Good quality garden tools make it much easier to perform the tasks that you want done in your garden. The problem is, not all of us take the time or energy to care for our garden tools so they are much more likely to require some type of maintenance. When a garden tool is used on a regular basis, it’s necessary to clean it properly to protect the materials it’s made of. Here’s how to clean garden tools and garden equipment.

The most basic thing you can do to protect your gardening tools and other garden equipment is to simply store it in a dry area, away from direct sunlight and any heat sources. The best way to store garden tools is in a sturdy container. A good-quality wooden storage box or an old paint canning bucket is ideal. It’s important that you don’t store your gardening tools in a bucket, since the water and moisture can cause the materials to rot. well-maintained garden tool tends to last years, so storing them properly is essential.

Some gardeners don’t like doing regular maintenance of their gardening tools, but it’s a necessary part of keeping them working smoothly. If you’re one of those people, you should consider learning some basic techniques that will help ensure the life of your gardening tools and other equipment. For example, you should always be sure to sharpen your gardening tools according to manufacturer recommendations. Never sharpen a garden tool on your own, since it’s a sure way to cause severe damage and even injury.

If you don’t have access to a shop to purchase quality tools, there are a few things you can do to sharpen your tools yourself. One of the simplest ways to sharpen knives and other cutting tools is to coat them with vegetable oil before each use. Just like when sharpening other cutting implements, you must start by using a dull knife on a piece of wood, then add one teaspoon of vegetable oil to the blades. Use oil only on the surface of the blade, not the entire blade, since the blade’s coating may be destroyed if the oil gets into it. You may have to experiment with the amount of oil to get the best results.

To disinfect your gardening tools and equipment, you can either buy commercially available disinfectants from a garden supply store, or you can prepare a solution of water, detergent and soap by using a spray bottle. Dilute the detergent with water to make a thick lather and apply the solution to the blades, making sure to disinfect the equipment thoroughly before cleaning it off. Remember to sterilize all your equipment before storing them away in dry, clean containers.

Some garden tools and equipments are made of a type of metal, such as iron or steel, which is susceptible to rust. Before attempting to repair rust on steel handles or any part of the body of the equipment, you should first take note of the type of metal and clean rust-prone areas of the equipment. For instance, steel handles cannot be cleaned using normal soap and water because soap may disrupt the interlocking of the steel parts. Likewise, steel parts of a hand saw or a saw that has an electrochemical cutting feature cannot be washed with water.

The next step in cleaning your tools is to check the blades. If the blades look dull and corroded, they need to be re-scrusted. You can also remove minute amounts of rust by heating the metal with a blowtorch, but do this process carefully as excessive heat can cause damage to the steel gear of the tools.

When storing tools that are heavily used, they should be kept dry. If the metal has moisture, you can spray it with a lubricating spray before storing it in a dry place, such as in a storage box. If your equipment has been stored damp, make sure you hang the container from a hanger to prevent rust from forming. When storing tools for a long period of time, make sure they are completely dry before removing them from their storage boxes. Finally, if you need a complete dry run, store your wet tools in a basin of warm water for a few days before use.