Whether you’re a professional chef, home chef, or a culinary student, you need to know how to clean and care for Mercer knives, knife bag, and case if you want to get the longest life possible from them. We’ll go over how to care for each of these items and why special care is necessary for your safety.
Here’s a quick index to navigate through this article:
- Caring for Your Knives
- Cleaning your Knife Bag and Case
- Use the Right Soap
- Hand Wash Only and Air Dry
- Spot Treatment
- Sharpening and General Safety
Caring for Your Knives
It’s pretty standard practice to clean your knives with mild soap and water immediately after you finish using them, but it’s also essential to keep your knife case away from debris and any dirt that might stain or damage your knives.
Here are a few basic tips to follow when it comes to proper knife care:
- Keep your blades dry and wipe away fingerprints and moisture after each use
- Use a soft cloth or chamois to wipe your knives dry
- For high carbon steel blades, apply oil before storing
- Check your knives regularly for imperfections, stains, and damage
If you don’t want to apply oil or a silicon treatment to your blades before putting them away, you can use wax. If you discover stains on your blade, use a standard metal cleaning solution or a polish and apply it gently with a soft cloth.
Even stainless steel mercer knives aren’t rustproof but are resistant to rust and a variety of stains. To keep stainless steel knives in their best condition, you’ll need to wash and dry them after using them and ensure the case is both neat and dry.
Cleaning your Knife Bag and Case
As part of maintenance and care for Mercer knives, knife bag, and case, let’s address how to wash bags so they can protect your knives and keep them in good condition for many years.
Most knife cases feature synthetic materials such as polyester that work well for resisting stains and dry quickly. These bags are also super durable and easy to clean, and with proper care, you can expect them to last several years.
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Use the Right Soap
First, you’ll want to use the right soap to wash your bag and case, and if you’re worried about fading, you can use a special detergent designed to prevent fading.
Most polyester bags and cases wash up well with just some mild soap and hot water, but it’s crucial to hand wash them and never put them in a washing machine.
Hand Wash Only and Air Dry
Washing machines can distort your backpack knife bag or small knife roll and make it challenging to roll up or secure your knives. For the same reason, you should also allow your knife bag and case to air dry instead of putting it in your dryer.
Spot Treatment
Dish detergent is an excellent option to remove stubborn oil or stains, and you can use a stiff brush to work it into the stain. If you don’t have a brush, you can also use your hands or an old toothbrush or nail brush.
Once you’ve scrubbed the stain, you can rinse away the soap to see if the knife roll case or bag is clean; if not, you can repeat the same process more than once until the stain is gone.
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Sharpening and General Safety
Now that we’ve gone over how to clean and care Mercer knives, knife bag, and case, let’s cover the safety aspects of cleaning these items. Most experts will tell you that you should work slowly and deliberately to avoid injuring yourself as you tend your bag, case, and knives.
Working quickly may also damage your knife bag or case and even your knives if you clean them too roughly.
Keeping your knives sharp is vital as dull knives have an established reputation for being dangerous. How often you need to sharpen your knives will vary on how and how much you use them.
Many professionals warn against washing your knives in the dishwasher, and you should hand wash them right away instead of dumping them in a sink for later. To keep your knife sharper longer, you can use knife-friendly cutting boards made from materials like wood and bamboo.
Avoid using cutting boards made from glass, marble, or ceramic as these will quickly dull your knife.
