How to Clean a Sharpening Stone

A sharpening stone is essential to a sharp knife. To keep your sharpening stone in good shape, it's important to clean it adequately. You should clean your sharpening stone after each use.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• sharpening stone
• honing oil
• an old toothbrush, rag, or stiff nylon brush
• warm soapy water

1. 
   Arkansas Sharpening Stone.

   Glossy gray streaks on your sharpening stone indicate debris build up. What you use to clean the stone depends on the type of stone you use, and what you use while sharpening your knife. Make sure to put a towel under your sharpening stone during the cleaning process to catch excess particles.

2. 
   Try honing oil to clean your sharpening stone.

   Decide what you will use to clean your sharpening stone. You can use honing oil to sharpen your knife and to clean the stone. Honing oil provides lubrication for sharpening your stone, reduces friction and keeps metallic particles from embedding into the sharpening stone. To clean your stone, apply a small amount of oil, and rub it in a circular motion down the length of the stone. You'll see metal flecks rise up from the pores and as this happens wipe the stone with a rag or paper towel. Rinse the stone under running water then dry it with a paper towel or rag.

3. If you use a water based honing oil, clean the sharpening stone with warm soapy water. You can use an old toothbrush or a green scrubbing sponge to scrub the stone clean. Use the same motion as above to clean your sharpening stone (lengthwise in a circular motion).

4. 
   Another sharpening stone.

   Do not drop your sharpening stone as it may break or chip it. Put your sharpening stone away after each cleaning.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean your stone after every use.
• Metal particles with dry on the surface and clog the pores of the stone, if you don't clean after each use.
• Be careful scrubbing the stone with your fingers without using something to protect you hands from the small metal particles.
• You can use water, water-based oil, or petroleum based oil on your sharpening stone, but make sure to stick the same type because the porousness of the stone makes it hard to change from oil based lubricant.

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[vikki9]

on 8/25/2008 Oh, oh. I rinse my sharpening stone with every use, but had no idea it should/could actually be 'cleaned'. (Eeeee-uuuuuu!) Well... we don't know what we don't know! Thank you, eHow! You too, jpwriter. 5* and digg.

[krazigirl79]

on 8/18/2008 Great tips, thank you!