This guide will show you how.
Make sure the firearm is empty. Even if it might seem obvious, there it is. Said. There are several stories of people discharging an allegedly "unloaded" weapon by accident. Even if you are positive that your firearm is unloaded, take this step seriously and always double check.

Clean in a well-ventilated place while wearing gloves. Dipping your bare hands in chemicals, especially in a closed area where fumes are directed directly to the brain, is neither tough nor manly. There are currently too many old-school gunsmiths with major health issues working in their basements. What we know today was unknown to them. Use non-toxic cleaning options if you can if they still fulfill your shooting requirements. But for the majority of gun cleaners, ventilation — preferably outside — and non-absorbent gloves will keep your weapon and you in good working order for years to come.

Here are two crucial reminders to keep your weapons secure:

Pay attention to the crown. The opening where the bullet leaves the rifle and touches for the final time before traveling downrange is known as the "crown" of a firearm. If the crown is harmed, even just slightly, the bullet can veer off course and miss its target. Therefore, be careful handling the crown when you clean your gun. Never pull or scrape anything too abrasive (such as steel or even a brass brush applied harshly) on it. For the majority of the metal on your firearm, use this general rule. This is not really a problem, even if it is crucial for rifles and handguns, but it's good preparation for using shotguns.

On the barreled action, clean from breech to muzzle or rear to front. Clean from the breech/chamber (often where the cartridge is loaded) to the muzzle (end of the barrel) if at all possible. A cleaning rod can be carefully placed down the center of some firearms' breech/chamber and barrel after they have been partially dismantled to expose them. Pull-through options are preferable to jamming a rod down the muzzle end of other firearms since they are more difficult to disassemble.

Tools
Here is a collection of fundamental tools to get you going. Don't worry—you can simply adapt this to your own needs or purchase a pre-assembled tool kit that should include the majority of the items on this list.

sanitizing rod. Most firearms, especially most bolt-action rifles, can be cleaned in one of the best and simplest methods possible using this method. If a bullet gets stuck in your barrel, you can use it to gently remove the cartridge. This is useful even if you don't have access to a breech to muzzle cleaning system. Keep an eye out for coated rods with brass ends. Compared to uncoated steel rods, they are much friendlier to most barrels.

Pull-through or Snake the Bore. Typically, a pull-through consists of a cable with a patch holder at one end. A bore-snake, which is effectively a brass brush wrapped in a threaded pull-through, can be used to clean some firearms more quickly but is typically not advised for precision weapons. When using either, it's crucial to gently insert it into the chamber aperture (particularly the brass end) and maintain its center while pulling steadily. By doing this, pressure will be maintained pretty evenly, preventing damage or uneven wear over time.

Patches. Usually little pieces of fabric that can be run through the barrel after being saturated in oil or gun cleaning. They work well for cleaning the gun's other components as well. Usually, they are designed for each caliber, but you can also buy larger ones and trim them to size.

"Bore Brush" When you want to give your barrel a thorough cleaning, this will help move the fouling that is more difficult to remove. Use the appropriate size for your caliber.

Weapons cleaner. A good bore cleaner will get rid of the lead, copper, and other fouling accumulation as well as the carbon.