Forget toxic cleaners and use your laundry detergent to give your bits and saw blades a quick bath.
Over time your drill bits, router bits, and saw blades, will accumulate dirt and baked on deposits. Dirty cutters lose their effectiveness and cause bits to heat up more, which diminishes their lifespan. Instead of cleaning your bits and blades with toxic chemicals that require gloves and proper ventilation, use your liquid laundry detergent for surprising results. Tungsten End Milling Cutter
Mix a 1:1 solution of laundry detergent and water in a bowl, and allow your drill bits to soak for about 10 minutes. Remove your tools and use a plastic brush or toothbrush to clean them off. When done, use a rag to thoroughly dry them and place them back in storage.
Rusty tools are another story, so they'll probably need a proper liquid rust remover like Evapo-Rust. We tested four of the leading rust removers that require little scrubbing and are highly effective.
Timothy is a lifelong DIY enthusiast who is fixated on smart home tech, beautiful tools, and wrenching on his FJ62 Land Cruiser. He’s the DIY editor at Popular Mechanics and also the founder of the home improvement site, Charles & Hudson, the Webby-nominated family site, Built by Kids, and Tool Crave. When not working, you’ll find him on his board or bike enjoying the LA weather with his family and friends. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
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