I get the tap water in the kitchen sink as hot as it'll go (almost to hot to touch) and scrub the blade with liquid dish soap (not the automatic kind). Afterwards, I rinse in same hot tap water, dry it well and stick it in the pickel jar up to the hilt! If you get some pickel juice on the hilt it may turn a copper color. I just "Flitz" it, one time (for life) afterwards (the hilt I'm talkin' about)...Course: That's just the redneck way...Your mileage may vary!
Best, Capt. Chris
PS: After the good-'ol pickle-soakin', rinse the blade well...That's it!...CCS