Write an article based on this "Disassemble the revolver. Clean it thoroughly. Lightly oil the gun as you reassemble it. Verify that the gun is unloaded. Check the half cock position. Insert a cleaning rod down the barrel."
Before loading the revolver, you must remove the manufacturer's preservative and/or any built-up grime. To do so thoroughly, you'll need to disassemble the gun. The exact disassembly process will vary by manufacturer, so check on the procedure before continuing. Scrub all parts of the disassembled gun with a cotton swab to strip the grease away. Dip the swab in a cleaning solvent or hot, soapy water.  Scrub the interior of all cylinder chambers with the cotton swab. Set the cylinder down so that all of the chambers face downward. This will allow the water or solvent to drain. Pass a cleaning patch soaked with solvent or hot, soapy water through the barrel. Pass clean, dry swabs or patches through each chamber and through the barrel to finish the cleaning process. As you reassemble the revolver, you should oil all moving parts and grease the grooves of the cylinder pin.  Note that reassembly will vary by gun manufacturer. As with disassembly, you should check on the exact procedure before continuing. Use a natural lubricant instead of a petroleum-based one. Apply a light coating of your chosen lubricant to all moving parts of the gun. Do not oil the gun heavily since doing so can cause fouling. You should also lightly grease each ball you'll be firing and the opening of each chamber. Even if you just reassembled the revolver, it's a good idea to verify that the gun is currently unloaded before continuing. At this time, you should also put on your safety goggles and hearing protection. Set the hammer in its half cocked position. Aim the gun at a safe target and squeeze the trigger.  The hammer should not move. If you can squeeze the trigger and the hammer falls, the revolver is broken and unsafe. Do not load it. Instead, you must have the gun repaired. The half cocked position acts as the revolver's "safety" position. Slide a cleaning rod or wooden dowel down the barrel and mark rod at the muzzle. You need to make sure that the chamber is aligned with the barrel.  Remove the rod and lay it along the outside of the barrel, lining it up with the mark at the muzzle. The opposite end should end at the nipple, which is where the chamber ends. Repeat this step with each chamber. If the rod does not line up correctly for any chamber, there is an obstruction. Do not load it. You must clear the obstruction before continuing.