3 hours ago
3
I am a tool-care evangelist. I like to keep my harvest knife sharp and my garden fork hung up tidily in the shed. At least this is what I tell myself – because I believe tool care is important despite, in reality, being the kind of grower who drops her secateurs and forgets to pick them up before an overnight rain, or leaves a trowel stuck in the ground at the end of a veg bed, convinced – erroneously – that I’ll remember to put it away as the sun starts to set.
Rust corrodes the metal parts of our garden tools, affecting how well they work and even their safety. Small patches can be removed using wire wool and perseverance but, ideally, we’d prevent it from appearing in the first place by cleaning, drying and storing our tools properly after each use. But if you, like me, are a fallible human who occasionally finds certain tools have turned the shade of autumn leaves, it is entirely possible that they can be rescued.
First, soak the rusted parts of your tools in humble white vinegar which will do the heavy lifting of removing most of the rust. You can leave your tools soaking for up to 24 hours, depending on how much rust needs removing, but no longer as that risks the chemical reaction corroding the good metal underneath. And be sure to protect any wooden or plastic handles or components as you don’t want them soaked in vinegar.
Having taken your tools out of the vinegar soak, you can remove any lingering patches of rust with a wire brush or steel wool, gently buffing the metal until any rusty remnants have been removed. Then rinse the tools and dry them thoroughly as any moisture that remains will cause the rust to return. You might also consider giving any wooden parts a quick rub down with some fine-grade steel wool (as this will remove the dirt without wearing away the wood as sandpaper would) before treating your tools with linseed or camellia oil which have protective qualities for both metal and wood. Use a rag to rub the oil on to your tools, applying a thin layer on the metal and a couple of coats on the wooden parts for optimal protection.
If you’ve reached this point, with your now rust-free tools gleaming, you may realise that your shears, knives or secateurs could do with sharpening. I’d highly recommend investing in a whetstone and a copy of Do Maintain by Gareth Heaton, which is an excellent step-by-step guide detailing how to approach sharpening different types of blade. Not only will your tools last longer, but your plants will be healthier as ragged cuts made with blunt snips can be an invitation for pests and disease to ravage otherwise happy specimens.
