How to clean your DeWALT tools so they look new and last longer

Published Oct 25, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT Tim has been covering technology for almost 20 years, in that time spanning a broad range of topics from security to product reviews. He is especially focused on the Apple ecosystem, productivity, and consumer advice. Over the years Tim has written thousands of articles, reviews, and round-ups in addition to producing video content and original photography. A graduate of journalism, he found his footing as a freelancer with a laptop and loves how he is able to work from practically anywhere. Now a Senior Editor for iPhone, Mac, and Smart Home at How-To Geek, Tim still loves to write. He can also be found crafting round-ups and productivity posts for the Zapier blog. Earlier in his career Tim spent nearly a decade as a writer and eventually Apple section editor for MakeUseOf. Tim currently lives in Brisbane, Australia. Outside of work he loves to hike and work out, play video games, and spend quality time with his wonderful partner and two cats Inka and Roger. Tools looking grimy from years of neglect? Thinking of selling a driver or sander and want to get top dollar for it? Here’s how to get your tools looking their best, with a proper clean. This advice comes straight from DeWALT and applies to both power tools and regular tools. And remove the battery Credit: Gartland/Shutterstock.com It might sound obvious; it’s worth saying anyway: always unplug your tools from the mains or disconnect the battery before you attempt to clean them. Accidentally squeezing the trigger during a clean could spell disaster, send cleaning fluid everywhere, or damage the tool and harm you. Safety first! It can be easy to forget to do this if you’re used to the battery being connected at all times, but since you’ll want to clean that too, you should make sure it’s set aside. Soap, wipes, and bleach How you go about cleaning your tools depends entirely on what you’ve been doing with them. If you’re a bit of a weekend warrior who only uses your tools around the home, there’s a good chance that you can get away with a relatively mild soap and water solution. For this, you can use any mild soap (the same stuff you’d use to clean dishes or a 3D printer’s build plate is fine). Since these are oil-based, they work especially well against other oil-based substances like grease from your hands. You’ll want to use a cloth or a sponge that’s been wrung out before you wipe down your tools. For power tools, avoid getting any moisture in the vents or cracks. Another option is to use cleaning wipes, specifically alcohol-based antibacterial wipes. In addition to disinfecting your tools, the alcohol they contain may work better against some stains. They’re also easy to keep in your toolbox, car, or garden shed so that you can quickly give things a wipe-down when you need to. Since alcohol wipes are essentially disposable towels saturated in an alcohol solution, you could instead just use an isopropyl alcohol spray and wipe to achieve the same effect. Choose a 70% solution with more water to delay the alcohol’s evaporation, which is better at disinfecting and breaking down stains. You can use the same spray to clean all sorts, like nasty game controllers and the inside of your PC. Failing this, you can go nuclear with a bleach and water solution that should lift even the most stubborn of stains. Even though DeWALT recommends this, be aware that bleach is a harsh cleaning chemical that may affect the surface finish of whatever it is you’re cleaning (especially plastics). Always use proper PPE when handling bleach, notably gloves that are resistant (like nitrile gloves). DeWALT recommends a mixture of 1/3 cup bleach to a gallon of water (around 80ml bleach to 3.8L water), or four tablespoons bleach to a quart of water (around 60ml bleach to 950ml water). You can mix this up in a bucket to dip sponges and towels in, then wipe down your tools. Alternatively, you can use a spray bottle to apply a small amount and wipe down. As ever, avoid getting any liquids into any open cracks or vents, and make sure that power tools are fully dry before you start using them again. For batteries, you’re going to want to be even more careful. Avoid harsh chemicals and protect the terminals You can use the same mild soap, household cleaners, and disinfectant wipes to clean down batteries that you would use on your power tools, but you should avoid using harsh chemical cleaners like bleach. At the same time, you should avoid touching the battery contacts while cleaning (including on the power tool itself) to prevent damage. Make sure vents remain clear too Less about cleaning and more about longevity Credit: DeWALT Oddly missing from DeWALT’s official cleaning video are instructions to make sure that any vents on your power tools are regularly and thoroughly cleaned. Some tools, like drills and sanders, will be exposed to a lot of dust. This dust can build up over time and prevent the tool from being able to cool down efficiently. In the short term, this can lead to overheating and safety cut-outs. In the long term, you could damage your tools beyond repair. Use a soft brush to dislodge any dust from the vents, or use a blast of pressurized air to blow out any dust and debris from within the tool’s housing. For a deeper clean, many tool owners vouch for removing the outer chassis and going down with a brush and some canned air. Be aware that DeWALT does not recommend this route. You should only attempt anything this drastic if you know what you’re doing and you think the tool is legitimately full of grime. This could void any warranty you have left, and you could break something if you’re not careful. Looking for more DeWALT tools to add to your collection? Check out these late additions to 2026’s tools lineup.