How to Clean a Pocket Knife: Everything You Should Know

Key Takeaways

• Wipe the blade and handle after use or when the knife is visibly dirty.
• Clean the blade, handle, and other parts with a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.
• Lubricate and condition the knife every month or two.

Much more than just handy tools, pocket knives are trusty companions that accompany you on a lifetime of adventures. They’re prized possessions that develop character with age and become family heirlooms. Although pocket knives are incredibly durable, proper knife maintenance is the key to keeping them in great condition for decades.

In this guide, we’ll highlight the benefits of cleaning, help you figure out how often to clean, and explain the ins and outs of how to clean pocket knife blades, handles, and components like a pro. Without further ado, let’s cut to the point!

Why Bother Cleaning a Pocket Knife?

We get it: Every scratch and scuff tells a story! A well-loved and worn pocket knife is a thing of beauty, so we’re not saying your knife needs to look like you just unboxed it. 

However, gunk and grime can affect your knife’s performance, and slacking on cleaning can eventually lead to rusting, as well as other corrosion-based damage like pitting, cracking, and degradation. It’s also important to keep your knife hygienic.

The good news is that you don’t have to worry about these problems once you know how to clean a pocket knife properly. 

How Often Should You Be Cleaning?

As a general rule, give your knife a quick wipe-down whenever it gets visibly dirty. Beyond that, how often you should clean it depends on how often you use it. Invisible dust, dirt, and debris build up over time, so don’t overlook maintenance, even if you don’t use your knife frequently.

We recommend a quick, light cleaning at least every week and a deeper cleaning monthly. Those are just guidelines, so feel free to clean whenever the mood strikes. Many knife owners enjoy cleaning; it’s part of the hobby! Cleaning forms a deeper connection with your pocket knife, and it’s a meditative pastime that lets you work with your hands. 

Here’s What You’ll Need

To learn how to clean pocket knife blades, handles, and parts, you’ll require some basic supplies:

Tools:

• Clean Cloth: We recommend microfiber cloths to prevent scratching, but ordinary dishrags will do the job if you’re not overly concerned about keeping your knife in pristine condition.
• Old Toothbrush: Toothbrushes work great for scrubbing away stubborn grime.
• Q-Tips: While not always necessary, Q-tips can help you get deep into the crevices and clean smaller parts.
• Cotton Swabs: Cotton swabs absorb cleaning agents, and they’re especially useful for applying oils and conditioners.
• Toothpicks: Use toothpicks for removing grime from tiny and fine parts.

Cleaning Agents:

• Mild Dish Soap: Dish soap helps to clean and degrease the knife without harsh chemicals that could damage it.
• Rubbing Alcohol: Even if you know the basics of how to clean a pocket knife, elbow grease and dish soap aren’t always enough. Isopropyl alcohol is crucial for removing stubborn gunk and grime.
• Water: Sometimes a damp cloth is all you need.

Preservation Supplies:

• Knife Oil: While you don’t need to lubricate every time you clean, oiling the knife’s moving parts will keep its action smooth and prevent corrosion.
• Conditioner: Synthetic handles don’t generally need conditioning, but natural materials like wood, bone, or horn should be conditioned occasionally to prevent drying and cracking. 

Drying Tools:

• Dry Cloth or Towel
• Compressed Air
• A Fan
• Hair Dryer (lowest setting only)

Prioritize Your Safety

Even experienced knife enthusiasts get injured from time to time. After countless cleaning sessions, it’s easy to become complacent. As you learn how to clean pocket knife blades, take precautionary steps and make them habits.

• Wear cut-resistant gloves.
• Make sure the lighting is adequate.
• Work on a non-slip, stable surface.
• Keep the knife’s edge and point facing away from your body.
• Be aware of the blade’s position at all times.
• Never grip the knife in a way that stores energy that could be unexpectedly released.
• When applicable, use the knife’s locking mechanism to prevent accidental closure.
• Be mindful of assisted opening mechanisms that deploy the blade instantly.
• Avoid putting your fingers in the line of the blade’s travel.
• Clean slowly and deliberately.

Avoid Common Blunders

Knowing how to clean a pocket knife includes knowing what not to do.

• Never use a dishwasher. The high heat, moisture, harsh detergent, and physical mechanisms can damage your pocket knife.
• Don’t use too much oil. Excessive amounts of lubrication can do more harm than good, attracting dirt and debris that gets caked in the crevices of the moving parts.
• Exercise caution when disassembling. You might be surprised by how many tiny parts are inside some pocket knives. Reassembling the knife may be trickier than expected. If possible, look up your knife’s schematics beforehand. Take pictures while disassembling so you have a reference when it’s time to put it back together.
• Avoid harsh cleaners. As you learn how to clean a pocket knife, stick with tried-and-true soapy water and rubbing alcohol. They should remove 99.99% of any type of grime and reside your pocket knife will encounter. Harsh chemicals can erode handle materials, ruin finishes, and corrode blades.
• Avoid abrasive tools. Never use steel wool, sandpaper, scouring pads, or any material that could scratch and erode your knife.
• Always dry thoroughly. Prolonged exposure to moisture is a major cause of knife damage. As soon as you’re done cleaning, dry every square inch of the knife as quickly as possible, especially the inner components. If the knife hasn’t been disassembled, you’ll need to use compressed air, a powerful fan, or a hair dryer on the lowest setting (to prevent heat damage). 

How to Clean Pocket Knife Blades

Wiping the blade down from time to time should prevent grime from accumulating, but sometimes you may need to do a deeper cleaning, especially if you recently used the knife for fishing, hunting, prepping food, or other camping and outdoors activities.

1. Mix a solution of warm water and mild dish soap. Dish soap is highly concentrated, so a few drops are all you need. Use rubbing alcohol for stubborn grime.
2. Dip an old toothbrush in the soapy water or alcohol.
3. Carefully scrub the blade, moving away from its edge.
4. If needed, use toothpicks, cotton swabs, and Q-tips for detail work.
5. Rinse the blade under warm water to remove all soap residue.
6. Immediately and thoroughly dry the blade.

How to Clean Pocket Knife Handles

The same soapy solution you used to clean your blade will be safe for the vast majority of handle materials. When in doubt, check with the knife’s manufacturer.

For a quick cleaning, simply dip a clean cloth or cotton swab in the solution and wipe down both sides of the handle.

If your knife can be disassembled, you may want to take it apart so you can clean the inside of the scales, too. This approach also allows you to clean individual components, like bolts, washers, liners, springs, and locking mechanisms.

If disassembling the knife isn’t an option, remove interior dirt and residue by moving the knife around inside a bowl of soapy water and then rinsing it. 

Finish With Oil and Conditioner

Now that you know how to clean pocket knife blades, handles, and parts, the final step is lubricating the moving parts and conditioning the handle (if necessary).

Make sure any products you use are safe for the material. Food-grade mineral oil is a popular all-around choice for both lubricating and conditioning, but any oil that specifically mentions knives should do the trick. 

You should only need to lubricate and condition your pocket knife every month or two, although that timeframe will vary depending on how often, where, and how you use it.

Even if you don’t use your pocket knife regularly, we still recommend lubricating and conditioning it once in a while. Just like knowing how to clean a pocket knife, it’s a valuable skill to have and will extend the lifespan of your knife.

How to Lubricate:

1. Make sure the knife is completely dry.
2. Put one drop of oil on both sides of the pivot mechanism (where the blade meets the handle).
3. Open and close the blade a few times to work the oil into the crevices.
4. Apply oil to the locking mechanism, if applicable.
5. Use the locking mechanism a few times to work the oil into the crevices.
6. Wipe away excess oil.

How to Condition:

1. Apply the conditioner to a cotton swab.
2. Gently massage the conditioner into the handle.
3. Wipe away excess conditioner.

Personalize a High-Quality Pocket Knife

Congratulations on learning how to clean pocket knife blades, handles, and components! What better way to celebrate than with a brand new pocket knife with your name on it? Our customizable pocket knives also make fantastic gifts for any occasion.

Here at Palmetto Wood Shop, we carry all your favorite brands, including Case, Kershaw, Bear & Son Cutlery, Victorinox Swiss Army, Smith & Wesson, and Buck Knives. Discover and design your new go-to everyday carry, or give your loved one an unforgettable present!