Best Way to Clean?

[this_is_nascar]

I have many Classics and a hand full of others that I purchased quite sometime ago, as TSA confiscations.  I want to quickly and efficiently clean them somehow, without going throw the hassle of removing scales and dealing with each one individually?  Do you think I could get a bucket of warm water with some Dawn dish detergent and put them all in there for a bit, then rinse, dry and lube?

Like I said, I want them cleaned-up well, but don't want to invest a bunch of time and effort.

[cody6268]

That's what I typically do and it works well.   I only remove the scales if they're broke and need to be replaced anyway.   I do, however open and close the blades while submerged to clean the gunk out of the pivots.

[glenfiddich1983]

I have many Classics and a hand full of others that I purchased quite sometime ago, as TSA confiscations.  I want to quickly and efficiently clean them somehow, without going throw the hassle of removing scales and dealing with each one individually?  Do you think I could get a bucket of warm water with some Dawn dish detergent and put them all in there for a bit, then rinse, dry and lube?

Like I said, I want them cleaned-up well, but don't want to invest a bunch of time and effort.

That's what I always do! 

[jaya_man]

I have many Classics and a hand full of others that I purchased quite sometime ago, as TSA confiscations.  I want to quickly and efficiently clean them somehow, without going throw the hassle of removing scales and dealing with each one individually?  Do you think I could get a bucket of warm water with some Dawn dish detergent and put them all in there for a bit, then rinse, dry and lube?

Like I said, I want them cleaned-up well, but don't want to invest a bunch of time and effort.

That's what I always do! 

+1


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[this_is_nascar]

Thanks everyone.

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[Mechanickal]

A toothbrush is good to remove the last remaining dirt. Add some hand soap if it's very dirty.

[jaya_man]

Thanks everyone.

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Opening and closing tools while soaked helps too...


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[jaya_man]

Though I haven't tried it myself, I read somewhere that ultrasonic cleaners are good too...


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[Aloha]

Open up all tools and use hot water ( water you can still touch ).   

[Reinier]

Not too hot or the cellidor will warp.

[El Corkscrew]

+1 on the toothbrush.
+1 on opening/closing repeatedly while submerged.   Gloves are a good idea.  It doesn't take long.  The longer you soak them the less work you have to do.   For the really stiff implements I'll soak them in mineral oil.

I use Dr. Bronner's soap.   It does a great job removing the sticky/gunky and when you wipe the blades it leaves them nice and shiny due to the oils in the soap.

[NorCalJim]

Good stuff!

Two of my "used excellent condition"  Explorers were a mess, stiff with no snap.  I was especially busy with personal items and didn't exercise all of the tools in a timely manner so it was late to request a return base on item not as described.  The scales on one was pitted and the other was inscribed so I removed both sets and soaked the sub-par SAK in hot water and dish washing detergent.  I had trouble working the tools since it was too slippery (I would be interested in how others cope without cutting themselves).

After toothbrush and pipe cleaner scrubbing and more soaking, I opened all of the tools except the magnifier and ran both Explorers through a rinse cycle in the dishwasher.  I was worried about possibly melting the magnifier frame but the hot rinse worked really well. The result was not perfect due to the condition of these Explorers so they were not indistinguishable from new but they improved dramatically and are fine for daily use.

[ToolJoe]

I've always just wiped my SAKs with a wipe or if I use it around food= soap and water.