Caring for your Toolbox
If you properly care for your toolbox – such as those found at EliteToolboxes.com –, it can provide you with a lifetime of use. Unfortunately, some consumers don’t know how to maintain their toolbox. The following tips can help ensure your toolbox lasts for years to come.
• Lay a clean tarp or cloth on a level surface. Carefully dump or remove everything from your toolbox and place on the tarp or cloth.
• Dampen a clean rag with all-purpose cleaner and thoroughly wipe the exterior of the box clean.
• Dampen a second clean rag with paint thinner and clean the inside of the toolbox. Make sure to wear chemical-resistant rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated are when using paint thinner.
• Soak a third clean rag with paint thinner and clean the dirt, oil and other debris off the tools. Make sure to get between the nooks and crannies.
• Discard bent nails, rusted screws or other items that have accumulated in your toolbox that you’ll never use.
• Measure the inside bottom of your toolbox. Use this measurement as a guide and cut a piece of cardboard to match said measurement. Place the piece of cardboard on the bottom of the toolbox. The cardboard will soak up any oil and help protect the tools.
• Lay loose wrenches on a cloth from big to small. Roll them up in the cloth and secure closed by tying with a string. This will help keep loose wrenches secured.
• When returning the tools to the toolbox, put them in according to reverse popularity. This means placing the tools you least use in first at the bottom of the box and keeping the tools you use the most towards the top of the box. This will keep you from having to dig all the way to the bottom of the toolbox to get your favorite pair of pliers. Another option is to purchase a second toolbox where you can store all your commonly used tools in.
• While you should keep a flashlight in your toolbox, you should leave the batteries out and store them in a separate location until ready to use. Leaving batteries in the flashlight for an extended period of time can result in leakage or the batteries could go dead if the flashlight is accidentally switched on while inside the toolbox.
• Consider placing a few pieces of chalk into your toolbox. The chalk will absorb moisture and help prevent rust from forming on your tools.
