Prevent Dust and Dirt

• 1). Keep your antique or vintage fishing lures dry and free from dust. The best way to keep lures clean is to conserve them by storing them in a proper environment.
  
  
• 2). Keep the lures away from moisture and high humidity. Humidity is the cause of most rust and corrosion of metal parts. It will also help keep wood, cork and other materials in good shape.
  
  
• 3). Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity levels. Try to maintain a relative humidity between 30 to 50 percent.
  
  

Clean Metal Parts

• 1). Clean dirt and grime carefully. If possible, do not use water or detergents to clean hooks, swivels, spoons and other metal parts. Introducing water may quicken corrosion. Simply and carefully brush dirt away with a soft brush and wipe with a soft dust cloth. A cloth lightly dampened with water or mineral spirits may be used for stubborn dirt.
  
  
• 2). Remove light rust on iron and steel parts gently with fine steel wool (000 or 0000 grade). Do not let steel wool touch other materials in the lure. Do not try to sand away rust. You will merely cause damage.
  
  
• 3). Wipe again with a cloth, lightly dampened with mineral spirits. Do not get mineral spirits on fur, cloth or rubber parts.
  
  
• 4). Wipe iron and steel parts with a light coat of machine oil to protect from further corrosion.
  
  
• 5). Leave brass parts alone. Avoid using commercial products to make them shine. It is better to let brass parts simply keep their natural patina.
  
  

Clean Wood/Cork and Other Parts

• 1). Clean dirt and grime on wood and cork by brushing dirt away with a soft brush carefully. Use a lint-free soft cloth to dust. Use a dampened cloth to clean stubborn dirt. Be mindful of loose paint that may be flaked off while cleaning. Mineral spirits might work to clean particularly stubborn dirt, but test it first in an inconspicuous to make sure it will not discolor the paint or body finish.
  
  
• 2). Vacuum carefully at low power fur or feather parts; otherwise, leave them alone. Seek the advice of a conservator before doing further cleaning. Check for active insect damage.
  
  
• 3). Avoid disassembling the lure unless you are confident in your methods. At the same time, it is best to clean the lure by tackling each material type separately.