Our poker chips get passed hand to hand, are tossed from one side of the table to the other, and get handled and raked by everyone at the poker table. Food and beverage particles, body oils from players hands, man, just think of the stuff poker chips pick up. 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.

If your poker chips begin to look a little offensive, you know it’s time for a cleaning. Below I’ve listed a few guidelines to follow when cleaning your poker chips without causing any damage to them. Of course, it’s your preference on how you clean them. These guidelines do not apply to vintage chips. When cleaning vintage chips you need to seek out a qualified 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. You don’t want to damage your poker chips so be sure to make a wise choice.

Be sure the cleanser passes the following three important test.

Removes Grime Buildup: The cleaner you chose must be able to remove food particles and body oils.

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.

Leaves Your Chips Hydrated: This might sound strange but poker chips need a certain level of moisture in them or they will become brittle. If you use rubbing alcohol or similar agents you can dry out and remove the ink from you chips so stay away from these.

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 you chose to use Armor All, to keep from damaging your chips, make sure it’s the multi-purpose type and not ant of the other Armor All products. Quick ‘n’ Brite is another popular cleaner you can use.

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. You want to make sure you take extra care to protect the center design of the chip. Place your thumb over the center design and use the soft toothbrush to clean the outer edges of the chip. 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.