How to Clean a Pocket Knife: Renew Old & Rusty Knives

All metal rusts. That’s just the reality of its composition. Some metals are more rust-resistant than others but, as long as it’s taken care of and maintained, all metal can remain rust-free. So, let’s talk about that pocket knife you left out on the patio and forgot or the old pocket knife you found at a yard sale. The blades can be saved!

What is Rust?

A little bit about rust. It’s formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen when water is present. Steel is an alloy of iron (In case you didn’t know.) so, it’s susceptible to rust. There are quite a few methods of removing rust from a blade, which are relatively simple and use things that can commonly be found in your home.

White Vinegar

How To

1. Submerge in a bowl of vinegar overnight and scrub with steel wool or a wire brush. Repeat process, if needed.
2. Clean blade with soap and water and dry thoroughly.

Baking Soda

How To

1. Make a paste out of the baking soda by adding a little water.
2. Spread it over the metal, covering the rust spots well.
3. Let it sit for about an hour and then scrub with steel wool or a wire brush.
4. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Lemon and Salt

How To

1. Cover the rust spots with salt and squeeze lemon juice over them.
2. Let it sit for about two hours and then scrub with the lemon rind.
3. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Dish Soap And Salted Potato

How To

1. Cut a potato in half and, then, cover the cut section with dish soap and salt.
2. Rub the rust spots with the potato.
3. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Chemical Solutions

You can also use a chemical solution like Max Edge CLP to remove rust from a blade. Follow the directions on the bottle.