The Best Katana Cleaning Kits of 2025

When investing in a real katana, taking care of it becomes your duty. A big part of that duty comes down to how well it’s maintained. To help you find reliable cleaning essentials, I consulted several collectors about their preferred cleaning kits for samurai swords. Then I selected these kits based on their quality and price. Here are the four best katana cleaning kits.

• Best Overall/collectors pick: Original Cleaning Kit
• Best for Beginners: Lees Deluxe Sword Cleaning Kit
• Best for Frequent Use: GOOD WORKER Cleaning Kit
• Best All-in-One kit: SHARP CASTLE Cleaning Kit

How I Chose the Best Katana Cleaning Kits

Picking the best katana cleaning kit is more important than you think. Even though they may seem like small things to just order online, in general, katana maintenance kits come with a lot of issues. A general issue I found is oil spilling or leaking inside the box. In some cases, the uchiko ball releases too much powder, or the included oil is low quality.

To ensure I recommend the most reliable kits for your blade, I talked with some collectors and asked them what cleaning kits they were using for their samurai swords. After I got their feedback I selected these kits based on quality, effectiveness, and price. These can be used for any sword made of high-carbon steel.

The Best Katana Cleaning Kits: Reviews & Recommendations

Best overall/collectors pick: Original Cleaning Kit

Pros

• Includes high-quality essentials
• Can be secured

Cons

• Include only basics

The most preferred cleaning kit among collectors is the Original cleaning kit. This kit packs just about everything you need to clean a wide variety of swords in a single package. The box is made of wood and is wrapped with cord. Unlike most kits, this one can be secured when closed. It includes a high-quality choji oil, one hammer, one chammy, one uchiko ball, and two mekugi-nuki. The Choji oil is safe to use for both high-quality samurai swords and modern swords.

It comes with a vacuum spray bottle and can be used just by spraying the blade, so you don’t have to worry about spilling too much. The cloth is made of a soft suede-like artificial chammy, measuring 11.8 × 11.8 inches. This is larger than most cloths found in katana maintenance kits, and it’s made of the same high-quality material as luxury jewelry cleaning cloths. It’s easy to use, and you can use it whether you have one sword or a collection of swords. If you’re the kind of person who brings your own sword and cleaning kit for tameshigiri at the dojo, this kit is perfect. It’s compact, well-organized, and easy to carry.

Best for Beginners: Lees Deluxe Cleaning Kit

Pros

• Includes step-by-step instructions
• Includes essential tools for cleaning and an extra container to store the oiled cloth

Cons

• Might not be the best if you have collection of swords

Lee’s Deluxe Sword cleaning kit is perfect if you are a beginner and have never used a kit before. This box includes a hammer, uchiko ball, oil, cleaning cloth, two bamboo pegs, and an extra little container to store the oiled cloth. It includes pretty much everything for first-time cleaning and will be good to use a couple of times. It also comes with step-by-step instructions for the cleaning process, which is why one of the guys suggested it to us for this case. If you display your katana on a single horizontal stand, it looks good next to it.

Best for Frequent Use: GOOD WORKER Cleaning Kit

Pros

• 2 bottles of choji oil
• High-quality microfiber cloth

Cons

• Include only basics

A katana needs to be cleaned every time you cut something, whether it’s tatami mats, bamboo, or even just practice swings. The more you cut, the more oil you’ll need to protect the blade. Good Worker cleaning kit comes with double the oil compared to most kits and all the other necessary tools, including a large blue microfiber cloth.

You can order the kit with two bottles of choji oil or one spray bottle with the same capacity. I suggest ordering the spray, so you won’t have any problems with spilling or putting on too much. Based on what testers said, the quality of the materials is very good. It’s easy to use and holds great value for the price.

Best All-in-One kit: SHARP CASTLE Cleaning Kit

Pros

• Include all tools for maintenance and cleaning
• Quality essentials

Cons

• Sharpening stone might not be effective

It’s not uncommon to hear collectors describe this kit as an essential part of their maintenance routine. Sharp Castle offers a professional all-in-one cleaning kit designed specifically for the proper upkeep of authentic katana swords. This kit is bigger and includes some extra items inside. This set includes anti-rust oils, a highly absorbent and eco-friendly cleaning cloth, a cleaning powder, a hammer, a sharpening stone, a brush, and gloves.

The powder is not like the other versions with the stick, but it doesn’t make any difference. It effectively cleans the dirt from the blade without scratching. Anti-rust oil comes in two bottles and can be applied in drops. I don’t know the sharpening stone’s grade; however, I don’t suggest using it for expensive swords. Additionally, you can check our article here for safe sharpening if you’re doing it by yourself. The gloves are good quality and make the process even safer and easier.

How to Choose

When browsing the market, you’ll find a variety of kits featuring different items. However, the most common kits include the essential tools needed to clean and maintain your blade, as well as equipment for disassembling and reassembling the katana. The basic tools you’ll need include: a hammer (for disassembling and reassembling the handle), an uchiko ball, choji oil, and two cleaning cloths (one for wiping away dirt and residue, and another for evenly spreading the oil). 

Ensure you use genuine choji oil, as it is specifically formulated to protect traditional Japanese swords from rust and corrosion. The cleaning cloth should be soft and lint-free to avoid scratching the blade’s surface. For the powder in the uchiko ball, confirm that it’s made from appropriate sword-polishing stone powder, as lower quality materials can potentially damage your blade’s polish. 

After using the kit a few times (depending on how many swords you maintain), the choji oil is typically the first item to run out. This is because oil needs to be applied each time the blade is cleaned, and most kits come with only a small amount. For long-term maintenance, it’s wise to keep a backup supply of choji oil on hand. 

Last Words 

One of the most important things when owning a katana is maintaining it. Regular cleaning and care not only extend your blade’s lifespan but also ensure it’s ready for action. A quality cleaning kit will assist you in managing both of these important tasks. Whether you own a real samurai katana or a high-carbon steel fantasy replica, this will help keep it in excellent condition.

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