How to sanitize a blade

C

Cliff27

Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
8
I was wondering how I could sanitize my stainless steel blade without using a water-boiling method. I'm not using it for brain surgery, so it doesn't have to be perfectly clean. (And if you wondering, yes, I am a serial killer ;))
 
why sanitize it if your killing people anyway? but, maybe some alcohol and a warm soapy water scrub?
 
another +1 for rubbing alcohol.

Course, if you have some Everclear, that'd work and you could drink the residuum.
 
Ive seen on a-z bushcraft that you can use moss to clean a knife since it has an effective sponge scrub action, and it contains tonsof iodine
 
It seems like this discussion pops up every couple of months around here. Best: bleach (Clorox); next best: ammonia (Windex); next best: rubbing alcohol; worst (but still halfway decent): soapy water.
 
Samael said:
It seems like this discussion pops up every couple of months around here. Best: bleach (Clorox); next best: ammonia (Windex); next best: rubbing alcohol; worst (but still halfway decent): soapy water.
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What he said. :thumbup:

Sanitization, as defined by hospitals, involves the killing of 99.999% of all bacteria and microorganizims. This is easily achived by alcohol.

In order to disinfect you have to have a higher kill capacity that also includes some of the harder to kill pathogens, spores, and parasites.

A 5% solution of clorine bleach will wipe out most common pathogens, like tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C, fungi, and staph. A 1 to 1 solution of bleach and water will kill even the toughest parasites.

Have fun!
 
I've got a rusty blade that i used for something stupid a while back. What would be the best way to clean it up so as not to leave anything too traceable on it?
 
scubadoo97 said:
Food safe vinegar is an excellent disinfectant. Kills the majority of bacteria, molds and viruses.
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Vinegar will indeed work. BUT, be advised it will almost immediately darken a carbon-steel blade. Many folks, including myself, use it expressly for that purpose. It won't darken stainless steels.

SallyF said:
I've got a rusty blade that i used for something stupid a while back. What would be the best way to clean it up so as not to leave anything too traceable on it?
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0000 grade steel-wool would be my recommendation, to abrade the rust off without scratching the blade too much. A weak solution of oxalic acid would help dissolve the rust.
 
James_Terrio said:
0000 grade steel-wool would be my recommendation, to abrade the rust off without scratching the blade too much. A weak solution of oxalic acid would help dissolve the rust.
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The problem with the rust isn't my main concern really, I don't need the blade I just feel it'd be better not to throw it away. I just want to clean it up a bit and leave it out of harms way, for now anyway.

Do you think the oxalic acid would remove any traces of lets just say plasma for example?
 
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SallyF said:
Do you think the oxalic acid would remove any traces of lets just say plasma for example?
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I don't really know. What kind of "plasma" are we talking about? If you mean blood residues, any of the above methods would clean it off.
 
James_Terrio said:
I don't really know. What kind of "plasma" are we talking about? If you mean blood residues, any of the above methods would clean it off.
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Well yes I did mean blood to be honest but I thought if I said that it'd sound like I stabbed someone with the rusty knife! :D (I didn't before you report me! :foot:)
 
Gotcha. In any case, it's always best to wipe your blades clean immediately after use. Leaving stuff like blood and food on there can cause pitting that's hard to get rid of.
 
+1 for bleach.

I heard from acquaintances that shot dope that bleaching a rig out would kill everything. If it works on a rig, it should work on a blade.
 
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