THE GUIDE: HOW TO CLEAN A SWISS ARMY KNIFE?

How to clean your Swiss Army knife?

The knives Victorinox are made from high quality steel and components and are quite sturdy. However, even hardened stainless steel will show signs of corrosion and dust and much of it can easily get into the hinges.

So you need to clean, oil and sharpen your blades and tools periodically to prevent them from becoming dull.

WHAT NOT TO DO

Before we begin, there are some things you should not do because they can damage or shorten the life of your knife.

DISHWASHER OR BLEACH

Do NOT put your Swiss Army knife in the dishwasher!

This is surprisingly common, however, the detergents used can cause your knife to stop working. It's not great for the case either.

Bleach is also not great as it is too basic and will cause scratches on the blade and hinges, which can make them more likely to jam.

WD-40

This may surprise you, but WD-40 is also not ideal for the operation of your knife.

WD-40 is designed for heavy chains, car components, etc. so it is too thick to penetrate well.

Later in this article we'll cover the types of oil we recommend.

SANDPAPER AND RUST REMOVER

After my previous comments about bleach causing scratches, you won't be shocked to learn that sandpaper is not recommended either!

The rust remover is also not designed for small tools like Swiss Army knives . So we also advise you to avoid this too.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

First of all, if your model has USB components, remove them before cleaning as they will not survive submersion!

Next, if your knife has electronic components, remove the battery as the electronics in Swiss Army knives are generally not waterproof.

If moisture gets inside the case, remove the batteries and allow to dry completely. As the contacts are covered with a protective varnish, the electronics will not be damaged.

CLEAN ALL SURFACE DIRT AND GROSS

First remove all your removable components like toothpicks, pens and needles. Rinse them all quickly under hot water.

Then use the toothpick from the knife (or a cocktail stick if you lost yours...I know I do!) to scrape out the worst of the hairy mess that always accumulates around joints and hinges.

It doesn't have to be perfect, just eliminate the things that come off easily.

Then wash it under hot water tap to remove any dust or dirt.

CLEANING YOUR KNIFE

Here is a video that illustrates how to clean your Swiss Army knife in less than 5 minutes.

Once done, wipe them with a cloth and let them sit in a warm, dry place until all the water has evaporated. You are then ready to sharpen your knife and apply the oil.

INTENSIVE CLEANING

If you find that your knife is still dirty, you may need to resort to a solvent.

I recommend isopropyl alcohol , because it is cheap, effective and not harmful to the skin. You can also use acetone or ethanol.

WARNING : Isopropyl alcohol is flammable and volatile. Work away from any flame or source of ignition (including your cell phone!) and keep everything well ventilated.

Find an old glass or ceramic dish that you don't mind having alcohol in and fill it to a depth that will submerge your knife.

Place your knife in the solution and leave it for about an hour. For really tough mud you can leave it longer, but this stuff will rust your knife if you leave it too long.