What is the best way to clean a ceramic honing rod?

Just need a bit of help finding a way to get a Kyocera honing rod/steel clean, yes I did use it to 'sharpen' my previous knives before I knew any better
I am selling it and wanted to brighten it up, I have tried Bar Keepers Friend and that has cleaned it up a bit but not much better, is there any way of cleaning it or are the grey specks now somehow embedded in the ceramic?

 

A blind guess: abrasive cleaner might help.

 

I use something similiar on mine. Use it to keep the patina off some knives as well.

 

Thanks guys, going to try one of those rust/magic erasers as they are said to work great and I have one somewhere if I can find it

 

http://www.chefknivestogo.com/suerccero.html
http://www.paulsfinest.com/Idahone-Ceramic-Sharpening-Rod-Cleaner-Superaser.html

 

For what it's worth, I'm a believer in ceramic rods.

 

I guess it's more user error for me because I am still learning to sharpen to a good level, having a ceramic 'steel' just added more variables to the whole process for me as it seemed a lot harder to keep angles consistent.

 

i use a 3m pad with a little soft scrub and water

 

Understandable. I just find that I can really extend the use, and up the ease with which I do so, by gently running my edge along a ceramic rod. To be honest, I prefer how 52100 and AEB-L (to name a couple steels) perform off the rod than off anything above 2k.

 

+1 ...I use a ceramic rod a lot. Quick and easy.

 

I rarely use mine, but believe this to be the easiest way to clean one. I like the performance, but the look of the bevel annoys me.

 

I use a big pink pencil eraser. Works like a charm, every time.

 

3M green scrub pad, comet cleanser

 

Some coarse diamond lapping film will do the trick pretty quickly. You can use it wet so the ceramic powder doesn't load up the spaces between the diamonds. I'd suggest doing it under running water. Just wrap the lapping film around the rod and polish it lengthwise.

 

This. Works great.

However...I don't hone anymore, so there may be better methods that I haven't tried.

 

The pink eraser method definitely works. If the ceramic is really loaded, you can use a specialized abrasive eraser called the "Superaser" which goes a step further in cleaning. You can find them on Amazon for a couple of bucks.

 

Hmmm, has anyone ever tried dissolving the metal with a mild acid such a vinegar?

 

Soft scrub or scouring powder and a 3m sponge and a bit if warm water. Easy easy.