Don’t let your laziness lead to dirty and rusty garden tools. Learn how to clean and care for your garden tools with a bottle of oil and a bucket of soapy water. You got this!
We all know that the first step in creating a lush garden is having the right tools. The second step is learning how to clean and care for your garden tools. Every gardener knows that clean and sharp garden tools help prevent cross-contamination from aphids, fungus, diseases, and other plant problems. We know that cleaning garden tools every single time can be a tiresome task, but trust us, it only takes a few minutes to one hour at every end of the growing season! It’s quick and simple to clean and care for your garden tools, and it gets more simple to clean and care for your garden tools once you get the hang of it.
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Experts advised cleaning garden tools immediately if you used them to prune or remove a diseased plant. Additionally, clean garden tools immediately after every use to remove soil. Get a bucket of soapy water and a bucket filled with one part chlorine bleach and nine parts water. This method will help you clean and disinfect the garden tools by dipping them in the solution and drying them well with an old towel. Never put garden tools away while wet because it will cause them to rust prematurely.
Wash Away Soil
Remove soil with a powerful garden hose. Scrape away any stubborn caked-on dirt with a plastic scraper or a putty knife.
Soak in Soapy Water
Next on how to clean and care for your garden tools is to fill a bucket with hot water and add one-half teaspoon of dishwashing liquid per gallon of water to remove residual soil. Add garden tools and let them soak for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse and Dry the Tools
Rinse garden tools with cool water and dry them well with a microfiber cloth or with an old towel.
Inspect for and Remove Rust
Next on how to clean and care for your garden tools is to check each garden tool for any sign of rust. Use steel wool or a stiff wire brush to scrub away rust spots. Lightly coat the garden tool with vegetable oil to help loosen the rust while you scrub.
Remove Gooey Sap
Dip an old cloth in a bit of turpentine and wipe down the garden tool, especially the hinged areas.
Disinfect Tools
Kill bacteria and fungi that can cause problems by mixing a solution of two cups of chlorine bleach and one gallon of water in a bucket. Add garden tools and let them soak for 10 minutes. Rinse well and dry completely before storing.
Learning how to clean and care for your garden tools will not only keep your plants healthy but will also extend the life of your garden tools and save you money down the road.
Check out our Plant Care blog to learn more about different houseplants and tips on how to keep your plants alive and healthy.
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