Cleaning cork...

[rrrrrrRon]

The DNR pulled the dock on my favorite lake last week and the weather has been crummy anyway, so I pulled my boat and started "winterizing" my tackle. I use Simple Green to clean the cork on my rods. All of them came out fine, except my most-used rod still is a bit black (grubby) even after several applications. Any suggestions?

[K Gonefishin]

very light sandpaper, it'll look brand new.

[Backwater Eddy]

The DAWN dish soap with the OXY cleaner in it does a nice job. I can also add a splash of bleach to whiten the cork up. If they are going into storage they have all winter to air out. The OXY stuff does a really nice job without worry of loosing up the cement on the cork to the blank.

[stinkycat]

very light sandpaper, it'll look brand new.

dido!

[FJD - UL]

I think they have one of those "wonder rags" that is supposed to be great for cork handles.

[fishdontbite6]

I have always used the Mr Clean Eraser makes um look like brand new

[Chris K]

Give the cork handle a light spray of WD-40 and wipe it off. They look just like new. Chris K

[Manxfishing]

I use one of those green scuff pads and dish soap.
Works great and it removes just the dirt

[Mattman]

Dish soap
Alcohol
Simple Green
Scotch Brite
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

All work well.


U40 Cork Seal or Birchwood Casey's Tru Oil gunstock finish are two products us custom builders use to seal the cork on rods.

[jignpig]

Get the Wonder Rag!!! all you do is wipe the handle down with the cloth nothing else to add a forgien scent... Most fly shops sell them, or you can get them on line.

[clarkend not logged]

Soft Scrub

[rrrrrrRon]

I had lots of sandpaper and none of the other recommendations, so I tried that. I started with 220 grit, but that was an awfully slow process. I switched to a coarser grit and things went reasonably fast. I then finished with the 220 grit to smoothen. The dirty rod looked much better than the others that I previously thought were acceptable, so I did all the rods. The rods are 9 years or more old, and the cork honestly looks like new. :laugh:

[SwimJig]

Sand paper? That's for shapeing the grip. You want it clean? Plain old Shampoo and a scrub brush. Showroom clean in minutes........

[westside]

One cold winter day I cleaned up a few with a light paste made of baking soda and an old toothbrush. Worked well...for the most part it's just a quick dip in the river and wiping with the ol' mammy rag. All the blood and fishscales have stories behind them.