It’s constantly being flipped between players, passed from one end of the table to the other, then flung back into the pot. It’s the embodiment of all your skills and abilities and it gets a lot of use. You probably already know that I’m talking about the poker chip, the most prized possession at the table.
Everyone at the poker table interacts with the chips by tossing, picking up, and raking them. In addition to the oils from the players’ palms and fingers, poker chips can also pick up crumbs and spilled drinks from the table during this period. Poker chips can start to alter their look after being exposed to these circumstances for an extended period of time. All it takes is a few hands of play for a poker chip that was once shiny to become a dirty token nobody wants to pick up due to the accumulation of oils and food particles.
It’s time to clean those poker chips if the smell is getting to you. The specific method you use to clean your poker chips is a matter of taste, but there are some safe standards you may adhere to. The following tips do not apply to the upkeep of vintage poker chips. Finding a specialist to clean your old poker chips is strongly recommended.
When it comes to cleaning poker chips, though, your options are somewhat more limited than they would at first appear. In fact, your preferred poker chip cleaner needs to have three crucial qualities before it can be used. Choose carefully so that your poker chips don’t get ruined.
It’s important to keep in mind that the cleanser you choose must meet three extremely significant criteria:
Reduces the accumulation of grime. The cleanser should effectively dissolve the aforementioned body oils and food particles.
Avoids contaminating the ink. It would be disastrous to clean your poker chips only to find that the ink has come off. The cleaner shouldn’t be too strong that it would dissolve the ink.
Has a soothing effect on poker chips, leaving them moist. Strange as it may seem, poker chips lose their flexibility if they dry out completely. The ink on your poker chips may be wiped away by using a solvent like rubbing alcohol, which would also dry up the chips.
Veteran poker players often use mild hand dishwashing detergent, Sterling Magic, or Armor All Multi-Purpose Cleaner to clean their poker chips. If you want to clean your poker chips with Armor All, don’t use the tire cleaner or anything else from that brand; you’ll ruin your chips. Quick’n’Brite is another widely-used cleaner. All of the above cleaners are safe to use on poker chips and will leave them sparkling when used as directed.
Poker chips are best cleaned with a very soft cotton towel or a baby’s toothbrush with very soft bristles. Care must be used to safeguard the intricate pattern in the middle. You can use the toothbrush to clean the rim of the poker chip while maintaining your thumb over the middle.
Poker chips should be cleaned by rinsing them in water and drying them with a soft towel or terry cloth. Dip them in baby oil after a mild cleaning to bring back the sparkle. Constant vigilance in the form of a single test cleaning of a poker chip to see if the intended effects are achieved is essential.