Our poker chips are raked and handled by everyone at the table, tossed from one side to the other, and passed from one hand to the next. Food and beverage particles, body oils from players hands, man, just think of the stuff poker chips pick up. From all this abuse, poker chips will tend to change in appearance and color. 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. I’ve listed a few guidelines below to help you when cleaning your poker chips and keep them looking in tip-top fashion without any damage. But, it is your personal preference on how you clean them. Vintage chips do not apply to these guidelines. When you clean vintage poker chips, please seek the help of a professional.

Even though the cleaning supplies you can use might seem limitless, when it comes to poker chips we can considerably narrow it down. Three important properties of your cleanser must be considered before making your choice. 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.

Removes Built Up Grime: Must be able to remove built up food particles and body oils.

Must Leave Ink Intact: The very last thing you need is to remove the ink from your poker chips. Make sure the cleanser isn’t too harsh so as to dissolve the ink.

Keeps Your Chips Hydrated: This might sound a little off the wall but poker chips require a little bit of moisture to keep them from becoming brittle and dry. To keep from dissolving the ink and leaving your chips dry don’t use agents such as rubbing alcohol.

Some of the cleaners veteran poker players use to clean their poker chips are Sterling Magic, Armor All Multi-Purpose Cleaner and dishwashing detergent. If you use Armor-All, be sure it’s the multi-purpose type an not the tire cleaner or any other Armor All products as these will damage your chips. There is another popular cleaner you can use called Quick ‘n’ Brite.

If you use any of the mentioned cleaners, your poker chips will take on new life without any damaging side effects..

It’s always best to use a very soft cotton towel or a very soft-bristled baby toothbrush to clean your poker chips. Pay particular attention to protecting the center design on the chip. Go around the outer edges of the chip with the soft toothbrush while keeping your thumb over the center. Fill a bowl with water to rinse your chips and be sure to dry them with a soft cotton towel.

Dip your poker chips in baby oil after you’re done cleaning them to restore their luster and add that extra shine.