AMiataCalledSteve
AMiataCalledSteve Reader
4/18/23 8:15 a.m.

My battery-powered tools have become quite greasy and dirty from my most recent string of car repairs. I generally wear gloves when I work and I try to keep the grime off my tools as much as possible, but they get dirty nonetheless, and it's a bit of an inconvenience when I grab one for a little indoor work and my hands get grime on them from the tool. Does anyone have a preferred method to clean the rubber grips and plastic housings on your power tools?

TJL (Forum Supporter)
TJL (Forum Supporter) Dork
4/18/23 8:24 a.m.

I use purple power for everything. Dilute as needed. 

APEowner
APEowner GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
4/18/23 8:27 a.m.

That's one of the reasons I still prefer air tools for mechanical work.  The have aluminum housings so I just hit them with brake clean.  To answer your question, I clean my plastic bodies battery powered tools with Simple Green.

dclafleur
dclafleur Reader
4/18/23 9:20 a.m.

I've got a tub o towels container on my tool kart that I use to wipe down things when I finish a project. Sometimes when a project goes a long time it requires a bit more work and that's when I use a rag with dilluted degreaser to clean things.

NOHOME
NOHOME MegaDork
4/20/23 8:55 a.m.

 I just wipe them down with $100 bills every couple of years and they look like new again.

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter)
Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
4/20/23 9:54 a.m.
dclafleur said:

I've got a tub o towels container on my tool kart that I use to wipe down things when I finish a project. Sometimes when a project goes a long time it requires a bit more work and that's when I use a rag with dilluted degreaser to clean things.

I'm not as organized, but that's what I use to clean mine. Works great. 

RevRico
RevRico GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
4/20/23 10:03 a.m.

Maybe blast them with compressed air if I've been doing drywall or other super dusty stuff, but otherwise, I don't.

MitchRoyce
MitchRoyce New Reader
4/20/23 10:11 a.m.
APEowner said:

That's one of the reasons I still prefer air tools for mechanical work.  The have aluminum housings so I just hit them with brake clean.  To answer your question, I clean my plastic bodies battery powered tools with Simple Green.

I agree. Air tools are superior. And I can confirm it as a trucker.

pinchvalve (Forum Supporter)
pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
4/20/23 10:30 a.m.

I saw one of these behind a truck yesterday and it reminded me that the pros are not wiping down their tools obsessively. I use Purple Power and a rag, but try not to get too crazy about it. 

AMiataCalledSteve
AMiataCalledSteve Reader
4/20/23 11:57 a.m.

I don't particularly care if my tools look dirty or well-used, but I do prefer to have clean hands after I hold my stuff. I don't want to have to put gloves on to rearrange my toolbox. I usually wipe down my hand tools and power tools with a paper towel when I'm done using them in the driveway or a particularly dirty job, but sometimes you need something a little stronger I guess :)

WillG80
WillG80 GRM+ Memberand Reader
4/22/23 8:16 p.m.

Cleaning is the main reason I dislike any "soft touch" tools. That includes screw drivers, pliers etc. Hard plastic or metal is so much easier to clean than the fancy gripy tools. 

dj06482 (Forum Supporter)
dj06482 (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UberDork
4/23/23 7:37 a.m.

I use baby wipes for cleaning them off, and they typically take most of the grease off. Will have to try Simple Green. 
 

I use a lot of unscented baby wipes in the course of my automotive work. I typically wear black nitrile gloves, and then wipe them off with baby wipes, which gives me several uses before they ultimately rip and I grab a new one. They're great at getting grease/oil off of things. Our youngest has been out of diapers for many years, but I still pick up a case every time they're on sale.  My go-to are the BJ's warehouse-branded unscented wipes in the blue box. I figure if they can get Desitin off skin, they're plenty powerful for most of my uses. Just don't clean glass with them, they'll streak like crazy.

Noddaz
Noddaz GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
4/24/23 7:32 a.m.

Spray-9 cleaner works for me.

Aaron_King
Aaron_King GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
4/24/23 9:51 a.m.

I read someplace a while ago about using WD-40.  It works great, I use it on anything from my power tools to anything that has a softish handle.

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