Cleaning Cork Handles

I frequently get questions asking how I keep my cork handles clean. And, it's actually not anything special that I do, except maybe for the detergent I use. Keeping my fly rod handles clean is something I am motivated to do and is usually a winter project of mine. My fly rods in active fishing rotation get cleaned once a year around December and January. I have found if I clean them once a year, that's enough to keep them looking nice through the fishing season. Probably one of my more enjoyable winter projects each year, because they bring back good memories of fly fishing as I clean them.

Materials: Dawn Dish Soap; Soft Cotten Dish Cloth (neutral color).

Job Procedure:

1. Run warm water over the cork handle.
2. Wet your dish cloth and apply Dawn Dish Soap to it.
3. Gently rub the cloth over the cork until it's clean as possible.
4. Rinse cork handle thoroughly until all soap is removed.
5. Tamp cork handle with dry towel to remove excess water.
6. Set the rod section on a dry, clean, white towel, and allow cork to dry completely.
7. Return the rod section into the rod sock, and storage tube.
8. Patiently wait for winter to end, and on a nice spring day...go fly fishing.