Bad SMELL from watch BRACELET

[FatAnd...@aol.com]

I have a cheap kmart watch. It works okay, but the bracelet now stinks
to high heaven. I tend to sweat a lot, so probably bacteria found
their way into my bracelet. Maybe other lifeforms such as fungi, also
contribute to the smell.

What can I do about that to get rid of the smell.

Winston

[Tony Stanford]

On Thu, 6 Apr 2006, at 19:52:30, FatAnd...@aol.com wrote

>
>What can I do about that to get rid of the smell.

Take the bracelet off and soak it in a biological washing powder
overnight.
--
Tony Stanford

[St. John Smythe]

First, what is the bracelet made of?

--
St. John
Information Center, n.:
A room staffed by professional computer people whose job it is
to tell you why you cannot have the information you require.

[SWG]

You have bought a cheap watch with IMHO a cheap (imitation?) leather
bracelet. If you can't cleanse it as above advised, my advice is that
you go and buy a fitting cheap metal bracelet. It might not remain
beautiful for a long period of time, but at least it won't keep
everybody away from you.

[dAz]

remove the bracelet from the watch and wash it in hot water with plenty
of soap, if you have access to an air compressor even better, use that
to blast the crap from out between the links.

don't use bleach, it can pit stainless steel, its ok for short term but
don't soak it overnight.

[Jack Denver]

For stainless I'd suggest soaking in TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) or oxygen
bleach and very hot water. Neither one should damage stainless.

"dAz" <dazb@zipDOTcomDOTau> wrote in message
news:4435ae10$0$10677$afc3...@news.optusnet.com.au...

[dAz]

SWG wrote:
>
> You have bought a cheap watch with IMHO a cheap (imitation?) leather
> bracelet. If you can't cleanse it as above advised, my advice is that
> you go and buy a fitting cheap metal bracelet.

general terminology if the OP was referring to a bracelet it would be
metal, a watch band can be either but mostly means a band made of
leather or plastic.

[dAz]

Jack Denver wrote:
> For stainless I'd suggest soaking in TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) or oxygen
> bleach and very hot water. Neither one should damage stainless.
>

actually caustic soda is one of the best things for stainless, won't
hurt it, I use a mild solution to clean my St/Steel postmix beer kegs,
it will remove beer stone buildup without any damage or pitting to the
st/steel, something that bleach or sodium metabisulphide will do.

if the bracelet is solid stainless steel then a mild say 10% solution
of caustic soda will clean it, but the down side is any brass or other
metals would have to be removed or be dissolved.

I just use hot water, detergent and ammonia in the ultrasonic, use the
air compressor to blast out the links, might have to wash the band a
couple of times to get all the grunge out, but the bands come out
sparkling and clean. :)

[Sevesteen]

if it's metal, take it off and clean with household ammonia. I use a
jar with a good lid, and shake it over the sink. Don't soak long in
ammona, and rinse well, using the same method. If the rinse water looks
dirty or cloundy wash and rinse again until it is clear.

If it's leather, run the band only through the washing machine, let air
dry slowly. Might ruin the band, but if it does the band was most
likely unsalvageable anyhow.

[Steve R.]

"Sevesteen" <djohn...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1144380506.6...@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

Some of these solutions are brutal! My suggestion, is to wipe it with a
cloth,cotton wad, paper towel or whatever is handy, which is soaked with
isopropyl alcohol.

Steve R.

[Jack Denver]

What if the OP didn't know the general terminology?

I'd say for leather/cloth/rubber (at least in US english) the unambiguous
name is a "strap".

You're right that bracelet usually implies metal, but band is ambiguous. In
fact in German, "armbanduhr" is the general word for wristwatch, so any kind
of bracelet/strap is an "armband".

Here's a Google test:

Search Speidel band - 141,000 hits
Speidel bracelet - 49,000 hits

So if anything band is the more commonly used term.

"dAz" <dazb@zipDOTcomDOTau> wrote in message

news:4435b0c3$0$10677$afc3...@news.optusnet.com.au...

[dAz]

Jack Denver wrote:
>
> So if anything band is the more commonly used term.

yeah I agree, we tend to call them all bands or watchbands, can be
expanding band for Marumans or speidels, leather bands, hardly hear the
term "Strap" unless it used for tying something down as in Occy strap.

bracelet I only apply to a metal band with a fold over deployant clasp

whatever, as long as it keeps the watch attached to your arm :)

[hones...@centurytel.net]

dAz <dazb@zipDOTcomDOTau> wrote in message

news:4435b6ed$0$7530$afc3...@news.optusnet.com.au...

> Jack Denver wrote:
> > For stainless I'd suggest soaking in TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) or
oxygen
> > bleach and very hot water. Neither one should damage stainless.
> >
>
> actually caustic soda is one of the best things for stainless, won't
> hurt it, I use a mild solution to clean my St/Steel postmix beer kegs,
> it will remove beer stone buildup without any damage or pitting to the
> st/steel, something that bleach or sodium metabisulphide will do.
>

dAz,

Do you guys know who you are responding to?

Only one post.

IP address of 0.9.8.1 ( special reserved ).

I smell troll/spammer.

HJ

[Anthony Fremont]

<hones...@centurytel.net> wrote

> Do you guys know who you are responding to?
>
> Only one post.
>
> IP address of 0.9.8.1 ( special reserved ).

That's the version of slrn that the OP is running, not his IP address.
slrn is a text based reader that you will find in places like VMS,
Linux, and occasionally even on windows. It does strike me as odd to
see someone with an AOL e-mail address using it.

> I smell troll/spammer.

Maybe, the OP has seemingly covered his tracks well.

[SWG]

Whatever: actually it is an important problem, especially with the
expensive leather straps fitting the reputed Swiss Brand Watches,
costing well over $ 50-100!

I have been wearing the same crocodile leather strap for the past 3-4
years, washing it from time to time with soft soap and clean water and
carefully wiping & drying it up with a clean soft cloth, before leaving
it 48 hours in a dry warm environment. Leather must be treated very
gently with non corrosive soft soap, any harsher treatment would have
devastating effects: like your skin.

Also, do not fall for so called waterresistant leather straps: moisture
shall seep in whatever you do to close the leather's pores, and be
preventing from escaping naturally by the treatment. Like your skin,
leather must be able to "breathe".

[Angelino2]

Hey there:

I read your post, and I wanted to mention (if not mentioned already), that
most cheap watches may use untreated animal hides---I'd be very careful if
I were you---that is why steel is always the better choice---actually, I
have gone the titanium route. As you may or may not know, titanium is
hypoallergenic. I sweat so much--it's unreal---that's why I hate
straps---they stink after a while---but better that your sweat dries on
hypoallergenic metal than deep inside animal hides.

Just a thought,

Regards,

Angelis