How do I keep a kitchen knife sharp?

There are many steps you can take to keep your kitchen knives sharp. Here are just a few to get you started. It is important to wash and dry your knives after using them, avoid placing them in the dishwasher as this can dull the edge, once clean you can protect your knife with a cover when storing it in a draw or place the blade in a knife block. This will help prevent the sharp edge banging against other objects and denting the blade. Some people use tools like honing steels after each use to remove the small burrs that accumulate over use and help keep the blade straight.