When you have something that is high quality like a Swiss Army Knife, you should make sure you take special care of it. That means maintaining it and cleaning it regularly. But what is the proper way to clean one of these types of knives? Here are some tips you can use so your knife will last for many years and keep its shine.

Make Sure It’s Genuine

There are many imposters when it comes to Swiss Army Knives. Just because it is called a Swiss Army Knife doesn’t mean it actually is. The best way to see if it is genuine is to check the manufacturer. The only two legitimate manufacturers of this brand are Wenger and Victorinox. There are a couple of other manufacturers, but these are the two main ones.

Wash It in the Dishwasher

If you find out that you have a genuine Swiss Army Knife and not a knockoff brand, you can be confident just putting it in the dishwasher. Because of the high quality materials and workmanship used on the genuine brand, you won’t have to worry about the knife falling apart. If you are going to wash it in the dishwasher, pull out all of the tools on the knife and place it in the utensils section. With the knife folded out, it will make it easier for the water and soap to get to all the tiny nooks and crannies.

Use a Cloth and Water

If you don’t have a dishwasher or if you are out in the great outdoors when your knife needs to be cleaned, you can simply use a wet rag. Soaking your knife in a bowl of water first will help loosen any dirt or debris. Then you can simply rub all of the tools with a wet rag to get them even cleaner.

Use Oil on the Hinges

To keep your Swiss knife operating properly, you should regularly oil the hinges on the tools. You can do this with some simple 3-in-1 oil that you can find at most local hardware stores. Don’t overdo it, though. Putting too much oil on the hinges will mean that you’ll need to clean the knife again. Simply put a couple drops of oil on each hinge and wipe off any excess oil. This will keep your knife working great and it will be easy to pull out each tool at a moment’s notice when you need it.