Kitchen scales meet flour, oil, juice and dough every day, so they get dirty fast: greasy marks build up on the platform, dust collects under the buttons and the battery compartment slowly corrodes. Dirty scales are not only unhygienic, they can start giving inaccurate readings.
How you clean them depends on the type. Electronic scales have a load cell under the platform that dislikes water and knocks. Mechanical scales with a spring and dial are simpler, but their metal parts can rust in a humid kitchen.
What you will need
- Soft microfibre cloth and a non-abrasive sponge
- Warm water with a drop of washing-up liquid
- Cotton buds and an old toothbrush
- WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner for the battery compartment
- WD-40 Multi-Use for the metal parts of a mechanical scale mechanism
Important: Never immerse electronic scales in water or put them in the dishwasher. WD-40 products are not intended for food contact: do not apply them to the platform, bowl or any surface where food is placed.
Step 1
Prepare the scales
Switch off electronic scales and remove the batteries. Take off the removable bowl or platform if there is one. Shake crumbs and flour out over the sink or brush the gaps with a dry brush.
Step 2
Wash the platform and body
Wash a removable bowl like any other dish. Wipe the platform and body with a sponge barely dampened with warm water and a drop of washing-up liquid. Do not let water run into the gaps, especially around the edges of the platform where the sensor sits below.
A glass platform can be polished streak-free with a microfibre cloth. Avoid abrasive powders and scourers, which scratch glass and stainless steel.
Step 3
Clean the buttons and display
Remove grime around touch or push buttons with a cotton bud dipped in soapy water and squeezed well. Wipe the display with a dry soft cloth without pressing.
Step 4
Restore the battery contacts
If the scales switch off by themselves, flicker or show zeros, corroded contacts are often to blame. Spray the springs and plates in the battery compartment with WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner, scrub with a toothbrush and let them dry completely. It evaporates quickly, leaves no residue and is safe on most plastics.
A leaking battery leaves a white crust: remove it with a cotton bud, then treat the contacts with the cleaner. Fit fresh batteries the right way round.
Step 5
Mechanical scales: protect the mechanism
On mechanical scales you can remove the back cover to check the spring and levers. If the metal parts show rust or the needle moves stiffly, apply a little WD-40 Multi-Use with a cotton bud to those parts only and wipe off the excess carefully. The film displaces moisture and guards against corrosion.
Make sure none gets onto outer surfaces that touch food. Refit the cover and check the zero, adjusting it with the dial.
Step 6
Check the accuracy
Place the scales on a firm level surface, switch on and zero them. Weigh something of known weight, such as an unopened 1 kg pack: the reading should match. If it does not, calibrate following the manufacturer's instructions.
Tip: Keep the scales away from the hob and kettle: steam and heat harm the electronics, and sudden temperature changes upset the sensor. Store them with nothing on the platform so the sensor is not under constant load.
What next
Wipe the scales after every use with flour or liquids and give them a thorough clean once a month. Check the battery compartment each time you change batteries, and take the batteries out altogether if you rarely use the scales.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».