How to Clean Garden Tools to Prevent Rust and Dull Blades

Gardeners need the right tools for the job, but equally important is the condition of those tools. Gardeners of all experience levels have been frustrated when trowels, edgers, or clippers become dull and rusty. But y’all can relax — even rejoice — because there are many things you can do to keep your garden tools in tip-top shape. Let’s get to it.

1. What You’ll Need

With a short list of items (many of which you likely already have), you can keep your garden tools rust-free and ready for action. Why not gather them up in a bucket right now and keep them all together for easy tool cleaning?

1. wire brush

2. stiff-bristle brush

3. rags

4. whetstone and/or mill bastard file

5. fine steel wool

6. safety glasses

7. medium-grit sandpaper

8. boiled linseed oil

9. light machine oil

Step 1: Start With Clean Tools

To keep clean, you need to start clean. Take apart any tools with moving or multiple parts, like shears or pruners. Use your wire brush to remove any rust or dirt from metal surfaces. For rust that won’t budge, try the steel wool. For larger tools like shovels or edgers, the sandpaper might be your best option. After you get them clean, you’ll need to go through a similar cleaning process to remove any dirt, and catch any rust early.

Step 2: Sharpen

It also stands to reason that if you want to keep tools sharp, they must be sharp to begin with. Sharpen your pruners with your whetstone, and use fine or medium-grit, single-cut bastard files for shears, shovels, hoes, spades, etc. When sharpening, pay attention to the blade bevel or angle and try to maintain it. You’ll find a helpful DIY procedure here.

Step 3: Lubricate

Metal tools with moving parts will need lubrication to stay in good condition. Use a light machine or synthetic oil to recondition tools and handles once a year. For wooden handles, use a stiff brush to clean, then smooth out any nicks or splinters with your sandpaper. Use boiled linseed oil to prevent future splinters in wooden handles. This lubrication should be done yearly.