I have some Plano Plastic cases with Crankbaits in them. It rained and some moisture got inside,thus effecting my hooks a little and leaving a rust colored residue on some of the baits. It wipes right off. I was thinking of the best way to clean them. Give me opinions on each idea.

1. Wipe them down by hand(risk putting rusty hooks into my fingers and thus needing a tetanus shot)

2. Take the trebles off and then wipe them down(Again messing with the rusty hooks, also very tedious and time consuming)

3.Put all the baits in the utensil bin in the household dishwasher(dont let the significant other know) and run it on the most gentle warm water cycle possible.

Im thinking #3 would be the most effective but im worried about the effect the chemicals in the dishwashing soap would have on the baits(loss of color ect.. The hooks arent real bad,not rusted through ,just a little surface rust which can be taken off with some hook sharpening.

I'm not sure about the soap but if it was me I would just change the hooks.

I'm always changing them anyway, so for me it wouldn't be a big deal.

I like new hooks.

A toothbrush, some hull cleaner (available at Wally-Mart) and water to rinse.

Soak lures in hull cleaner for about 3-5 minutes. Wear gloves as hull cleaner is mild acid - lightly scrub with toothbrush and rinse.

One thing an angler must do is learn to handle hooks.Take them off to clean the lures by hand with whatever it takes to get the rust off.Be careful using scrubbing pads that may dull or scuff the finish.I have gone as far to use WD-40 on some real rusty lures.About the rusty hooks,if you sand or sharpen them the rust will come right back because you remove the finish.I subjest going to Wal-Mart and getting some Gamakahtsu trebles,but Eagle Claw are better than rusty hooks.

A toothbrush, some hull cleaner (available at Wally-Mart) and water to rinse.

Soak lures in hull cleaner for about 3-5 minutes. Wear gloves as hull cleaner is mild acid - lightly scrub with toothbrush and rinse.

Pretty simple...

Thanks George!

A toothbrush, some hull cleaner (available at Wally-Mart) and water to rinse.

Soak lures in hull cleaner for about 3-5 minutes. Wear gloves as hull cleaner is mild acid - lightly scrub with toothbrush and rinse.

Hey George  DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE HOOKS OFF, will the Acid hurt the  hooks. That is such a good and easy idea 8-)

I agree with replacing the hooks. Once they have started to rust it will continue no matter what you do.

Falcon

SIMPLE:

take off hooks

toss hooks

drive to walmart

buy new NICE hooks (gammy's)

return home

wipe down lure

apply new hooks

go fishing!

It will remove the rust unless they are really bad. It will not damage hooks or bait. I do this at least twice a year on most of my hard baits as they never get off the boat.