Here is a question. Why are you all cleaning the cork handle? In my 65 years, I have never needed to or thought about cleaning a cork handle.

Well as for me, if you have seen the effect of water on objects, it builds a layer. Like hard water deposits along with slime and scum on the water. All that collects on your rod, eyes and reel. I clean all of it off every so often. I wipe the rod and clean the eyes out, I feel this keeps my cast as long as possible. I continue to the reel and then to the handle. The cork will look almost new after a good wipe down. It keep my equipment in tip top shape in my opinion.

I do it once a season to remove any slime / soot / algea etc that builds up over the use of the season. Why clean your reel and not the rod?

I have rods ive had 20 years and no problem as yet clean them every year!

All else fails just try soap and water along with elbow grease .

Well I cleaned my cork yesterday for the first time in my life. Seems like there is a better grip on the rod handle. I'm taking a couple of people out to fish this afternoon and will see if it is an improvement. BTW I used Clorox wipes only because they were handy.

I use the hand cleaner with pumice in it. A lot of that deposit on your cork is oils from your hands, so the hand cleaner takes that right off and the pumice scrubs it a bit. Fast Orange is what I usually have on hand.

I like the magic eraser idea, but seems like something has changed with those things. Every time I use on for anything these days, it just rips apart. They used to be much tougher.

So you can teach an old dog new tricks. The "cleaned" cork handles were much easier to grip even when they got wet. Thanks for the tip!

Dawn dish soap and warm water. If it will clean crude oil from a duck, it will clean a rod handle.