An iaitō is not high-maintenance, but it does ask for a few minutes of attention now and then. Neglect it and the draw gets rough, the fittings rattle, and in the worst case something works loose mid-kata. None of that is hard to avoid.
Wipe it down after training
Your hands leave oils and salt on the blade. After a session, wipe the blade with a soft, dry cloth before you put the sword away. For an alloy iaitō you usually do not need much else day to day, but a very light film of oil every so often keeps the surface even and the nōtō smooth. Wipe along the blade, edge away from your hand, in long strokes from the base toward the tip.
A shinken needs proper care: choji oil, uchiko powder to lift old oil, and regular attention to prevent rust. That is a separate subject and one your teacher should walk you through in person before you ever own one. This article is about the alloy practice swords beginners use.
Mind the saya
The scabbard takes more abuse than people expect. The mouth of the saya, the koiguchi, wears with every draw and sheathe. Keep grit out of it — a single grain of sand dragged down the inside can scratch a blade and, on a live sword, ruin it. Wipe the inside opening occasionally and never force the blade if it catches; find out why it caught instead.
Treat the saya as the fragile part of the set. Don't lean on it, don't let it knock against hard floors, and carry the sword so the saya is supported, not swinging.
Check the fittings
Every few weeks, give the sword a calm once-over:
- The tsuka (handle): hold the blade and gently try to twist. It should not move. A loose handle is the single most dangerous fault on an iaitō — stop using it until it is fixed.
- The mekugi (retaining peg): the small bamboo or synthetic pin that holds the blade in the handle. Make sure it is present and intact. Replace a cracked one before your next class, not after.
- The tsuba and spacers (seppa): they should sit snug with no rattle.
The handle should feel like one solid piece with the blade. The day it doesn't, the sword is out of action until you've dealt with it. There is no "I'll finish the class first."
Storing it
Keep the sword somewhere dry and out of direct sun, ideally lying flat or hung properly with the edge up. Avoid leaving it in a hot car or a damp basement. A simple sword bag protects the fittings and the saya in transit. That is genuinely most of it.
The habit that matters most
Look at your sword regularly with attention, the same attention you give a kata. People who handle their blade thoughtfully notice a loosening peg or a worn koiguchi long before it becomes a problem. People who toss it in a bag and forget it find out the hard way. Pick the first habit.
Not bought a sword yet? Read Choosing Your First Iaitō before you spend anything.
Notes from Musokai Dojo. Useful for context, but no article replaces a teacher correcting you in person.