Stop storing your Milwaukee tools dirty—how to clean them the right way

Milwaukee tools are built to take a beating, but caked-on grease, sawdust, and other messes will quietly wreak havoc on your gear. You're probably thinking, "Who cleans their power tools?" but it's pretty common and more important than you think.

All that jobsite grime can affect your motor and battery, not to mention sticky chucks, improper handling, and potentially premature wear or costly breakdowns. It could even void your warranty. As we all know, maintenance is important, so here's how to safely deep clean your power tools.

Should you clean your power tools?

Yes, if you want them to last longer

While Milwaukee's warranty doesn't specifically mention cleaning your tools, if you have issues or a damaged tool due to a "lack of maintenance," you might get denied. The warranty makes it clear that owners should properly maintain, lubricate, or clear out debris and buildup from tools.

I recently stumbled upon a Reddit thread about tool maintenance and cleaning, where one user laughed at a co-worker for cleaning his tools at the end of every week. It reminded me of something my grandfather told me once about taking care of my vehicle. He said, "If you don't schedule maintenance, the truck will do it for you at the worst possible time." Obviously, tools and vehicles are very different, but the advice remains the same. If you don't maintain your tools, there's a chance one could fail at a very inconvenient time.

So, follow some of the steps below (or in your user manual) and take care of those Milwaukee red tools.

How to clean the outside of your Milwaukee tools

Remove the battery and start wiping

Keeping your Milwaukee tools happy, healthy, and lasting longer isn't complicated. Take care of your tools, use the right battery charging and storage practices, and clean your tools. We've all worked on a vehicle for a day, only to realize our tools are covered in grease, oil, dirt, or other buildup, and cleaning them off isn't that hard.

• Before you start, make sure to remove the battery.
• Use a lightly damp cloth with warm water and maybe a little Dawn dish soap, and wipe down the housing.
• Tackle stubborn dirt or grease with safe degreasers or specialty wipes like a Tub O' Towels cleaning wipe.
• Ensure you don't get moisture inside the components, and do not use harsh chemicals like gas, paint thinner, or ammonia-based cleaners. (They'll break down and ruin the red plastic housing.)

Again, it's not all that complicated, but it'll make a huge difference in the long run. These tools and battery packs are expensive, so make sure you're protecting your investment with the proper maintenance. Get a microfiber towel and wipe down dirt, grease, and other junk.

Keep in mind that harsh chemicals will not only break down the plastic housing but could also wear away the white Milwaukee lettering and other tool information and markings.

Fun fact: If you have tools with One-Key support, you can set tool maintenance reminders in the dashboard.

Clear the vents, chucks, and more

Keep your tools in tip-top shape

Keeping the exterior of your Milwaukee tools clean and free of grease and other buildup is important, but so are those vents that lead to the motors and internal components. In fact, those are the most essential parts of the tool, so don't ignore them.

I don't know about you guys, but my tool vents get full of dirt, sawdust, metal shavings, and more, and if there's grease everywhere, it sticks like glue. You'll want to clean and air out those vents, along with cleaning the exterior. My recommendation is some canned air, not the air hose at the shop, and an old toothbrush.

• Use low-pressure compressed air and a soft toothbrush to blow or brush out dust, drywall dust, wood or metal shavings, and more from the motor cooling vents. Do it gently.
• Clear the chuck on drills and drivers by removing bits and shaking or blowing out trapped dirt.
• Wipe down the battery packs with a dry or very lightly damp cloth.

Obviously, one of the most important things is to keep moisture (such as from wet wipes) and cleaning chemicals away from the vents, electronic components, forward/reverse switches, battery contact points, displays, and buttons. You want a little bit of moisture, so things get clean, but not enough to penetrate anywhere and cause damage.

It's also worth noting that your maintenance or cleaning routine should be the last thing you do once you're finished working, like at the end of the week or after you complete a project. Give all your tools plenty of time to rest and dry before inserting a battery or using them.

If you're worried about any cleaning processes, refer to the owner's manual and proceed with caution.

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Clean tools are happy tools

At the end of the day, a clean and properly maintained tool will last longer and work better. You don't want that $300 impact driver full of dirt, grease, and other junk. Whether you're quickly wiping things off when you're done or using a light compressed air to ensure nothing builds up in the vents, a little maintenance goes a long way.