One things for sure, poker chips are handled by everyone, tossed all around the table, and passed from one hand to the next constantly. That’s when they tend to pick up body oils from players hands and also food particles and beverages that are always present at a poker game. After constant exposure to these conditions, poker chips will begin to take on a whole new appearance. All this exposure to these elements turns your poker chips into a dirty little chip that no one wants to handle.

You know it’s time to clean your poker chips when they begin to offend your senses. It’s your preference on how you clean your poker chips, but, here are a few tips to follow to keep them looking great and not cause any damage to them. Vintage chips do not apply to these guidelines. When you clean vintage poker chips, please seek the help of a professional.

Although there are many cleansers that we could use to clean our poker chips, we can narrow it down considerably. Before you consider using a cleanser, there are some important properties that it must posses. To keep from damaging your poker chips, you’ll need to make your choice wisely.

The following three crucial tests must be passed when making your decision on a cleanser.

Excessive Grime Buildup: The cleaning solution is able to remove body oils and excessive food particles.

Keeps Ink Intact: The absolute last thing you need would be to remove the ink from your poker chips. Get a cleanser that’s not so harsh that it would dissolve the ink.

Does Not Dehydrate Your Chips: You probably didn’t know this but poker chips need a little moisture in them to keep from becoming brittle. Rubbing alcohol and similar agents can dissolve the ink and leave your chips dry.

Dishwashing detergent, Armor All Multi-Purpose Cleaner and Sterling Magic are just some of the cleansers used by veteran poker players to clean their poker chips. If Armor All is your choice of cleanser, use the multi-purpose cleaner and not the tire cleaner or any other Armor All Products as these will leave your chips damaged. You could also use Quick ‘n’ Brite, which is another popular cleaner.

When using any of the above mentioned cleaners properly, your poker chips will come clean without any harmful side effects.

Be sure to use a very soft-bristled baby toothbrush or a very soft cotton towel when cleaning your poker chips.. You want to pay special attention to protecting the design on the center of the chip. You want to place your thumb on the center of the chip, then go around the outer edges with the toothbrush. Use a bowl of water to rinse your chips and dry them with a very soft cotton towel.

After a nice gentle cleaning, dip your poker chips in baby oil to add that extra shine and restore their luster.