Cleaning old flies?

[Tjv28]

Hey huntwa,
     I found an old fly tackle box a couple years ago while shed hunting. The flies seem to be in good shape, but have been covered in dirt and rust for a couple years. (I think somebody dropped the box out of a drift boat) The hooks are shinny and bright when I rub on them with my fingers. Any suggestions for cleaning them up?

 Thanks

[splitshot]

   get a tea kettle to boiling.  get tweezers or some kind of forceps to hold the fly to be cleaned and not scald yourself.  hold the fly over the steam and a clean fly is the result.  I would try to derust them first and the steam might rid the fly of any smell.  any flies that are beyond help can go on a hat or give them to people you don't like, lol.    mike w