Leatherman Tool Care: Clean, Lubricate & Store Your Multi-Tool
By Leatherman | Published: 2026-10-14
Category: Tips & Care
A practical Leatherman care guide: how to clean, lubricate, and store your multi-tool to prevent rust, keep pivots smooth, and extend blade life.
Quick Answer
Clean your Leatherman with a dry brush and mild soap, dry it completely, then apply a thin layer of lubricant to the pivots. Store it dry and open to air, not sealed in a damp pouch. Done every few weeks, this routine prevents rust, keeps tools opening smoothly, and protects blade edges.
Why Leatherman Maintenance Matters
A multi-tool is a system of pivots, springs, and blades that all depend on each other. Grit in a pivot wears metal; moisture left on a blade starts rust; a dry joint makes you force the tool open, which stresses the frame. Regular care is not about making the tool look new. It is about keeping the action smooth and the edges intact so the tool works when you actually need it.
The riskiest moments are after wet or dirty jobs. Salt water, sweat, sawdust, and food residue all sit in the crevices where you cannot see them. A two-minute clean after those jobs does more than an hour of scrubbing months later.
What You Need
You do not need a workshop. A soft brush, a dry cloth, mild dish soap, warm water, a light lubricant, and a sharpener cover almost every situation. For field cleaning, a dry brush and a cloth are enough until you get home. Avoid harsh solvents, which can strip finishes and dry out pivots, and avoid soaking the whole tool in water for long periods.
How Often to Maintain Your Leatherman
For everyday carry, a quick brush and pivot check every two to four weeks is plenty. After any job involving water, salt, mud, or food, clean and dry the tool the same day. If you live in a humid or coastal area, shorten that interval and add a light lubricant more often. If the tool has been sitting unused for months, treat it to a full clean and lube before you rely on it.
Sharpening as Part of the Routine
A clean blade still cuts poorly if the edge is dull, and a dull edge makes you push harder, which is when slips happen. Check the edge each time you clean. If it catches on your thumbnail, it is fine. If it slides, touch it up. The Leatherman Blade Sharpener combines a carbide sharpener, a ceramic hone, and a diamond-coated rod, so you can restore an edge at home or in the field without carrying separate stones. Use the carbide only when the edge is truly dull, then finish with the ceramic or diamond rod to refine the edge.
Step-by-Step Leatherman Care
- Open every tool and brush out loose debris: Open all blades, drivers, and scissors. Use a soft brush to sweep out dust, lint, and grit from the pivots and the spaces between the handles. Work over a surface where small parts will not roll away. Mistake to avoid: skipping this dry step and going straight to water, which turns dust into a paste that packs deeper into the pivots.
- Wash with mild soap and warm water: If the tool is greasy or has food residue, wash it with a little mild dish soap and warm water, using the brush on the pivots. Do not soak it overnight and do not use harsh solvents or abrasive pads. Checkpoint: if you used soap, rinse thoroughly. Soap film left behind attracts dust and can feel sticky in the joints.
- Dry completely, including the pivots: Wipe the tool with a dry cloth, then let it air dry fully with the tools open. Pay attention to the pivot areas and the inside of the handles, where water hides. A hair dryer on a cool setting can speed this up. Mistake to avoid: closing the tool while it is still damp. Trapped moisture is the fastest route to rust.
- Apply a thin lubricant to the pivots: Place one small drop of light lubricant on each pivot point, then open and close the tools several times to work it in. Wipe away any excess with a cloth so the tool does not collect grit. Checkpoint: the action should feel smooth, not stiff. If a joint still drags, add a second small drop rather than flooding it.
- Touch up blade edges if needed: Check each blade for dullness. Use the carbide sharpener only when the edge is clearly dull, then refine with the ceramic hone or diamond-coated rod. A few light passes are better than heavy pressure. Mistake to avoid: over-sharpening with the carbide tool, which removes more metal than necessary. Use it sparingly.
- Store dry, open to air, and protected: Store the tool in a dry place with the tools slightly open so air can circulate. Avoid sealed plastic bags and damp sheaths. If you carry it daily, a quick dry wipe at the end of the day keeps moisture from sitting on the steel. For humid or coastal storage, add a desiccant pack nearby and check the tool monthly for any sign of rust.
Products That Support Leatherman Maintenance
- Leatherman® Blade Sharpener: The Leatherman Blade Sharpener comes with three tools: a carbide sharpener, a ceramic hone, and a diamond-coated rod. It was made in collaboration with Work Sharp, an Oregon company creating sharpening tools since 1973. One compact accessory covers coarse repair and fine honing, so you can maintain blade edges as part of the same care routine instead of buying separate stones.
- Quick-Release Lanyard Ring (For Wave® Plus, Wave® Alpha, Charge® Family, Surge®): The Quick-Release Lanyard Ring keeps your multi-tool close at hand when clipped to a lanyard, carabiner, or sling. It is compatible with Wave Plus, Wave Alpha, Charge family, and Surge, and is available in Stainless Steel and Black Oxide. A secure attachment reduces the chance of dropping the tool on hard ground or into water, which is a common cause of damage and rust.
