Probably way too late to help out the OP, but I use a sonic toothbrush and baking soda or baking soda toothpaste.

 

Just don't forget to take off your dedicated "lure cleaning" brush head, and then put your wife's toothbrush head back on once you are done.

 

 

 

1 minute ago, snake95 said:

Probably way too late to help out the OP, but I use a sonic toothbrush and baking soda or baking soda toothpaste.

 

Just don't forget to take off your dedicated "lure cleaning" brush head, and then put your wife's toothbrush head back on once you are done.

 

 

 

If I used my wife’s toothbrush (any part of it), the lake wouldn’t have to be drained for me to end up at the bottom of it.

On 11/18/2018 at 1:40 PM, Dirtyeggroll said:

So far the baits have seen an overnight in baking soda and a scrub with dish soap and a toothbrush. I got excited cleaning them and forgot to take before pictures of all of them.

Will get more pics later.

 

 

Some good looking lures in that pile. Would be nice to try them out for some river smallmouth bass or somewhere the water is not frozen.

Oxiclean + laundry detergent for 24 hours really seemed to do the trick. It was a little more aggressive in removing paint compared to dish soap + baking soda, but there was far less residue left with the Oxiclean + laundry detergent.

 

90 of 100+ of the baits pictured that I found in one day. I have about a dozen Shad raps and rattle traps left to clean.

 

A 50/50 mix of vinegar & water cleans almost anything. Works on coffee pots, windows, humidifiers, etc.. No reason why it wouldn't work on fishing lures. I like it better than CLR.

A very diluted mixture of hot water and simple green can clean a lot of things.  The problem is if you mix it too strong, the restoration will very likely require a repaint also.

 

I love it. Finding lures in the winter time is almost as fun as catching fish. Well, not really, but it is fun to find something really nice when they aren’t biting.

 

I’ve found several that sell in the $18-20 range that are brand new. I’ve also cleaned up a lot like you’ve got. In fact, I’ve found a lot of the same exact lures you have in your picture.

 

The great thing about found lures is you cast them into areas you might normally be scared to. Easy come, easy go.

 

If the lips are frosted, I usually don’t keep them, myself.

 

On 11/20/2018 at 2:42 PM, WRB said:

Deep divers with polycarbinate (Lexan) bills are clear transparent when new and can be polished to remove etched mate finish caused from being underwater and cleaned.

How do you go about polishing bills/lips?

You can try using white original Colgate tooth paste with electric tooth brush to get a translucent finish. To get clear it takes a lot of jewelry polishing and buffing using a soft cloth, not worth the effort IMO.

Tom

 

On 11/21/2018 at 7:38 AM, Dirtyeggroll said:

If I used my wife’s toothbrush (any part of it), the lake wouldn’t have to be drained for me to end up at the bottom of it.

Finding the new hiding spots for her nail clippers and nail files keeps the relationship fresh almost as much as my Kobe Bryant/laundry hamper buzzer countdown morning routine... "Kobe for three!" [nothing but net swish sound]. 

I found a lure today that I lost on the other side of the lake a few months ago.