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How to Clean Antique Ivory Knives

Keeping antiques in top shape is something many collectors enjoy. Some antique objects, such as jewelry, may require more care than others. Such is the case with items made of ivory. For example, ivory knives, which were once popular before ivory hunting became illegal, need a great deal of maintenance. Since ivory has a tendency to turn to a yellowish color with a lot of handling, proper cleaning must be done periodically to keep your knives looking beautiful.

Things You'll Need

Gloves
Rubbing alcohol
Cotton swabs
Clean rag
Clean toothbrush
Polishing cloth
Paste wax
Dish washing liquid

Instructions

- 1
  Put on gloves before handling your knives. Dip your cotton swab or rag into the rubbing alcohol. Swab the ivory part of your knife with the alcohol-soaked cotton swab or rag. This will remove most surface dirt from the ivory.
- 2
  Dip the toothbrush in the rubbing alcohol. Scrub any nooks and crannies in the ivory handle with the toothbrush to free any trapped or deep-set dirt. The toothbrush can also be used to get out any stubborn dirt spots elsewhere. Let the handle air dry.
- 3
  Polish the handle by applying a small dollop of paste wax and rubbing it in with a polishing cloth. This will restore some of the luster to the ivory that may have worn off with use or handling.
- 4
  Clean the blade by wiping it with a clean rag dipped in a mixture of dish washing liquid and warm water. Rinse the blade off with warm water. Let it air dry.
- 5
  Return your knives to their proper display case once they are thoroughly dry. If they are not handled often, they will not require much cleaning. However, do clean and polish them periodically.

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