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How often do you clean your tools?

MeomyeMeomye Posts: 949
in Tools and techniques
How often do you clean your gardening tools and with what? Do you store them away in winter? Basically, I want to know how to maintain and keep them in good condition (something, I confess I am not currently good at!) . Thank you.  :)
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Posts

  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Don't tell anybody, but I have never EVER cleaned my gardening tools. I do wash pots, though.
  • Pauline 7Pauline 7 Posts: 2,246
    I wipe my tools with a cloth and spray any moving parts with WD40 after every use, ( other sprays are available )
    West Yorkshire
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    ditto as Posy. Mine don't get put away for winter, that's when they get most use


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    My answer would be : not very often, although they get the mud and muck wiped off, and moving parts gets oiled now and again.
    No pot washing either- apart from a token rinse out occasionally if I'm potting something on and then replacing that plant with another  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I like spades and forks to be cleaned of mud and muck because it makes them last longer and I occasionally oil the handle on the fork when I know it's going to have a rest.  Same with my hand fork and newer Sneeboer trowel because they're decent tools.

    I like to keep secateurs clean and oiled too and I've even been known to sharpen them.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I've never ever cleaned any garden tools beyond scraping mud off with my boot. 
    I've never ever washed a plant pot either
    I , very occasionally , spray my secateurs with WD40.
    Devon.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited November 2018
    Bit of a slut on the quiet Hosta?

    Actually, not that quiet.   
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • ForrestgrumpForrestgrump Posts: 247
    Clean mine after every use, then sharpen if necessary, use an oily rag on metal parts, oil moving parts and use a linseed oil rag on timber parts. :blush:
    If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Obelixx said:
    Bit of a slut on the quiet Hosta?

    Actually, not that quiet.   
    I've worked long and hard to acquire the reputation of a slut  and I wear the badge with considerable pride.
    Devon.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    We know, Hosta.

    GB - I find linseed oil is sticky so I just use kitchen oil such as rapeseed or grapeseed.  Teak oil for the table.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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