Why Clean and Sharpen Garden Hand Tools?
The very simple answer is that your tools will last longer if you take proper care of them. That means cleaning and sharpening. Immediately after working with a tool, you can brush off the tool with a wire brush or other cleaning implement. If you can store your tools in an area with good air circulation, you can use a pressure nozzle to wash off the blade. Just make sure that it will dry quickly. If tools sit in wet conditions, wood handles will swell and crack, and steel blades will rust. If you have used a tool to prune or cut a plant that produces a lot of sap (pine trees, dogwood trees, euphorbias), you will want to clean off the blade with a bit of solvent to remove anything gummy. Once the tool is dry, wipe the tool blade with a thin coating of oil. A mixture of motor oil and kerosene oil will prevent steel blades from rusting.
