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Pocket knives are essential in not only camping but also in many daily activities. The knife you choose must suit your purpose well and also fit into your budget. But once you buy the knife, you should remember to take good care of it. If you don’t use the knife often, it might get covered with rust. And if you carry this rusted knife when you go out camping next, it will hardly be of any help to you. There are many ways you can keep the knife in a good condition. And if by chance, the knife gets rusted with time, then make sure that you remove the rust before trying to use it again.

Regular Maintenance

You can keep your pocket knives in good condition by cleaning them with a soft cloth. To clean the dirt from the crevices, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush. This will remove the dirt from the knives. To keep them flexible, apply some oil to lubricate them. Don’t ever make the mistake of cleaning the knife by showing it under running water or immersing the knife in a soapy solution. It will only help the rust to form on the knife. Oil is good enough to keep the knives in good shape but make sure that it is not too thick as it will tend to combine with dirt to make the surface sticky and greasy.

Make Use of Light Oil

If rust has already formed on the pocket knives, then there are many ways you can take it off. Oil is of course, the first thing you should apply. Leave the knives coated with oil for several days. Then wipe away the oil along with the rust. If there are still some traces of rust, you can scrape gently with a sharp object or another knife and it will be removed. Once the rust is completely gone, apply oil again to safeguard it from further rust and keep it aside. Just keep enough oil to keep it in shape. If oil is not able to remove the rust, then you have to look at other solutions.

The Magic of White Vinegar

White vinegar can be very effective in getting rid of rust on pocket knives. Dip a soft cloth in concentrated white vinegar and rub the knife with it. Keep the knife covered with the cloth to let the vinegar work on the rust stains. After some time, remove the cloth and scrub with a soft bristled toothbrush. This time, you have to use water to clean the knife and remove all rust and also vinegar. But it is very important to dry the knife thoroughly after that so that there is no moisture on it. Then apply some oil in a thin coating to guard against further rust.

Home Remedies

You can try some home remedies to clean rust from knives. Raw potato can be slit in half and the knife can be inserted into it. Keep it aside for some hours and then clean with a soft cloth or soft bristled toothbrush. Use water to clean and like before, dry it out and apply some oil. Lemon juice also works well on rust. Soak a soft cloth in lemon juice and keep the knife wrapped up in it for a short time. Scrub, rinse, dry and apply oil as before. You are bound to be able to clean the rusted pocket knives in one way or the other. Just make sure that you do it with care and not hurt yourself in the process.