How to Clean Tool Box?

Although a toolbox is built to give you long service, it will not last long if you don’t do proper maintenance and cleaning work.

Now, you may ask, does a tool box require cleaning?

Why not?

Cleaning your toolbox will give you a mouthful of benefits, undoubtedly.

If your tool box is a mess, you will definitely take time to find a tool during an urgency. But if it is well-organized and cleaned, within 10 seconds, you can find out the necessary tool. Thus, your productivity will also increase.

However, cleaning a toolbox is not a complicated task. If you are unaware of how to clean a toolbox, no worries. Read this article, clean your toolbox, and improve your efficiency.

What is a Tool Box?

A toolbox is a box where you can store all your tools in an organized way so that you can carry it during a project, besides it will protect your tools from any damage.

It means storing, organizing, carrying, and protecting your tools is the prime responsibility of a toolbox. 

For DIY enthusiasts, hobbyists, or other trades, a toolbox is significantly essential. Based on the owner’s requirements, the design and its contents may vary.

Imagine, at a time of urgency, you are struggling to find the required tool, whereas you have all the necessary tools at your home. Or you are sweating to organize your tools; at this point, a toolbox is the only option that can assist you with all its features.

A toolbox will allow you to organize all your tools in the correct order so that you can find them quickly without any hassle.

Tips on Cleaning Tool Box

Follow the below tips to clean your toolbox. Do follow the steps one by one, and you will understand cleaning a toolbox is so simple.

Required Items

1. Piece of a clean and soft cloth.
2. Household cleaner.
3. A piece of rag.
4. A bottle of paint thinner.
5. A piece of cardboard.

Toolbox Cleaning Process

• Take a clean cloth. Put it on the floor. Then, dump all your tools on the cloth that you have in your toolbox.
• Keep some household cleaner in your hand distance. Once the toolbox is entirely empty, clean the outer part of the box using a household cleaner.
• Now, take a soft cloth and soak it to paint thinner thoroughly. Use the cloth to clean the inner portion of your toolbox. Make sure you have cleaned every corner of the inner part. You should not leave any dust or dirt in the toolbox.
• If you are not been using any of your tools for a long time, those tools have become dirty for sure. Take a piece of rag, soak it in the paint thinner, and clean all the oil and dirt from the tools. The wrenches and screwdrivers require special care during this time.
• If any tools get rusted, keep them separately out of the toolbox. There might be some other junks also that have been gathered into the toolbox over many years. Clean them thoroughly because they will not be in any use in the future.
• Take cardboard, and cut it similar to the toolbox size. Lay it down at the bottom of the toolbox. Thus, excess oil will be soaked up, and your tools will be protected.
• If you own a variety of loose wrenches, lay them on a clean cloth. Organize them following an order. The order can be size-wise or purpose-wise, depending on your priority. And roll all of them up, and tie them using a string.
• Next, based on a priority basis, put all the tools inside the box. Keep the least used tools in the bottom part of the toolbox. As a result, you don’t need to dig your hand into the ocean of tools to find your favorite screwdriver or bolts. Or you can buy another toolbox where you can keep all these less-used tools. And purchase a tote bag so that you can carry all the necessary tools that you need very frequently.
• Keep a searchlight in your toolbox always. But don’t forget to keep the batteries separate and use them when you need to use the searchlight. If you keep the batteries with your searchlight, they will be dead or become leak.
• Throw a piece of chalk into the toolbox that will absorb the moisture. Thus, your tools will remain rust-free for an extended period.

Maintenance for your Cleaning Tool Box

Now, you have cleaned your toolbox, which is giving a glistering look under a burst of bright sunshine. At some point, you may need to clean the toolbox again. All you need to remember is you should not let the toolbox get dirty and messy again. For this, you need to clean your toolbox periodically.

It is advisable to inspect the toolbox once a week. If you feel the oil that you have applied on the toolbox they have worn away, apply another coating of paint. By using a soft cloth and a sufficient amount of motor oil, you can apply a coat on the toolbox.

I also recommend you give a good rinse to your tool if you are carrying it to several areas. Because roadside debris, dirt, dust, and other things can breach, the coating of the toolbox and oxidation may happen. During the winter, take special care of your toolbox as well as your tools. Because, during winter, the tools are highly tended to become rust.

Also, note that whenever you are giving a thorough rinse to your toolbox, apply a coat of oil on the box. If you forget to do this, your tools will start oxidizing within a few hours.

Wrap Up

Doesn’t your toolbox look nice? Also, are you not feeling great after completing this task? Now you will never face a problem finding your necessary tools.