Cleaning Poker Chips the Right Way

Many people who own poker chips have no idea how to clean poker chips. That may seem unreal, but the truth is many people don’t own high quality chips that they would be heartbroken to lose. If a chip gets too dingy or the cheap inlay wears away, they simply toss it out because they can replace it at low cost. That isn’t what happens when you purchase high quality clay poker chips. You have to know all about cleaning poker chips to keep your valuable investment good as new.

The last thing you want to do is take your chips and immerse them in water. Whether you have pure clay chips or chips made from a ceramic/clay mixture, you could ruin them if they are immersed in water. This guide to cleaning poker chips will show you exactly how to clean poker chips so they maintain that new look no matter how much play time they get.

Before

Cleaning Poker Chips: The Inlay

The inlay is the center of the chip which is placed to produce the central image presented on the chip. On the best quality poker chips like Paulson chips, these inlays are made from a fabric material that isn’t easily scrubbed, rubbed or picked off. You still don’t want to risk damaging the inlay or interfering with the image, so don’t try to scrub it with anything that has sharp or stiff edges. That includes a toothbrush, which is often used for cleaning poker chips around the edges.

Use a soft cloth that is slightly damp for the inlay. Rub gently to brighten up the inlay and get rid of any dirt or grime that may have accumulated during playtime. This is not something you have to do every time you play a round with your friends. Just do it often enough that your chips don’t lose their vibrant color and rich detail.

Cleaning Poker Chips: The Outer Edges

You can use more tools when cleaning the surrounding edges of your poker chips. This is where you really need to know how to clean poker chips so you don’t damage the chips. The last thing you want to do is show up at the next big game with a cheap set of inferior chips because you couldn’t replace the nice ones you just ruined in the cleaning process!
In order to clean the outer edges of the chips, you need just two things:

Toothbrush
Cleaning Liquid

Don’t just go into the bathroom and pick up your spouse’s brush. You need a baby toothbrush that you devote just to cleaning poker chips. If there isn’t an extra one lying in the bathroom closet, head out to the store and buy one. It shouldn’t cost you but a couple dollars. Make sure you shop in the baby department so the bristles will be super fine and soft. Harder bristles can damage your chips.

The cleanser needs to be something mild but strong enough to take off body oils and accumulated dirt. A mild dishwashing detergent works or you may find something else around the house to use.

After

Now that you have the supplies, it’s time to learn how to clean poker chips the right way:

Mix a small amount of the cleaner with water in a small cup or bowl.
Dip the toothbrush into the cleaner/water mixture, just enough to wet the ends of the bristles. You don’t need to soak it.
Gently go around the edges of the chips, one at a time. Take care to get top and bottom as well as around the outer edges. Keep your finger over the inlay (center) and do not touch that part of the chip with the toothbrush. See the section above to learn how to clean poker chip inlays.
Wipe the chip with a moist soft cloth to remove all of the cleaner.
Dry the chip completely with a soft, dry towel or rag.

That is the safest method for cleaning poker chips of very high quality. If you want to keep this task to a minimum, you can wipe down the face of your poker chips with a slightly moist cloth as you pack them away after playtime. This will remove a lot of the oil and dirt that was put on the chips during play and will delay the need for a full out poker chip cleaning session.

How To Clean Poker Chips