Clean your tools with Dawn dish soap?

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

Has anyone ever done this? I read online that if you soak your tools in dawn dish soap and clean them after using them that it will effectively remove all the grease and prevent rust from building up on them. Just wondering if anyone has tried this method and if it really does work.

 

[rshadd]

Dawn is a decent degreaser, but how would it prevent rust?
I wipe down my tools befor I put them away with a rag soaked with a little WD40.

 

[TreePointer]

Whenever I need to degrease something I'll use whatever I think will do the job--Simple Green, Hand GOOP, etc., as the first step. If there is a little film or slight greasiness remaining after that, Dawn is great for the final washing.

Once clean and dry, apply whatever rust preventative you like.

 

[Askme42]

I sure wouldn't soak my ratchets in dawn.

 

[Givl Reggin]

Simple Green, Hand GOOP, etc.

I've said it before, I'll say it again... I don't like the idea of using a water-based product on something that will rust. There's always little crevasses that are hard to get to and dry. My go to all-purpose solvent is WD-40... if I need something more aggressive, then I look to gasoline, lacquer thinner, mineral spirits, turpentine, etc.

 

[ken w.]

I clean just about everything in Dawn concentrated dish soap that I buy from a restaurant supply store. I use it to degrease guns , tools and parts. I use it with the hottest tap water that I can stand to use and it works awesome.I then blow it off with compressed air. I can't see where it would prevent rust tho. It will strip any bit of grease or oil off leaving bare metal. You would definitely have to spray it with some sort of lube. I have good luck using Scott's Liquid Gold on firearms and Remoil or other light spray oil on tools.

 

[VersionOne]

Similar to others, I like to use Simple Green, or brake parts cleaner for the more stubborn mess.

 

[bonneyman]

Dawn is a decent degreaser, but how would it prevent rust?
I wipe down my tools befor I put them away with a rag soaked with a little WD40.

Good intentions, but I'd choose a different oil. WD-40 contains the skin penetrant DMSO, and it used to make me sick as a dog.
I've switched to Ballistol. If it was good enough for the German Army for 40 years, it's good enough for me!

http://www.ballistol.com/

 

[JR 42]

I use Dawn, the hottest tap water we've got, and a variety of brushes - old toothbrushes, brass bristle, pipe brushes- and a pick to clean rusty grimy old tools. Then wipe with a paper towel and toss in the oven on the lowest setting for a few minutes, let cool, and OIL! I use a light oil in a squeeze bottle.

As mentioned, soap will strip away any oil... that's what it's supposed to do.

JR

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

I know there are countless threads on here about tool cleaners, it wasn't my intention to try to start another, I currently use LA Awesome and silicone spray to clean and protect my tools. I started this thread mainly because the Dawn rust prevention sounded funky yet caught my interest

 

[kctyphoon]

+1 on the dawn.. I think it works better then simple green

 

[jcgresham]

Gun guys (and gals) may be familiar with Froglube CLP. I buy and sell a lot of hand tools and use this gun lube on the working surfaces of my tools and the stuff I clean up an sell. I have no affiliation with the Froglube folks...

 

[nicksnothereman]

"clean off grease"

Why?

 

[FreeTenthsDiag]

I just tried, kind of made the boys itchy.

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

I just tried, kind of made the boys itchy.

 

[jd_1138]

I wouldn't use Dawn on tools. Also, don't wash your vehicle engines!

 

[T45]

+1 on Dawn, but it's H20 based, so do not put away wet. So, WD40. Then Contact cleaner. Then you're c-l-e-a-n.

 

[darkzero]

Trying to keep your hands soft like a women?

I just use WD-40 to clean my tools also. That's all I use WD-40 for is cleaning, oh & well machining aluminum sometimes.

 

[Toymeister]

Pinesol is superior to dawn. Generic versions from the dollar store work as well as the name brand. its cheaper than dawn in my experience.

 

[Tronyadorable]

Diesel on a rag.

 

[ambenz]

Soaking tools? ...not good.
I've been spraying Croftgate Multiclean on a rag the wiping the tools down, no soaking required.

Then a little Croftgate Quick and Slick on another rag and wipe the tool to protect it from corrosion.

Another corrosion prevention method I use is to take those small desiccant packets you find in pill bottles and electronic packaging and put them in the toolbox drawers every time I find one.

I also have placed my toolbox close to the garage furnace which keeps the area around the box dry.

 

[PureLeaf]

The amount of silica gel you're using and in the way you're using it offers no benefit. I use silica gel daily in my professional life. It is a good "buffer" for micro climates. Meaning sealed environments with very low air exchange rates. A tool box is not going to be a sealed environment. A sealed environment is more along the lines of a sealed tupperware box. Additionally, simply placing silica gel into a sealed container is not effective use. You calculate the volume of space to condition, you would also condition the silica gel to the desired RH. Since we're talking metal as low as possible, ideally below 17% relative humidity. And then place the amount of conditioned silica gel that is calculated to condition that space. It then must be monitored on a weekly or monthly basis because it will eventually absorb so much moisture that it will need to be conditioned again.

Heres some very basic guidance for the use and calculation of silica gel:

http://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/01-08.pdf

 

[rlitman]

I wouldn't use Dawn on tools. Also, don't wash your vehicle engines!

I'd use Dawn on stainless tools (if I could afford many). On steel, no way. I agree with the sentiments stated above. If I need to degrease steel tools, I'll use a waterless solvent.

As for washing vehicle engines, I have a slightly different take.
Regular washing: hell no.
Washing a few days before certain repair jobs where dirt can be an issue, yeah.

For example, it's much nicer when you're adjusting valves to know that you won't get gritty **** falling inside the engine, because you washed it down shortly before the job. I'll also try to wash before doing a timing belt or water pump.

 

[Davefr]

What do you guys do that causes your tools to get so filthy dirty/greasy that you have to resort to extreme cleaning methods?

I can see that if you buy a bucket of tools from a barn sale.

After the work is done, just wiping them with any old rag works for me. (fresh oil, grease and dirt comes off easy)

 

[jaymz1967]

Wonder if this would work on tools as well.

 

[tjmonsen5]

i clean my screwdriver handles with brake cleaner about once a year. makes them look brand new again. No way is soap and water getting near my tools! I can smell the rust forming already.

 

[foghorn1966]

But..... put Dawn dish soap is one of those pump bottles where you wash-up. Cleans your hands really good and no grimy soap scum in the sink.

 

[Leaky88]

Nope. I've always looked at water as being the enemy of my tools. Just MHO.
Leaky

 

[Kirbot]

Rust should be a problem if you use common sense and oil afterwords.
But I've never had any luck soap at all.

Balistol is my first choice, followed by the cheaper WD40, or carb cleaner if it's really stubborn.

 

[Scimonetti]

I buy WD-40 by the gallon mostly for cleaning stuff and wet sanding. That being said, if you have grimey, greasy, gummy tools dawn will work great. After making a mess refilling an already nasty grease gun I washed it with dawn and it came out clean. I also use dawn to degrease stuff before painting when I don't have enough solvent

I'm not sure if that's proper but it worked

 

[west wind]

I work in an auto body shop, and most of the vehicles i work on are wet in the winter. I battle the rust using motor oil on a rag. But needless to say a well used tool is a well used tool. They cant stay new and prestine looking forever. Its like having a new prestine car you hate to park next to anybody. A
dinged up p.o.s that runs great, now thats a gem in my eyes.

 

[Fretters]

Washing up liquid and water are fine as an initial cleaning, if you're getting cack off something which will be getting more work done on it. As a clean it and put it away solution though, absolutely not. If you want degreasing whilst not promoting rust like there's no tomorrow, just use kerosene. It's cheap and readily available, doesn't leave a greasy film like diesel does, cuts through grease like nobody's business and won't actively promote rust.

 

[zkling]

What do you guys do that causes your tools to get so filthy dirty/greasy that you have to resort to extreme cleaning methods?

I mostly use it for cleaning new to me (used) boxes or machines. A warm pressure wash and dawn will really strip the grease and crud off without all the harmful chemicals or paint damage. And for scrubbing my hands or parts. If it's good enough to save the baby ducks it good enough for me.

Tip the <$1 Kroger bottle works in a pinch when Dawn isn't on sale.

 

[kctyphoon]

I'm not understanding the "dawn will rust your tools" I mean, if your going through the trouble to clean them off, what's it take? A second to hit the thing with a towel or cloth? Wouldnt you be doing that with almost anything you use anyway? I use it cause the hot water and soap in the sink make the cleaning easier and faster, so taking all of a minute to dry a bucket of tools really isn't a big deal.. Plus, it's not something that will kill my hands.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Tools with grease on them won't rust, but tools with all of the grease removed may rust.

I worked with a guy who was a salt water marine mechanic who's tools were filty with grease, he said it was the only way he could keep them from rusting.

I just put my tools back in the box when done with them. I will wipe them off with a rag if they are dirty or greasy. There is no way I would wash my tools. I don't want presentation tools, I want working tools, I had the shiny pearl handled snap on screwdrivers and got rid of them a long time ago

Chris

 

[T45]

Tools with grease on them won't rust, but tools with all of the grease removed may rust. Chris

Respectfully disagree. The grease holds dirt, and dirt holds moisture.

 

[PFSard]

I bought some P&C, Plomb, Proto, and Herbrand universal sockets at an estate sale yesterday. Grimy and cruddy. Soaked in Dawn in hot water. Cleaned with old toothbrush. Rinsed with hot water. Blew off with compressed air. Let air dry for an hour or so. Dunked in motor oil. Very clean afterwards. I didn't spend much time on this. Time will tell. Next time I may try the "Dry in oven".

I had done this treatment with grimy wrenches from yard sales without incident.

As an aside, I have a kitchen floor with very disgusting looking grout (approaching black in many spots). I tried a 50/50 mix of Dawn and warm vinegar. Let it sit on the grout in the worst area of the floor for a few minutes. Grout looked fairly decent after scrubbing with a toothbrush. Link below.

Easy Floor Tile Grout Cleaner
http://www.aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com/easy-floor-tile-grout-cleaner/

 

[Fedwrench]

I've been throwing my tools in a cuda (hot water parts washer) after every really dirty job for more than a few years now with no ill effects or rust. Ratchets included. No air tools or cordless stuff though.

I would use cascade rather than Dawn though. I know Dawn does a great job of removing oil gunk from birds after an oil spill but, I've had great success over the years flushing cooling systems out that had DEXCOOL/Oil Sludge in them with Cascade.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Respectfully disagree. The grease holds dirt, and dirt holds moisture.

I must be lucky then, because mine haven't rusted in 30 years.

If you guys really want to make them shine, snap on sell tool Polish kit.

Chris

 

[kctyphoon]

Well I don't know how other people feel, but I don't want picking up the tools to be what gets me dirty. I mean, I might be in a differnt position then some other guys on here.. I can see if they get caked up everyday that it just becomes a loosing battle, and people just submit and accept that's how they will stay. For me, leaving the tools dirty is just a form of neglect.. It's like buying a car and never washing it - then me saying that there's a protective layer of dirt on it..