You've probably never thought about wearing a toilet seat around your wrist, given that it would be completely pointless and difficult. However, from a hygiene perspective, it would actually be more sensible than wearing a watch.

That's according to a new study, which has found that watches are on average three times dirtier than toilet seats.

The research was conducted by Tic Watches, who swabbed 10 different kinds of watches to test for bacteria, yeast and mould.

The swab from an exercise watch, which was found to be eight times dirtier than a toilet seat. Credit: Tic Watches

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A fitness watch was found to be the filthiest, no less than eight times dirtier than a toilet seat, in fact, while a leather watch was found to be the least dirty.

Tic Watches also conducted a survey as part of their research and found that 24 per cent of Brits admitted to never cleaning their watch, while a further 20 per cent said they cleaned their watch less than every six months.

Daniel Richmond, managing director of Tic Watches, said people should clean their watch at least once a month.



He said: "Whether you wear a watch every day, or just during working hours, one thing is for certain, we don't clean them as much as we wash our hands. Unfortunately, not all watches are waterproof, so avoiding any contact with water when we're wearing them could be the main reason for a build-up of bacteria.

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"For those who wear a watch every day, we recommend giving it a good clean at least once a month.

"If you think your watch is due a clean, take a look at our tips to see how to do it yourself or you can even take it to a specialist shop for a professional clean. Not only will this keep your watch looking as good as new, but it will keep unsafe bacteria at bay."

An exercise watch was found to be the dirtiest. Credit: PA

So without further adieu, here's the aforementioned guide to washing your watch:

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1. Remove the watch from its bands: Some will come off by pressing a button to detach their bracelet from the watch head, whilst others will need a screwdriver to release the bracelet from the watch head. If you can't, be careful not to get the watch wet as you it could cause permanent damage.

2. Get a bowl of soapy water: Get a bowl full of water and add a splash of mild washing up liquid (if you have a stainless steel or plastic watch). If you have a leather watch, opt for a small amount of white vinegar in the water instead.

3. Soak the bands: Put the watchbands in the liquid and soak them. Depending on how dirty the watch is, you may want to leave it for a few hours, or if it looks generally clean, 30 minutes will do the job.

4. Scrub away the dirt: Use a soft cloth or brush to gently wash away any dirt, a soft toothbrush works well - be careful with the pressure you apply and don't use anything that will scratch your watch.

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The leather watch was found to be the least dirty. Credit: Tic Watches

5. Give it a rinse: Give the watchbands a rinse with clean water to get rid of any soap and grime.

6. Clean the watch head: Use a damp cloth to clean the front and back of the watch head. If it's still grimy, use a soft toothbrush dipped in soapy water to give it a gentle scrub. Don't submerge it in water unless you definitely know you can, as you may completely break it.

7. Dry thoroughly: Pat the watch dry with a cloth or leave it to air dry on a dry towel for a couple of hours.

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8. Reattach the components: Once dry, reattach the band to the bracelet and it's ready to go back on your wrist.