Holster Maintenance: The Overlooked Discipline That Keeps Your Carry System Reliable
As with anything mechanical, you need to maintain it. Holster Maintenance is an everyday thing. Every time we wear a holster there is a chance that screws will come loose. As simple as holsters seem, there is quite a bit of design and engineering that goes into them. As users, we just want them to work reliably. No hassle. No fuss. We want it to work every day.
At MK-Tek Holsters, we build our IWB holsters and OWB holsters with precision, durability, and daily carry in mind. But even the most well designed concealed carry holster is still a mechanical system. It lives on your belt, inside your waistband, under tension, under movement, exposed to sweat, friction, lint, and vibration. If you carry every day, your holster works every day. And anything that works daily deserves routine attention.
Let’s break down what proper holster maintenance looks like and why it matters.
Why Holster Maintenance Matters
A quality Kydex holster is built for retention, durability, and consistent draw performance. Whether you’re carrying a Glock 19, Glock 43X MOS, Sig, or a revolver, your holster is responsible for three critical functions:
- Secure retention
- Consistent draw stroke
- Safe trigger coverage
Those don’t happen by accident. They happen because of carefully engineered retention points, hardware tension, and precision molding. Over time, movement from walking, sitting, driving, bending, and drawing can loosen hardware. Environmental factors like moisture and debris can affect function.
Neglect doesn’t usually show up dramatically. It shows up gradually:
- Slight retention changes
- A clip that shifts more than it used to
- A screw backing out just enough to notice
- A draw that feels different than last month
That’s why routine inspection is part of responsible concealed carry.
The Most Common Issue: Loose Screws
Let’s start with the most common maintenance issue, hardware loosening.
Holsters use screws to secure:
- Belt clips
- Soft loops
- Wing attachments
- Retention spacers
- Adjustable cant features
Every step you take creates vibration. Every time you sit down or stand up, your holster flexes slightly. Over weeks and months, that movement can cause screws to back out.
If ignored, loose screws can:
- Change retention tension
- Alter ride height or cant
- Compromise belt clip security
- Lead to lost hardware
None of those are acceptable when you depend on your concealed carry holster daily.
Blue Loctite: Your Best Friend in Holster Maintenance
One of the simplest and most effective maintenance steps you can take is applying Blue Loctite (Threadlocker Blue 243 or equivalent) to your holster screws.
Here’s why Blue Loctite is ideal:
- It prevents screws from vibrating loose
- It holds securely under normal carry conditions
- It can still be removed later with hand tools
- It does not permanently bond like red threadlocker
Red Loctite is overkill for holster hardware. It can make future adjustments or replacements extremely difficult. Blue Loctite provides security without locking you out of adjustments.
How to Apply Blue Loctite Properly
- Remove one screw at a time (don’t disassemble the entire holster at once).
- Clean the screw threads.
- Apply a small drop of Blue Loctite to the threads.
- Reinstall and tighten to firm tension, do not overtighten.
- Allow 24 hours to fully cure before heavy use.
Do this to each critical screw, especially retention screws and belt clip hardware.
This small step dramatically reduces the chance of mid-day hardware surprises.
Retention Checks: Feel Matters
Retention is not something you set once and forget forever.
A proper retention check should include:
- Unloaded firearm only
- Insert firearm fully into holster
- Confirm positive retention “click” (if applicable)
- Turn holster upside down (while unloaded) to ensure secure hold
- Perform slow draw and reholster
If retention feels weaker or inconsistent, inspect:
- Retention screws
- Spacers or rubber bushings
- Debris inside the holster
Most retention issues are simply loose hardware or trapped debris, not a failure of the holster itself.
Cleaning Your Holster: Simple but Important
Kydex holsters are low maintenance, but not no maintenance.
Every day your holster collects:
- Sweat
- Body oils
- Lint
- Dust
- Clothing fibers
Over time, buildup inside the holster can affect retention or cause unnecessary wear on your firearm’s finish.
Basic Holster Maintenance Cleaning Routine
- Remove the firearm.
- Wipe the exterior with a clean cloth.
- Use a silicone cloth to wipe down the holster body.
- Inspect inside for lint or debris.
- If needed, rinse with mild soap and warm water.
- Allow to fully dry before reinserting firearm.
A silicone cloth is especially useful because it:
- Removes surface residue
- Leaves a light protective finish
- Helps maintain hardware appearance
- Keeps the holster looking professional
Avoid harsh solvents or chemicals. Kydex and Boltaron are durable, but there’s no reason to expose it to aggressive cleaners.
Sweat and Moisture: The Hidden Factor
If you carry IWB, especially in warmer climates, sweat is part of the equation.
Moisture doesn’t damage Kydex, but it can affect:
- Hardware longevity
- Belt clips
- Steel components
- Your firearm
Wiping down your holster regularly with a silicone cloth and ensuring hardware remains dry goes a long way toward preventing corrosion.
This is especially important for those who carry daily in high humidity environments or during physical activity.
Belt Clips and Attachment Points
Your belt clip is the anchor point of your entire carry system. If it fails, your holster shifts, or worse.
Inspect clips regularly for:
- Cracks
- Warping
- Loose mounting screws
- Loss of tension
If you run fabric clips or alternative mounting systems, ensure:
- Proper alignment
- Secure mounting hardware
- No excessive flex or deformation
Your concealed carry holster is only as secure as its attachment system.
Don’t Overtighten Hardware
This is just as important as preventing loose screws.
Overtightening can:
- Crush rubber spacers
- Crack attachment points
- Strip threads
- Distort retention
Snug is good. Gorilla tight is not.
If you use Blue Loctite correctly, you won’t need extreme torque to keep screws in place.
Seasonal Holster Maintenance Schedule
A simple rule:
- Daily carriers: Inspect monthly
- Occasional carriers: Inspect every 3 months
- After major activity or training days: Quick inspection same day
Make it part of your routine, like checking your firearm, rotating defensive ammo, or cleaning your pistol.
Your holster is part of your defensive system. Treat it accordingly.
Storage Matters Too
If you rotate holsters, for example switching between a Glock holster and a Sig holster depending on the day, store them properly.
- Keep them dry
- Avoid extreme heat, (Car dash)
- Don’t stack heavy objects on top
- Store unloaded
Kydex and Boltaron can withstand heat better than many materials, but prolonged exposure to high temperatures (like inside a vehicle during summer) can potentially alter shape over time.
The MK-Tek Holsters Standard
At MK-Tek Holsters, we design our IWB holsters and OWB holsters for reliability and durability. Every concealed carry holster we produce is engineered with proper retention geometry, hardware placement, and structural integrity in mind.
But no piece of equipment is immune to neglect.
Maintenance is not a sign of weakness in a product. It’s a sign of ownership responsibility.
Professionals maintain their gear. Responsible carriers maintain their gear. It’s part of the discipline.
Final Thoughts: Reliability Is Built, Then Maintained
When you strap on your holster in the morning, you expect:
- Solid retention
- Secure mounting
- Consistent draw
- No surprises
That confidence doesn’t just come from good manufacturing, it comes from proper upkeep.
Apply Blue Loctite to your screws.
Check retention periodically.
Wipe your holster down with a silicone cloth.
Inspect clips and hardware.
Clean out debris.
It takes minutes. It prevents problems. And it ensures your holster performs exactly the way it was designed to, every single day.
Because when it comes to concealed carry, reliability isn’t optional. It’s the standard. Check out Setup Instruction page
The best handgun is the one you have with you.
