Like any other tool or piece of equipment, your fishing reel needs regular maintenance to ensure it continues to work well and remain durable. If you usually fish in freshwater, you should clean your reel at least once every five fishing trips, whereas saltwater fishers should clean their reel after every trip.

Never use gasoline, lighter fluid, or similar products to clean a fishing reel, as these will melt most plastic pieces. Soaking is also not a good way to clean a reel, despite widespread internet advice to the contrary. Soaking can cause excess moisture to get into the gear system and cause long-term damage.

Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner is a great choice for cleaning a reel. It is U.S. EPA Safer Choice certified for use around people and the environment. It's also specially formulated to remove grease, grime, oil, gas, diesel fuel, fish blood, and more from washable surfaces.

If for any reason you are not comfortable disassembling and cleaning your fishing reel because the complex small parts, consider using a professional cleaning service.

Directions for Cleaning Fishing Reels:

1. Take the reel apart. You can use masking tape to number each part so it will be easier to reassemble later. Use tweezers for handling wire clips and springs. Remove the line from the spool.
2. Strip or tape the line. Either strip the fishing line from the spool or secure it with masking tape before removing the spool. The line will get caught between the spool and the frame if you skip this step.
3. Rinse. Rinse the entire reel with clean water before you begin cleaning the spool.
4. Apply Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner.
5. Use a toothbrush or small paintbrush to scrub.
6. Make sure to rinse all the cleaner. Thoroughly rinse with running water after cleaning.
7. Thoroughly dry to prevent rust. You can first dry with a soft cloth, then use a blow dryer to ensure there is no moisture left behind.
8. Apply lubricant. Apply a light coating of lubricant specifically designed for fishing equipment to the gears using a toothpick or small brush, then do the same with a couple of drops on the ball bearings. Lubrication prevents corrosion.
9. Reassemble. Use the number system you laid out in the beginning to put your reel back together. Check to make sure all the parts are working the way they should.