How to Clean Tools

Are you wondering how to get clean contractor tools? Click here to learn all about how to clean your tools for the best results.

If you have a variety of rusty tools and you want clean tools, you can soak them in coca-cola for 24 hours to remove all the rust. Of course, this doesn’t include power tools although you can use them as long as you’re able to break down the components.

While most hand tools like Craftsman tools, for example, have a lifetime warranty, oftentimes, tools whether hand tools or power options will have a certain life expectancy. As a general rule, it’s often suggested to look into replacement tools if you’ve had a unit for a few years or so. However, there are many tool owners that have owned some of their tools for 40 years or more.

If you are a contractor, then you know the importance of keeping your tools clean because it often affects not only the life of your tools but their performance. Not only does keeping them clean make them work better, but it also helps to prevent potential accidents.

Keep reading to find out the top tips for cleaning your contractor tools, keeping them safe for your next project, and having them work at an optimum level of performance for your next job.

The Top Ways to Clean Tools With Efficiency

The average hand tool has the durability to last through 30 uses. This number significantly fluctuates and depends on quite a few factors though. You need to consider the brand/manufacturer of the product, the jobs you’re using it for, how often you are using it, and if you’re using the tool properly.

You also have to consider whether you are cleaning the tools frequently enough and if the way you are cleaning the tool is effective or not. Take DeWalt for example, Dewalt is considered to be the top choice when it comes to deciding on the longest-lasting tool brand. This, however, doesn’t mean the tools won’t break or become damaged at any point. You still need to maintain them; regardless if they are cordless or corded or a hand tool or power tool.

Overall, construction tools last for about 10,000 hours of being used before you need to start considering looking for another. Keep in mind though, that with some brands or types you might get 25,000 hours of use out of them. It’s also possible to get significantly less use out of them than the 10,000 hours.

Because power tools and hand tools alike require some maintenance and even a little bit of elbow grease here and there, you should be cleaning them after every single use to increase their durability levels and to get the most out of them. Let’s take a look at some of the top methods you can try for cleaning contractor equipment.

Mixing Your Own Cleaning Solutions Works

Some of the best ways to get clean power tools are to use a combination of things that you may already have at home. If you think about the coca-cola reference and how it can remove rust in as little as 24 hours or sometimes less, there is also another similar alternative. That alternative would be a mixture of salt and white vinegar.

All you have to do with this is mix 1/4 cup of water with enough salt per gallon of vinegar that you used and then soak your tools in that mixture. You would often allow the tools to sit and soak for at least one to three days. The way it works is that the solution will help the rust to soften and then fall away.

You will have to scrub the rust to get it to completely come off but the solution is effective and safe to use. There are also some other homemade products that you can use when you want to know how to get clean contractor tools.

Try Using WD-40

Whether you’ve thought about this yet or not, you more than likely have WD-40 lying around. While its main purpose is to be used as a lubricant to help protect against rust and corrosion, it has other purposes as well. The solution is great for taking off the rust of different metals such as iron or stainless steel.

You may also be wondering if it might damage the surface of the tool or not and no, it won’t. You can use it without expecting any damage to the tools themselves. All that’s needed is for you to spray any affected areas or the entire thing.

Then, you only need to wipe it down with a clean rag. This will help to remove any residue that might be on the surface of your tool from using the WD-40.

Dish Soap Is a Great Option

Dish soap is effective for cleaning many things, including your tools. You can add a small amount of dish soap like Dawn for example to at least a gallon of hot water. Keep in mind that you’re not going to be soaking your tools in this solution.

Instead, all you need is a toothbrush, sponge, or cloth to clean your tools with the solution. Using a toothbrush is an easy way to clean smaller components of larger tools and doing so will help to loosen any dirt or grime that might be on the tool and in smaller crevices of it.

Simple Baking Soda and Water

Baking soda is another effective cleaning agent. You can make a paste out of baking soda and water and then use it to scrub your tools clean. This will help to remove any dirt or grime that might be on the surface of the tool.

You should know though that you don’t want to wipe the paste off of the tools right away. You want to let the paste sit for at least an hour. Be sure to cover up any rust spots with the paste so that you are focusing on the most damaged or dirty areas.

When you get ready to scrub the tools, using a wire brush might be the best option to get rid of rust. After scrubbing, all you have to do is rinse and make sure to dry the tools properly.

Rubbing Alcohol Will Also Do the Trick

Rubbing alcohol is another effective option. You can use a clean cloth or sponge and completely soak it in the alcohol. By the way, alcohol helps certain metals like stainless steel for example to become cleaner.

Not to mention that it is a great option to be used as a disinfectant. All that needs to be done is to wipe the tools clean with the alcohol-soaked sponge or cloth.

The Least Expected: Cream of Tartar

Or, you could spray them with alcohol in a spray bottle and then wipe them clean. What you’ll need to do is determine the condition of your tools and assess how deep of a clean they need.

This might not be the most well-known trick but it gets the job done in a quick and effective way. You won’t be using the cream of tartar on its own though. You’ll need to add it to a bowl and mix it with an equal amount of baking soda.

Toss in a bit of peroxide to finish off the solution and you will notice that the mixture will start turning into a paste-like substance. The idea is similar to that of baking soda and water.

All you need to do is cover your tools in that paste and let it sit for a while. 30 minutes to an hour for letting it sit should suffice and at that point, you’ll only need to rinse everything off of the tools.

Why the Peroxide and Cream of Tartar?

Cream of tartar by the way is an acidic compound. It’s a white crystalline that’s used as a by-product for the fermentation of wine and the reason it’s so similar to that of the baking soda and water “tool cleaning hack” is that cream of tartar is used in baking soda. This method is mainly different because you’ll be adding in the peroxide.

Peroxide, according to the CDC, is very effective in getting rid of microorganisms, bacteria, and even viruses. Overall, it’s a chemical compound and you should be aware that peroxide can be harsh to certain metals, even metals that are resistant to corrosion.

You might be wondering why you would want to mix it with the cream of tartar and baking soda mixture due to its potentially harsh effects. This is because the mixture will target the rust. This is why it’s important to provide full coverage for rusted areas on your tools.

By the way, while the cream of tartar is in baking soda, they are two separate things. The baking soda alone is what activates the cream of tartar and its effects. The entire solution is activated once the liquid is added which is why you want to add a small amount of hydrogen peroxide.

Use a Commercial Cleaner
You could also use a commercial cleaner to clean your tools. This is one of the best ways to get clean tools because it will get the job done quickly and effectively. All you need to do is find a good cleaner that’s designed for cleaning contractor tools and follow the instructions on the label.

Be sure to read reviews before purchasing any cleaners to make sure that you’re getting a quality product that will clean your tools without damaging them.

Keeping your tools clean with a commercial cleaner is a good option because it’s designed for that reason. Consider using a degreaser or an all-purpose tool cleaner.

Buff Any Rust

If there are any rust spots, you’ll want to buff them out with a wire brush. This will help to remove the rust and prevent it from spreading. Still, you want to be sure to get one that’s designed for use on metal so that you don’t damage your tools.

The idea here is to use something abrasive to help loosen and remove the rust. You can do this by scouring or grinding the rust away. Depending on how thick the rust is on your tools, you may be able to use a bit of sandpaper or even use this tactic in conjunction with one of the above solutions to help get rid of it in a quicker way.

Buffing out rust will help to prolong the life of your tools. You can use a manual brush or an electric rust buffing tool to clean hand tools and even electric tools.

Keep It Simple but Frequent

Remaining proactive is one of the best things you can do when cleaning contractor tools. You should be cleaning your tools after each use. This will help to deter a lot of wear and tear as well as rust buildup.

Even if it’s only a spot clean, it wouldn’t hurt to even wash them after use. If you don’t want to clean your tools to this extent that’s okay.

Try to stick to cleaning them after they become significantly dirty. After every heavy-duty job or any project that leaves them pretty dirty, go ahead and give them a deep clean. Doing this will keep any debris from damaging different components of your tools, like your power tools for example.

Get the Top Tools You Need

Now that you have a better idea of how to keep clean tools ready for any project, consider adding these tips and techniques to your tool-cleaning methods. If you need tools and you want the highest quality options at affordable prices, work with Contractor Tool Supply.

With an experienced team in the construction industry, the main goal is to provide beginners or even experts with a variety of top tools with multiple uses. Check out our inventory and deals today or contact our team with questions.