Garden tools can sustain a lot of wear and tear during the growing season, so cleaning and maintaining them is essential if you want your tools to last. While it may be tempting to wait until spring to spruce up your shovels, pruners, and hoes, allowing dirt to remain on your garden tools all winter may not be the best idea.
Ideally, garden tools should be cleaned off after every use. Not only do dirty tools transmit fungi, bacteria, and viruses between plants, but dirt and grime can affect the lifespan of tools and make them more vulnerable to rust and pitting. Cleaning tools in autumn or early winter is recommended because it reduces the amount of time that dirt is left on tool blades and limits rust issues. Plus, doing this important task during the colder months ensures your tools will be ready to go for spring.
During the busy spring and summer months, you may just need to wash off garden tools with your hose or sterilize them with a spray of rubbing alcohol.
To start, use a stiff brush or scraper to remove as much dirt and mud off your tools as possible. Fill a bucket with hot, soapy water and a squirt of dish soap.
Soak your tools in the bucket to loosen the remaining dirt. Then scrub the dirt away with a stiff brush.
