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How to clean a sticky knife

orange-with-pocketknife

Q. Whenever I go camping I always cut oranges with my knife. But then my knife sticks and is hard to get open. What is the best way to de-stick my knife?
— Sticky Fetzko, Munhall, Pa.

A. First, try licking the juice off the blade … wait, bad idea! Very bad idea.

Here’s what my friend Jeff Freeman, a big-time knife designer with Gerber Legendary Blades, recommends: “Wash your knife in warm water with simple dish soap. This will get the acid off. Be sure to get any gunk out of the knife’s locking mechanism. (Try using a toothpick.) Then, towel it dry or let it air dry.

“If you live by the coast where there’s lots of salt air, dab a little motor oil on a rag and rub it onto the blade. Finally, wipe it off with a towel.”


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12 Comments on How to clean a sticky knife

  1. to get grime of my pocket knife I put lemon juice on an old toothbrush and scrubed.

  2. Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // October 20, 2011 at 8:54 pm // Reply

    Jeff Freeman designed my knife! The Gerber LMF II. great job Jeff!

  3. stick in & out of the dirt then wipe it off clean….or have a small bottle on your belt loop of hand sanitizer (alcohol)!

    • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // October 22, 2012 at 11:28 am // Reply

      DO NOT stick ANY knife EVER in and out of the dirt! that will dull and chip the blade faster then any thing else. dirt and rocks are a knifes worst enemy.

    • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // October 22, 2012 at 11:32 am // Reply

      BAD,BAD,BAD IDEA!! DONT LISTEN TO HIM!! HE JUST EXPLAINED THE BEST WAY TO RUIN A KNIFE!! NEVER, EVER STICK YOUR KNIFE IN THE DIRT!!!!!!!!!

  4. just wipe it with a towl

  5. try using rubbing alchol it should knock it right out

  6. so coool i will try that ting man so coool

  7. great idea i used to have the same problem

  8. aaaaaaaaverdr // November 1, 2009 at 7:42 am // Reply

    cool I will try it

  9. i really want a pocketknife

  10. Q-tips also work for cleaning knifes, but make it wet to clean sticky stuff off.

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