September 8, 2026
Clipper maintenance: cleaning, oiling, and blade sharpening
Short answer: You maintain a dog clipper at three points. While clipping, brush away hair every 5 to 10 minutes and oil the teeth. After each use, remove the Blade, clean, dry, and oil it. Monthly, check the air intake and contact points. Oiling is the most important.
Most clippers that are "broken" are not broken. They are dry, full of hair, or have a dull Blade. Below is the complete maintenance protocol with frequencies, a maintenance schedule, and a troubleshooting table.
Last updated: August 19, 2026 · Author: Clipr Team, the team behind Clipr.nl that daily supplies dog clippers, Blades, and parts to home groomers and grooming salons in the Netherlands.
In short
Oiling is the most important action: a few drops on the teeth every 5 to 10 minutes of clipping time.
Only use thin clipper oil. No WD-40, no cooking oil, no baby oil.
After each clipping session: remove the Blade, remove hair, clean, dry, oil, store.
An A5 Blade can usually be sharpened 2 to 4 times; after that, you replace it.
Do not store a cordless clipper permanently on the charger and not completely empty.
Why is oiling the most important maintenance?
A Blade consists of two blades: a fixed bottom blade and a top blade that moves over it at high speed. Oil does three things simultaneously.
It separates the blades, so metal does not run directly on metal.
It dissipates heat. An oiled Blade stays noticeably cooler, and heat is the reason dogs start to protest.
It prevents wear. A dry Blade loses its sharpness within a few uses.
Where exactly do you oil?
Turn off the clipper. Apply a few drops in three places: on the left side of the teeth, on the right side of the teeth, and on the gliding surfaces where the top blade moves over the bottom blade. Turn the machine on for 5 to 10 seconds so the oil distributes, and wipe off any excess. Too much oil attracts hair and leaves greasy streaks.
Which oil can and cannot be used?
Only use thin, clear clipper oil as found under grooming products. It is deliberately thin so that it creeps between the blades and does not stick.
What not to use:
WD-40: a penetrating oil and solvent, not a lubricant. It actually washes away lubrication.
Cooking oil or olive oil: becomes sticky and will smell rancid.
Baby oil: too thick, stays on the teeth, and collects hair.
What do you do during clipping?
Interrupt the session every 5 to 10 minutes. This takes twenty seconds and saves a dull Blade.
Turn off the clipper and brush away hair from between the teeth.
Feel the Blade with the back of your hand. If it's warm, switch to a second Blade or pause.
Apply a few drops of oil to the teeth and gliding surfaces.
Run the machine briefly and wipe off any excess.
If you work with a Clipr Ultimate, you have two batteries and don't have to wait for one to charge. The Blade then remains the part you monitor. How to structure the grooming session itself is described in the step-by-step guide to clipping your dog.
How do you clean a clipper after each use?
Do this immediately after use. Hair and skin oils dry and become a hard layer.
Remove the Blade. Click the Blade off the machine so you can access everything.
Remove hair from the machine. Blow or brush hair out of the housing and the Blade opening. Compressed air in short bursts works well; keep the can upright.
Clean the Blade. Use cleaning spray or a blade wash bath where you run the teeth for a few seconds. Never immerse the machine itself in liquid.
Dry. Dry the Blade thoroughly. A wet Blade will rust within a day.
Oil. A few drops on teeth and gliding surfaces, run briefly, wipe off excess.
Store. Dry and dust-free, in a case.
Cleaning spray, oil, brushes, and cases can be found under grooming products and accessories.
What do you do weekly and monthly?
Air intake (weekly). Dust and hair in front of the air opening make the motor run hotter. Brush or blow the slots clear.
Contact points (monthly). For a cordless machine, wipe the charging contacts of the machine and charger clean with a dry cloth. Dirty contacts result in incomplete charges.
Check for play (monthly). Click the Blade on and move it back and forth. If it feels loose or you hear rattling, check parts for the hinge or spring.
Wash comb attachments (monthly). Wash them in lukewarm soapy water, rinse, and let them dry completely before putting them back.
How do you maintain the battery?
Do not leave the machine permanently on the charger.
Do not store it completely empty; deep discharge reduces capacity.
For storage longer than a month, store it approximately half charged and recharge every few months.
Store in a cool, dry place, never in the freezing cold of a shed or car.
Charge at room temperature, not immediately after use when the machine is still warm.
Maintenance schedule at a glance
ActionFrequencyTimeWhy Brush away hair + oilEvery 5-10 min clipping20 secPrevents heat and wear Clean Blade + dry + oilAfter each use3-5 minPrevents rust and buildup Clear air intakeWeekly1 minPrevents overheating Wash comb attachmentsMonthly5 minPrevents pulling and dirt transfer Clean charging contactsMonthly1 minFull charges Check play and hingeMonthly2 minDetect wear early Sharpen BladeAfter 8-15 uses or when pullingSend inRestores cutting performance Store battery half chargedWhen storing > 1 month1 minMaintains capacity
When do you have blades sharpened and when do you replace them?
Sharpening is worthwhile for Blades that are otherwise in good condition: no missing teeth, no rust spots, no bending. A sharpening service disassembles the Blade and flat-grinds the top and bottom blades on a surface grinder, after which it is reassembled and adjusted. Precision work to hundredths of a millimeter.
An A5 Blade, the universal interchangeable Blade that fits almost all professional dog clippers, can usually be sharpened 2 to 4 times. Material is removed with each sharpening, so eventually, the teeth become too thin or too short, and replacement is more economical. New Blades can be found under Blades; when replacement is smarter than sharpening is explained in the article about replacing blades.
Sharpening yourself with sandpaper or a sharpening stone is a bad idea. The cutting performance does not come from sharp points, but from two perfectly flat surfaces moving over each other. You will never achieve that evenly by hand: you will make the Blade convex or concave, after which it will pull instead of cut.
How do you store a clipper?
Store the machine dry and dust-free, preferably in a case with compartments for Blades and comb attachments. Do not lay Blades loosely on top of each other in a drawer: the teeth will damage each other. Oil the Blade before storage. The same applies to transport: no frost, no full sun behind the windshield.
Common mistakes and what goes wrong
ComplaintMost common causeWhat to do Machine gets hotDry Blade or clogged air intakeOil, blow clear air slots, pause Machine makes more noise than normalHair in housing or play in hinge/springBlow out, check Blade, replace part Clipper pulls hairDull or dirty Blade, or coat is wet/mattedClean and oil, have Blade sharpened or replace Blade does not click into placeHair or dirt on attachment, bent click springClean attachment, check click spring Battery drains quicklyStored deeply discharged, dirty charging contacts, motor runs heavilyClean contacts, oil Blade, adjust charging habits
If the machine remains hot or noisy after cleaning and oiling, stop clipping. Continuing with a warm Blade causes skin irritation for the dog and accelerates motor wear.
How to complete your maintenance kit
Maintenance takes little time as long as you have the right supplies: oil, cleaning spray, a brush, and a spare Blade. View the grooming products, or go through the selection guide if you are unsure which machine and Blade suit your dog. Just started? Then also read the complete guide to clipping and grooming your dog yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you oil a dog clipper?
Oil the Blade every 5 to 10 minutes during clipping and again afterward, before storing the machine. A few drops on the teeth left and right and on the gliding surfaces are enough. Run the machine briefly and wipe off any excess.
Can you use WD-40 on a dog clipper?
No. WD-40 is a penetrating oil and solvent, not a lubricant: it washes away existing lubrication and then causes the blades to run dry. Only use thin clipper oil specifically made for Blades. Cooking oil, olive oil, and baby oil are unsuitable for the same reason.
How many times can a Blade be sharpened?
An A5 Blade can usually be sharpened 2 to 4 times by a specialized company with a surface grinder. Material is removed with each sharpening, so after that, the teeth are too short or too thin, and a new Blade is more sensible. Missing teeth or rust spots mean immediate replacement.
Why does my clipper get so hot?
Heat is almost always caused by a dry or dirty Blade, or by an air intake full of hair. Turn off the machine, brush the teeth clean, oil them, and clear the ventilation slots. If the Blade remains warm, switch to a second Blade and let the first one cool down.
