How to Clean Antique Wood Fishing Lures

Antique wooden lures are collectors items and thus should be handled with great care. From the cleaning solution to the tools to the washing procedure itself, cleaning antique lures has special requirements. The object of cleaning wooden lures should be to preserve the lure's condition more than removing dirt, dust and debris. Strong solutions can remove old paint and damage the wood. Scrubbing rather than wiping can damage the wood. The key to cleaning old lures is to properly evaluate the condition of the lure and take steps to clean it without doing damage.

Things You'll Need

  • Rubber surgical gloves
  • Magnifying glass
  • Urea monohydrochloride cleaner
  • Ear swabs
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put on rubber gloves. Inspect the lure with a magnifying glass. Look for cracks, peeling paint and unfinished wood and metal. Do not clean damaged or exposed portions of the lure.

    • 2

      Dip the ear swab in the urea monohydrochloride cleaning solution. Gently dab the lure with the swab. Do not wipe the lure with the solution or you risk peeling the paint or varnish. Dab the entire lure including hooks and treble. Allow the solution to soak into any dirt or debris for 10 minutes.

    • 3

      Dab the cleaner on the lure with a dry swab. Do not use a wiping action. Allow dirt and debris to soak into the head of the swab. If foreign objects and particles remain on the lure, dab them with additional solution and allow the cleaner to saturate the debris for an hour, then swab the object with light dabs. Once the lure is clean, dab the lure with a swab until it is dry.