Clock Care Tips: How to Properly Maintain Your Clock?

Clock care is just as vital as having one since it is a tireless tool that constantly spins its gears to display the time. Proper care alone may not be enough to ensure a long-lasting wall clock. You have to provide them with a dust-free and dry environment. If not, their delicate internal structure deteriorates over time. They also require careful handling whenever they are transported somewhere.

How to Care for Your Clock Properly?

The clock care and repair process begins once you hang the clock on the wall. The article shows every step required for a wall to function properly. With just a few basics under your belt, keeping them in good condition will be much easier.

1. Keep It Clean

A wet cloth regularly applied to the clock's surface can prevent dust accumulation and help function as well. The rotation of gears also attracts particles to them; this, in the long run, causes the mechanism to deviate slightly.

2. Avoid Direct Sunlight

Direct sun exposure has a disruptive effect, especially on mechanical wall clocks. This is due to the drastic temperature change and its effect on metal and lubricant behavior. Nevertheless, understanding different watch movement types, this disruptive impact is least felt in the quartz mechanism, as quartz crystals are resistant to temperature fluctuations. On the other hand, direct sunlight ruins the aesthetics of wall clocks by fading the surface.

3. Check the Batteries

Even though the batteries get weakened, they still continue to function, but not as they should. So, you need to change batteries, depending on your mechanism, regularly. It is especially significant for cuckoo clock maintenance.

4. Regulate Temperature

Even though clock mechanisms are resistant to temperature fluctuations, extreme temperatures like blow-zero and above +50 affect their mechanism and cause malfunction. So, you need to maintain the right temperature for them to function properly.

5. Regular Maintenance

Mechanical and grandfather clock maintenance has greater value. In regular upkeep, the cock maker will clean it, lubricate it, adjust the pendulum, and wind it up. A mechanical wall clock needs professional care every 2 to 3 years.
Regular maintenance usually includes dust cleaning, lubrication, and pendulum adjustments for the quarts mechanism. Beyond that, a trained eye can identify the exact state of the clock and inform us of its condition.

6. Handle with Care

Another aspect that ensures a long-lasting wall clock is proper handling. It is a well-known issue, but it is also the most common cause of their damage. If a wall clock hits something or drops, the clock's delicate frame and hands are easily broken. Proper handling is the main focus of antique clock maintenance.

7. Check for Proper Alignment

Even though the proper alignment is much more important for pendulum wall clocks, it is also important for mechanical and quartz mechanisms. If they are not properly aligned, a wall clock's gears and escapements will not mesh properly and not run smoothly. Alignment ensures that stress is shared evenly across the clock's components.

8. Wind the Clock Correctly

Mechanical wall clocks rely on manual winding to keep the time. While some require daily winding, others may require weekly or monthly winding. When winding a wall clock, it needs to be handled with care. Mechanical wall clocks come with a key to wind them. The winder key should be inserted in the hole and turned clockwise. As soon as you reach resistance, stop turning and do not overdo it.

9. Regularly Wind and Set

Both mechanical and quartz mechanisms need to be checked and adjusted regularly. Even if everything goes well, the standard deviation for quartz mechanisms is 15 seconds per month, meaning up to two and a half minutes of deviation in a month. For mechanical wall clocks, this is up to +- 2 minutes in a month. This means 24 minutes of deviation in a year. Due to this, winding and setting must be performed regularly to ensure accurate timekeeping.

FAQ About Clock Care and Maintenance

Below, we have detailed some of the important questions;

How Do You Take Care of a Clock?

To take care of your wall clock, the primary requirement is to provide a clean and moisture-free environment. Then you should regularly check the time. In case you forget, check when changing the battery. Aside from that, wall clocks require professional care every 2 to 3 years, depending on the manufacturer's recommendations.

How Do You Clean a Wooden Clock?

Wood can pile up dust on it and look like it is fading. Regular dusting with a wet cloth is enough to clean its surface. Nevertheless, the wood clock will require varnishing no matter how you take care of it. To apply varnish, first clean and dry the surface, including corners and edges. Then, apply varnish that conforms to your wood wall clock. Some wood clocks need wax to accentuate their color.

How Often Should You Service a Clock?

Wall clocks require routine maintenance every 2 to 7 years, depending on the type of clock and how you care for it. Lubrication is the fundamental reason why mechanical wall clocks need professional maintenance. So, regular lubrication can reduce maintenance requirements.

What is the Best Way to Clean a Clock?

Wall clock components are made out of different materials; therefore, you need to use different methods to clean them. You can use a soft, clean cloth or cotton to clean the wall clock’s surface. However, the hands may get wet and damaged, especially if they are painted. So, be sure to clean the clock’s hands with a dry cloth.

On the other hand, acrylic and metal surfaces may develop hardened grime that requires a specific solvent to remove.

What Can I Use to Lubricate a Clock?

Lubricating a wall clock is the most essential step in order to prevent excessive friction. The lubricants should have a low viscosity to stick to moving parts. One of the most effective ways to lubricate a wall clock is to do it with clock oil. Clock oil has all the features a clock needs.

Another lubricant for mechanical wall clocks is grease. Grease is a thick lubricant, and it works best in cold conditions. Additionally, silicone oil and graphite can also be used as lubricants for wall clocks. While silicone oil protects plastic parts, graphite is only beneficial for specific types of clocks.

Should You Oil a Clock?

Wall clocks that operate mechanically need to be lubricated. It is recommended to lubricate mechanical wall clocks every three to five years. Quarts mechanisms, on the other hand, do not need to be lubricated, except for specific models. Most of these clocks are large and have high torque. They require lubrication for their mechanical parts.

How Do You Maintain a Wall Clock?

For your wall clock to keep time accurately, you need to follow these steps:

• Setting and winding regularly, and if necessary
• Proper alignment
• Regular Cleaning
• Make sure the pendulum of the wall clock is adjusted evenly.
• Professional upkeep
• Avoid sun exposure
• Avoid DIY repairs.

Can I Use Alcohol to Clean a Clock?

As long as you are careful when using alcohol, you can use it to clean your wall clocks. To have an effective cleaning with alcohol, you should use isopropyl alcohol rather than ethyl alcohol. Using a soft, wet fabric, drop diluted alcohol and apply it with smooth, round motions.

Can You Clean a Clock with WD40?

WD-40 is a multipurpose product that is suitable for hard, non-delicate products. A major reason why WD-40 should not be used is that it leaves residues behind that interfere with the clock's gears. Another problem with WD 40 is that it removes the existing lubricant from the gears. This greatly affects the clock's ability to function. When oiling your wall clock, use a mild, non-abrasive lubricant.

Is Silicone Spray Good for Clocks?

Silicone spray is used to lubricate plastic clock parts, such as plastic gears. However, it may be detrimental to certain types of plastic components. So you should ensure its compatibility with your wall clock. During spraying, you should save metal components from it. Additionally, the excessive application may collect dust and turn it into a stick contaminant.

Can We Use Water in Place of Clock Oil?

Water cannot be used in place of clock oil. The residue it leaves behind develops rust. In just a few months, corrosion caused by water disrupts the clock's function. Additionally, it may cause wooden surfaces to swell.