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. 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. Body oils and food particles will turn any poker chip into a dirty little token that no one will want to pick up.

Your poker chips are in need of a cleaning when they start looking a little dull and dirty. Here are a few tips to follow to keep your poker chips looking great, and won’t have any damaging effects on them. But, how you clean them is your own personal preference. Keep in mind that these suggestions do not apply to vintage chips. You need to seek a professional when cleaning antique poker chips.

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.

Grime Buildup: The cleanser must be able to remove body oils and food and beverage 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.

Leaves Your Chips Hydrated: This might sound strange but poker chips need a certain level of moisture in them or they will become brittle. Agents such as rubbing alcohol can remove the ink and leave your chips dry so do not use these.

Some veteran poker players clean their poker chips with Armor All Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Sterling Magic and just regular household dishwashing detergent. 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. 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..

When cleaning your poker chips, it’s best to use a soft cotton towel and/or a very soft baby type toothbrush.. Make sure you pay special attention to protect the center graphics of the chip. Use the toothbrush for the outer edges while keeping your thumb over the center of the chip. 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.