load of laundry.
You might be worried that a trip through a washing machine’s wild ride will ruin your band. For certain materials, that’s absolutely true. If you have a metal or leather—especially genuine leather—stop right here. This method is strictly for silicone, sports-grade rubber, woven nylon, or fabric bands—the ones that soak up sweat like a sponge.
Now, this probably goes without saying, but just to be safe: make sure you detach the band completely from the watch body first. Smartwatches are generally waterproof, but not that waterproof. For bonus points, you could stick the band into a small mesh laundry bag. This will keep the band from getting tangled up in your clothes, and it’ll be a lot easier to find when the cycle is done. Other than that, just treat it like any other clothing item. Use cold water, a normal cycle, and your regular laundry detergent.
Once the cycle is done, you’re not out of the woods yet. Don’t put the band in the dryer. The heat will likely have some sort of adverse effect on the band. Instead, let it air-dry completely before reattaching it to your watch. You’ll be shocked at how clean, smell-free, and practically new your old stinky band will feel.
Admittedly, this is not something I do super often, but I probably should. For whatever reason, most of us simply don’t think of our smartphones, watches, and other accessories as being the harbours for dirt and grime that they are. Your smartphone is most likely the dirtiest thing you touch every day. I don’t suggest throwing your phone into your next load of laundry, but a watch band can safely take a dip.
