How do you clean your guitar frets?

Question:I currently own an Epiphone Les Paul standard. I have tried to clean the rust out of the frets, but I cannot find proper tools to do so.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I currently own an Epiphone Les Paul standard. I have tried to clean the rust out of the frets, but I cannot find proper tools to do so.

Liam! That is no way to treat a guitar, my friend! The first thing is DON'T cause corrosion. It won't be actual rust because the frets are not iron based. If your frets are corroding, your strings must sound dead and feel disgusting. You cause corrosion by playing with sweaty or dirty hands (I am guessing you don't keep the guitar anywhere damp). OK, so we all sweat but you have to treat your guitar with respect and at least wipe the strings and neck after playing. There are special polishes but all these things cost money.
So, you are going to clean up your frets during re-stringing, right? People get fanatical about what they will or won't allow near a guitar. After years of experience, I am more laid-back about it but would advise against using water, household surface cleaners, solvents or anything abrasive (but read on). I have used linseed oil and household spray-wax cleaners with no ill effect but you really can't beat the proper guitar polish sprays. If you squirt a liberal coating along each fret and leave it for a couple of minutes, it should help loosen the gunge. To get in close to the frets, I have used a soft toothbrush which seemed to do the job. Then wipe it carefully across the frets, maybe with another spray of guitar polish to leave it clean and shiny.
If your frets are still rough with corrosion, there are things you could do but, for a decent guitar like yours, you should seriously consider putting it into a guitar shop for re-fretting. If that is not an option, you could try metal polish (sometimes sold as liquid or a paste or else absorbed into wadding - maybe chrome polish for a car). First test it on an inconspicuous part of the guitar to make sure it will not mark the paintwork. Work it along the frets with a piece of cloth or use the soft toothbrush again. If metal polish fails there is a final option but I really do NOT recommend it unless you are completely confident you can do it without damaging your guitar. You could VERY GENTLY wipe each fret from side to side with very fine 'wet and dry' paper (the stuff you use for finishing paintwork on a car) after another good covering of guitar polish. Avoid touching the wood as it marks easily which could spoil the look of the instrument and avoid changing the profile of the fret. Whatever you do, clean it all up meticulously, and polish it as normal. I know some people will be horrified by what I've suggested - and quite right too. The safest option is to leave it to the professionals. However you choose to tackle the problem, I wish you many happy hours making music on your corrosion-free guitar.

you mean the frets have already started rusting? you can buy fret cleaner and your local guitar store will be able to tell you the best product to use, the best way is to clean with fret cleaner when the strings are removed but im not sure about how you should remove rust without risking damaging the neck.......anyone?

Fine steel wool. Protect the fingerboard with masking tape first so you don't scatch it - or make a fret size slot in a business card and slide it around the fret.