a method and a device for cleaning and exposing portions of limited length of strands of steel wire which are surrounded by a corrosion protection substance , particularly grease , wherein the strands of steel wire and the corrosion protection substance are enclosed by a sheathing of synthetic material . initially , the sheathing is severed at a distance from the end of the strand corresponding to the length of the portion to be cleaned and an opening is produced . subsequently , a flushing pipe is connected to the sheathing at the end of the strand and the strand is cleaned by admitting a flushing liquid under high pressure into the space surrounded by the sheathing , so that the corrosion protection substance and the flushing liquid emerge at the opening . finally , the sheathing is removed entirely from the strand by pulling off the sheathing .