Cleaning/maintaing your Zippo using basic items: Every nooks and crannies in any states

After a long time in hiatus, i am now back in the game of building my collection of Zippo lighters. This time with a deeper insight and greater enthusiasm.
A post i wrote years ago about polishing Solid Brass lighter casings, have been well received by many. However there are other factors to look into than its facades, while using the lighter frequently or being a 2nd hand owner.

A key factor is determined by the condition of your devise INTERNALLY. With the exceptions of broken/missing parts (which needs sending back to Zippo mfg), a well kept lighter is first and foremost established on its CLEANLINESS.

Zippo lighters bound to leave deposits of carbon and flint dusts throughout usage, likewise with guns and cooking stoves gathering soot and require cleaning. Nonetheless this classic windproof design is made up to hold up given its flint-wick-fuel combined. 

Yet if you're looking to shine a favorite piece, or can't bear seeing dirt tucked in every corner of your EDC lighter- this writing is for your perusal and application.
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No ultrasonic cleaners or sophisticated equipment necessary. 

All that are needed are basic stuffs you easily find at home, a pair of keen eyes, limitless patience and labor of LOVE~

Things you'll need:

- lighter fluid (Primary cleaning agent)
- WD-40 (If the above doesn't work)
- Paper towels/ cotton Swabs
- Soft rag (optional)
- sewing needle (Larger sizes preferred) * A toothpick works fine too

Safety Precautions! 

- Wear protective gloves and masks. Work in a well ventilated surrounding.

- Empty the insert especially its flint 

(To avoid things or you going up in flames) 

Use of cleaning solvents

- Lighter fluid works flawlessly under most circumstances by instantly dislodging soot and dusts remains.

There are however some that present itself in horrible looking states. Perhaps due to a lifetime of neglect and heavy usage, or by combustion of gasoline (such as this insert illustrated below, coming from the Vietnam war era). I found that ignited gasoline had left firmly adhering tar like remains in all spots, which lighter fluid finds difficult to budge.

Good news is, there's nothing that WD-40 can't fix. It dissolves rusts and loosens tight joints, among thousands more uses for decades. *DO NOTE- WD-40 should be cleaned off after successful removal of these stubborn soot.
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Cleaning chimney's base and inner walls:

Apply lighter fluid/WD-40 on cotton buds.

Scrub the eyelet, cam spring and channel surrounding it.

Inner Walls

Other intricate spots and crevasses:

Hence a needle and paper towels/ swabs come in handy.

Wrap lighter fluid/WD-40 soaked paper towels/swabs around the eyelet of a needle

Reach into places where a cotton bud can't access:

Between chimney and flint tube's opening.

Around/within flint wheel rivet and along folds.

Corners around cam rivet.

Behind the cam.

Along both corners beneath cam spring (extending to the chimney).

And other hidden spots you may find.....


Last but not least, dont forget about the  casing's interior

ALL IN ALL: 

  

A thoroughly clean Zippo lighter lights beautifully, are more desirable to keep, and perhaps emit lesser harmful contents into the air. You may find that it is worth every ounce of your effort and patience, bringing a beat up workhorse back to it's old glory~