Best way to clean rod handles?

[maceo]

I find my handle, like my hands, gets encrusted with groundwater residue, sweetcorn juice, maggot drippings and lots more besides over the course of a good session.

What do people use to clean handles? Just a wet cloth, or is it generally safe to use some kitchen spray or whatever?

 

[Keith M]

I’ve always just used a hand scrubbing brush with some washing up liquid on my cork handles and it’s always worked fine for me.

For really deep stubborn stains on old rods I’ve occasionally also used a plastic washing up scouring pad together with some washing up liquid together with a smallish drop of kitchen bleach added but I made sure that I’ve rinsed it well afterwards.

Keith

 

[mikench]

Use a magic sponge, especially for cork handles. On the blank just wipe off residue after using the magic sponge with a micro fibre cloth. I use carnauba wax on the blank and polish off. My rod blanks are impeccable.

 

[John Aston]

Mine aren't, rate rather the reverse in fact . My Acolytes are now the piscatorial equivalents of a rat rod - well patinated ....

 

[theartist]

Mine aren't, rate rather the reverse in fact . My Acolytes are now the piscatorial equivalents of a rat rod - well patinated ....

Same here, I like to think over time I have developed the perfect ergonomic grip

 

[no-one in particular]

I just wait until they have got a bit grimy then I give the rod a good clean with hot soapy water, washing up liquid usually, the cork handles come up fairly clean with a vigorous scrub.

 

[Molehill]

As above, warm water, a bit of washing up liquid and a nylon kitchen scourer (gently). This is presuming modern fixed reel fittings, if you have a rod with sliding winch fittings obviously a bit more care taken not to wear the cork handle with a scourer or whatever used.

 

[mikench]

The magic sponges available on eBay are brilliant on cork. I bought a Tricast John Allerton waggled from a bloke and the handle was nearly black. It came up like new.

 

[S-Kippy]

On the rare occasions I clean a handle I use a wet sanding sponge, the very fine grade.

 

[Mark Wintle]

Angle grinder? I clean rod handles once a decade

 

[nottskev]

I keep handles clean. I like the fact that I have some pretty old and well-used rods that look like new. I clean handles, remove deposit from rings and blanks, and keep joints clean of any speck that will grind the carbon. There can be an attractive patina on old cork, no doubt, evoking the romance of the antique and expressing our long use. But that's not what I'd call an accumulation of groundbait, oils and additives, bait juice and fish slime. Most of the stuff that gets on a rod handle, I want off asap.

 

[Steve King]

Nail brush and soapy water works fine on cork.

 

[sam vimes]

I keep handles as clean as is possible. I've calmed down a little of late in that I don't always clean them after every session.
Small amounts of washing up liquid and a soft nail brush keep on top of anything if used regularly. If cork gets discoloured with muck or dye from bait, a magic sponge may become necessary. They tend to bring up tired cork as well as possible without having to resort to abrasives.

I have well used thirty year old rods that certainly don't look unused, but they do look tidier than some folks two year old rods. I'm fairly certain that I could wipe my backside on some folks cork handles and I'd end up with a dirtier bum hole while they ended up with a marginally cleaner rod handle.

 

[S-Kippy]

I'm fairly certain that I could wipe my backside on some folks cork handles and I'd end up with a dirtier bum hole while they ended up with a marginally cleaner rod handle.

Thanks for that, Chris.....I've just had me dinner. .

 

[sam vimes]

Thanks for that, Chris.....I've just had me dinner. .

I'm just eating mine. That image is slightly less off-putting than the state of some of the rod handles I see.

 

[Peter Jacobs]

I am pretty ch OCD when it cpmes to my rods and tackle. After every second trip my tod handles get a light scrub with a soft nail brush using a mild soapy water and then air dried naturally.

 

[theartist]

All this talk of rod handles and peoples rear ends gives a new meaning to the term rod butt, each to their own. I know the 'badge of honour' quote usually pops up but in this case perhaps the rusty sheriffs badge of honour would be more apt

 

[Philip]

Read this thread with interest . ..thats a 30 year old JW Avon ...its never been near anything that even remotely resembles soap or a scrubbing brush and has been put to extensive use. Handle still looks ok to me.

While I am impressed by the levels of rod care on display on this thread I have to say the idea of wiping off my rods after every trip or scrubbing the handles with a tooth brush is just a non starter. I really dont have the time or inclination. Hats off to those that do.

 

[sam vimes]

Read this thread with interest . ..thats a 30 year old JW Avon ...its never been near anything that even remotely resembles soap or a scrubbing brush and has been put to extensive use. Handle still looks ok to me.

View attachment 17263

It does look just fine. The kind of thing I can't abide is a crust of groundbait and maggot sawdust/maize bound together with the finest roach/bream/tench snot. Some folks obviously couldn't care less. That's fine, it's their gear, but it can't do anything for the longevity of a cork handle or a reel. I'd also be very wary of eating my butties after using a rod with encrusted gunk from the ages.

 

[Philip]

The infamous JW sliding reel seats probably help…your forever sliding the reel back and forth on the handle all day long to stop it dropping off which scours off the dirt.

…perhaps it wasn’t a design flaw after all, it was actually a self cleaning enhancement!