Toothbrushes on stainless steel for cleaning that bezel

[padi56]

Originally Posted by daOnlyBG

So, there have been a few threads on here lately about cleaning Rolexes. The debate over whether we should use the soft toothbrushes on the Rolex mainly concerned two-tone watches, where the gold is potentially too soft and would get scratched by the brush's bristles. Many have suggested just gently using one's finger.

So I have to ask: what about strictly stainless steel pieces, and what about when we have to clean under the rotating bezel? I can see some good dust/dirt build up, even if it's subtle. I don't think I could get my finger there, obviously.

Would using a soft toothbrush harm the stainless steel finish by scratching it or leaving unwanted marks? If so, would a baby's soft toothbrush scratch it too?

Thanks in advance!

Well many have gold teeth and they seem to cope with eating, chewing, teeth brushing etc so I would doubt if a toothbrush designed for babies would harm one of the toughest materials made today gold or SS.

[Jim Smyth]

I normally use a micro fiber cloth and body wash while showering on my watch and thats about once every other week. When I want to get into the harder to get areas I use a soft toothbrush about every other month on Stainless. Hasnt shown any significant wear on any watch over the last 40 years. Now that I have a PM watch I bought a TePe Special Care tooth brush that is an ultra-soft toothbrush recommended for patients after oral surgery. Hasnt caused any issues at all on the gold. Then a ultrasound once a year on the bracelet. Key is to not over do it.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by dchernikoff

I find it hard to believe that nylon would scratch Rolex gold. In order to make a scratch, doesn't the "scratcher" need to be of equal or greater hardness than the "scratchee"? If Nylon was harder than gold, then wearing a shirt with nylon fibers in it would be eroding your gold bracelet, wouldn't it?

-Dan

Nylon bristles will absolutely put hairlines and swirls on Rolex gold. You'll only see them in bright light, but it happens.

Merely wearing a TT Oyster bracelet with long sleeved clothing will mark up gold centrelinks.

[Krash]

I always use a soft bristle toothbrush with Dawn dish soap on my 114060. Works great.

I don’t have PCLs, so I can’t comment on that based on personal experience, but I’d guess it’s a non-issue.




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[Mac-427]

I still remember the time I used a toothbrush on my President and noticeably scratched the center links. If you are working with Rolex 18 carat gold, just don't use a brush of any kind as you may be sorry.

[danyvw]

Originally Posted by Devildog

Nylon bristles will absolutely put hairlines and swirls on Rolex gold. You'll only see them in bright light, but it happens.



Merely wearing a TT Oyster bracelet with long sleeved clothing will mark up gold centrelinks.

This is when the Jubilee shines!!!

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Tools

It's nylon vs steel.

Agreed.

I am also curious how dirty these watches get to require such intense cleaning with a variety of products, tools and strategies?

[David5807]

Just wash it by hand, and gently. I can't imagine that running it under water won't remove whatever dirt and grime you're trying to get off.

[daOnlyBG]

Originally Posted by myporsche

Right?



It can go in the depths of the ocean and atop the tallest mountains but it cant handle a toothbrush

The depths of the ocean and height of mountains are fairly irrelevant to what I’m asking.

[datejustrms]

A little soap and water, rotate the bezel and you’ll be good to go.

[danyvw]

Originally Posted by datejustrms

A little soap and water, rotate the bezel and you’ll be good to go.

That's exactly what I do with mines.

[dchernikoff]

Originally Posted by daOnlyBG

In high school, we did a small experiment- or rather, our teacher demonstrated the phenomenon of distributed weight. He brought in a fairly wide piece of lumber, with nails clearly coming out. Call it a "bed of nails" although it wasn't the full thing. Then he asked us to lie down on it. We proceeded to, and none of us so much had a scratch on our skin.

If there were only one or two nails, yes, it would permeate our skin fairly easily. But because there were a lot, our body's weight was distributed among all of them and there simply wasn't enough force in each nail to hurt us. He did the same experiment with a box of broken glass shards, and people would stand in it barefoot (this one, I chickened out). Again, no scratches.

The reason a shirt with nylon fibers wouldn't scratch a gold bracelet probably has to do with the aforementioned principle. Those fibers are ridiculously fine, and so it comes across as something smooth/silky. A tooth brush isn't quite the same.

Also note that steel nails are harder than skin, as are glass shards! I still claim that it's a relative hardness issue... if your teacher had done the same experiment using styrofoam noodles (which are obviously not as hard as skin), nobody would have been impressed! But you're right as far as a nylon shirt not abrading gold -- IF gold was softer than nylon then the distributed pressure of the "harder nylon" would not scratch as readily.

-Dan

[dchernikoff]

Good point about picking up harder particles and the harder particles do the scratching.

I'll stick to my usual -- once every few weeks or months I fill my sink with warm soapy water, make sure the crown is tight, immerse it in the soapy water, take a shower, rub it a bit with my fingers under the water, then rinse it off and dry it with my bath towel. Haven't noticed any damage... and doesn't take much time since I clean my cpap junk in the same water anyway.

-Dan

[jaisonline]

My thoughts exactly.

Originally Posted by Tools

It's nylon vs steel.

[VegasMilgauss]

Just lightly dab them with cotton wool.

[Brny11]

Dish soap, water and free toothbrush my dentist gives. Works just fine. No need to over think it.


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[O BZ]

Originally Posted by daOnlyBG

Thank you. I think that doesn't get mentioned much, if at all. I have an artist's paintbrush which I assume is soft enough for the job- I don't know why I didn't think of that.

Cheers mate!

[Gerardus]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

A toothbrush is perfect for what you’re asking.

THIS

[Onikage]

As long as you rinse first as you don't want to drag any abrasive debris around. Do this regularly so there is no buildup and you'll be fine. I do it. Oh, new toothbrush by the way. Not old used ones. My watches have their own!

[APPRF]

Use a soft brush only if needed from the inside of the bracelet.

[Pantheon]

You can try the charcoal ultra soft fine bristles. They don't clean teeth very well because they're too soft

[padi56]

God give me strength welcome today's Rolex owner.

[GONZO2LR]

i was gonna say...take a hot shower to help the bezel move but that's another chat thread...huh??? get my Sub wet...i dunno about that????

you guys kill me about some of the stuff that makes your as pucker up...

[77T]

Originally Posted by padi56

God give me strength welcome today's Rolex owner.

...and the patience of Job...



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[Meyrin]

Originally Posted by datejustrms

A little soap and water, rotate the bezel and you’ll be good to go.

Exactly what I do!Rotating the bezel while washing is the trick here...

[BillA]

Varaet, Wrist Clean comes with a brush.

[Chadridv]

This always boils down to a bunch of people making fun of a bunch of other people for being “OCD” or “anal” about their watches.

I’ll just play the neutral field for a minute and speak objectively. Bottom line, is your dress shirt can cause superficial swirls and scratches on your watch, especially polished surfaces. Again, relax, I’m not saying it’s a big deal, should be prevented or should be embraced, it’s just a fact that it can happen.

So yeah if you use the wrong tooth brush you could be leaving little swirls and scratches on your watch.

A lot of this toothbrush vs oystersteel talk is silly. I don’t think anyone is worried that the wrong oral b will destroy their beloved watch leaving it useless and horrific to look at lol.

Now, personally speaking, i am actually pretty close to the middle of the road, I like to keep my watches clean, but I wear the hell out of them. I don’t only take them out for special occasions or put them to sleep in a bed of feathers and fairy dust every night. That said, if I had my choice to keep my watch looking new forever or having it look like it’s been worn for 30years, I’d probably opt for it looking new, ESPECIALLY on a modern rolex with PCLs.

So why not do what you can to prolong that.

I personally use a silicone infant tooth brush to clean my watches. Sometimes they sell a combo, traditional soft brush and silicone brush. It works well to have both. It’s like $6. The effort to get one and use it is minimal.

People that think they’re helping anyone by making fun of the OP are fooing themselves, you’re here to make fun, which hey, I’m ok with. You probably don’t get here without having some tough skin, but don’t act like your back handed sarcastic comments do anything other than make yourself feel good cause you get to belittle someone else for seeming so stupid and naive.

[daOnlyBG]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

This always boils down to a bunch of people making fun of a bunch of other people for being “OCD” or “anal” about their watches.

I’ll just play the neutral field for a minute and speak objectively. Bottom line, is your dress shirt can cause superficial swirls and scratches on your watch, especially polished surfaces. Again, relax, I’m not saying it’s a big deal, should be prevented or should be embraced, it’s just a fact that it can happen.

So yeah if you use the wrong tooth brush you could be leaving little swirls and scratches on your watch.

A lot of this toothbrush vs oystersteel talk is silly. I don’t think anyone is worried that the wrong oral b will destroy their beloved watch leaving it useless and horrific to look at lol.

Now, personally speaking, i am actually pretty close to the middle of the road, I like to keep my watches clean, but I wear the hell out of them. I don’t only take them out for special occasions or put them to sleep in a bed of feathers and fairy dust every night. That said, if I had my choice to keep my watch looking new forever or having it look like it’s been worn for 30years, I’d probably opt for it looking new, ESPECIALLY on a modern rolex with PCLs.

So why not do what you can to prolong that.

I personally use a silicone infant tooth brush to clean my watches. Sometimes they sell a combo, traditional soft brush and silicone brush. It works well to have both. It’s like $6. The effort to get one and use it is minimal.

People that think they’re helping anyone by making fun of the OP are fooing themselves, you’re here to make fun, which hey, I’m ok with. You probably don’t get here without having some tough skin, but don’t act like your back handed sarcastic comments do anything other than make yourself feel good cause you get to belittle someone else for seeming so stupid and naive.

Damn dude lol I appreciate the last paragraph, but no worries, my skin is fairly tough... hopefully as tough as the Rolex oyster steel cases

I ended up buying a "soft" toothbrush for toddlers. Looked kinda creepy buying one at Walmart but whatever. I used it under the bezel, while rotating the bezel too, and then a little bit on the jubilee bracelet. I don't know if it scratched the jubilee bracelet inner polished links or not- I might opt to try an artist's paintbrush (one like ) because I have an extra one lying around somewhere. But otherwise, everything worked out, and a special thanks to everyone here who commented usefully.

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by daOnlyBG

Damn dude lol I appreciate the last paragraph, but no worries, my skin is fairly tough... hopefully as tough as the Rolex oyster steel cases

I ended up buying a "soft" toothbrush for toddlers. Looked kinda creepy buying one at Walmart but whatever. I used it under the bezel, while rotating the bezel too, and then a little bit on the jubilee bracelet. I don't know if it scratched the jubilee bracelet inner polished links or not- I might opt to try an artist's paintbrush (one like ) because I have an extra one lying around somewhere. But otherwise, everything worked out, and a special thanks to everyone here who commented usefully.

[fsprow]

A toothbrush will scratch your teeth more than a steel or gold watch.

Good grief.