Bore snakes are used to clean guns' barrels. In order to do this effectively, you need to clean your bore snake, too. This can be done easily by either hand- or machine-washing. However, it's important to keep a few pointers in mind when doing so in order to keep your gun safe when you use your snake next.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Washing by Hand

  1. 1
    Soak your snake in soapy water. Start filling your sink, bucket, or other container with warm water and add a few drops of mild laundry detergent. Place your snake in the water. Let it soak for at least 15 to 20 minutes. For especially dirty or oily snakes, give it 30 to 40 minutes.[1]
  2. 2
    Scrub, brush, and rinse the snake. First, spin the snake around in the water to dislodge any loose dirt or oil. Then use a microfiber cloth to rub the braided floss part of the snake. Finally, use a toothbrush to gently scrub the bronze bore brush. Repeat as needed to remove all dirt and oil. Then rinse it under running water to remove all traces of soap.[2]
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  3. 3
    Force out the excess water. Use your non-dominant hand to hold the snake by one end so that it dangles over your sink, bucket, or other container. Use your dominant hand to gently squeeze the water out from top to bottom until you reach the bore brush. Skip that part and then continue in the same fashion for the rest of the snake's length.[3]
  4. 4
    Pat dry, then air-dry. Use a clean, dry cloth to pat the snake down. Sponge out as much water as you can. Then hang it over a drying rack or clothes hanger, or pin it to a clothesline to air-dry.[4]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Machine-Washing

  1. 1
    Bag or bundle your snake. Put your snake inside a wash bag, pillowcase or something similar. Tie it shut. Alternatively, roll the snake up and then tie it up with white shoelaces or a similarly light-colored machine-safe cord. Do not use the snake's pull cord to do this, since the knots may tighten during washing, which means you might have to cut the cord to undo your bundle.[5]
  2. 2
    Prepare your washer. First, set your washer to a small load on the delicate cycle. Start filling it with water and add a few drops of mild laundry detergent. Once the machine fills, switch it off.[6]
  3. 3
    Let your snake soak. Once the machine has filled, place the snake in the soapy water. If it isn't too dirty, give it 15 to 20 minutes to soak. Give it 30 to 40 minutes if it's very soiled.[7]
  4. 4
    Restart the washing cycle. Switch the machine back on once the snake has had a chance to soak. Let the cycle run to its end.[8]
  5. 5
    Air-dry the snake. Once the cycle completes, take the snake out of its bag or remove its ties. Pin the snake to a clothesline or hang it over a clothes hanger or drying rack so it can air-dry.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Taking Precautions

  1. 1
    Dry thoroughly before using. Wait until your snake is totally dry to the touch before running it through your gun's barrel. Keep in mind that water can rust or otherwise damage your gun. Protect your gun by giving the snake the chance to totally air-dry before bringing the two into contact.[9]
    • Drying times will depend on the materials and size of your snake.
  2. 2
    Use only a toothbrush to clean the bore brush. If you're in a rush, it may be tempting to wipe the bore brush with the same cloth that you used for the rest of the snake. However, be aware that this will most likely result in fibers being left behind on the brush's bristles. These in turn will end up in your gun's barrel when you use the snake next, so definitely use a toothbrush in order to keep your barrel clean.[10]
  3. 3
    Use only white or light-colored laces or cords to tie your rolled snake. If you're machine-washing and choosing to roll your snake up and tie it into a bundle, never use dark-colored shoelaces or cords to do so. Expect these to possibly stain your snake during its wash. These stains will make it harder to judge what's dirt, what's oil, and what's just a stain.[11]
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Things You'll Need

Hand-Washing

  • Sink, bucket, or other container
  • Water
  • Mild laundry detergent
  • Microfiber cloth
  • Toothbrush
  • Drying rack, clothes hanger, or clothesline

Machine-Washing

  • Washing machine
  • Wash bag, pillow case, or white ties
  • Mild laundry detergent
  • Drying rack, clothes hanger, or clothesline

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 70,434 times.
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Co-authors: 5
Updated: September 24, 2022
Views: 70,434
Categories: Snakes
Article SummaryX

To wash a bore snake, start by soaking it in a bucket or sink full of warm soapy water. Next, spin the snake around in the water to get rid of loose dirt. Then, wash it with a microfiber cloth and gently scrub the bronze bore brush with a toothbrush. Afterwards, squeeze all the air out of the snake and let it air dry completely before running it through your gun. For tips on how to machine wash your snake, keep reading!

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