Best Way To Clean A Swiss Army Knife

Cleaning your Swiss army knife can be quite a pain. The problem with cleaning a Swiss Army Knife is that you have to use some kind of brush or cloth to scrub it clean, and then dry it off before putting it away. This can be difficult if you’re camping or cooking outside.

We found several solutions on the best way to clean a Swiss army knife.

How To Clean A Swiss Army Knife

WD-40

To do this, spray some WD-40 onto a cloth or small brush and scrub it down with that.  Then wipe it off with a dry cloth. The WD-40 will help get rid of any gunk or corrosion on the blade, making your knife look new again.

Use Alcohol

Another solution is to combine a few drops of alcohol with some water in a small bowl. Then, take another cloth and give your knife a good scrub down. This will get rid of any grime build-up on the blade as well as kill bacteria. Finally, wipe it off with a dry cloth.

Bleach

Add a little bleach to regular water in a bowl and soak your Swiss Army Knife for about 15 minutes. Then scrub it clean with an old toothbrush or cloth, making sure you get into every nook and cranny of the knife. Once that’s done, rinse it off with some fresh water and pat dry with a paper towel.

Sandpaper

If your Swiss Army Knife is really banged up and has a lot of corrosion on it, you’re going to need something rougher. Take some sandpaper and carefully go over the blade, handle, and any other metal parts of your knife. When you’re done with that, simply scrub it clean then rinse and pat dry as usual.

Rust Remover

If your Swiss Army Knife has rusted up really bad, you’re going to need some sort of rust remover. You can try using baking soda or lemon juice that will help loosen the corrosion and rust off your knife.

Steps To Clean A Swiss Army Knife

Step 1 – Removing The Knife’s Tools

Before you can clean your Swiss Army Knife, you are going to have to remove any tools or electronics that are attached. To do this, simply pop out the scale tools and electronic components.

Step 2 – Fill Your Sink Using Soapy Water

Fill your kitchen sink up halfway with warm soapy water. You want the water to be lukewarm, not hot or cold.

Step 3 – Scrub Away The Dirt And Grime

Take your small brush or cloth and start scrubbing away the dirt, gunk, and corrosion on each of the blades. Make sure to clean out every nook, cranny, and crevasse that might be dirty.

Step 4 – Clean The Inside By Opening the Front Tools

Open the front tools of Swiss Army Knife and clean out all the dirt, corrosion, or other debris that might be on them. You can use your small brush or cloth to scrub it clean.

Step 5- Clean Back Tools and Scale Slots

Use your small brush or cloth to clean out the scale slots and all of the back tools. Make sure that you get into every single nook and cranny of each tool.

Step 6 –  Under Warm, Running Water Rinse Your Knife

Turn on your faucet to a warm setting and rinse your Swiss Army Knife under the running water. Make sure that you get into every single nook and cranny of the knife as well as into all of the scales slots.

Step 7 – Use A Paper Towel To Dry Your Knife

After you have washed your Swiss Army Knife, dry it off with a paper towel. You want to make sure that all of the water is gone and that there’s no condensation left on the knife before putting it away.

Step 8 – Air Dry Your Knife Before Putting It Away

Before putting your Swiss Army Knife away you want to make sure that it has completely dried. Letting the knife air dry can take about 10 minutes, or if you’re in a hurry, use a blow dryer to get the job done faster.

Step 9 – Make Sure You Oil Your Knife

Once the knife has dried, take a small drop of Swiss Army Knife oil and rub it onto your blades as well as each scale slot. This will help prevent future corrosion from appearing on the knife.

Step 10 – Clean Up Any Excess Oil

To clean up any excess oil you can use a paper towel to soak it up. Then throw the paper towel away and you’re done!

FAQ

How frequently should a Swiss Army knife be cleaned?

You should clean your Swiss Army Knife after every use. If you don’t, it can cause corrosion and other rusting problems that will permanently damage the knife.

Are there any liquids you can you use to clean your Swiss Army knife besides water?

You can use a drop of dish soap, rubbing alcohol, or Swiss Army Knife oil. However, make sure that if you use any other liquids besides water, you dry your knife completely after washing it.

Conclusion

If you want to keep your Swiss Army Knife in great condition, it’s best to clean the knife after every use. If not, corrosion and rust will start developing on the blade which can permanently damage your knife.

There are many liquids that you can safely wash your knives with other than just water including dish soap or rubbing alcohol. You should also oil any blades before storing them away for safekeeping as well as make sure they dry completely before putting them back into storage containers.