Cleaning garden tools is essential to keep them looking and performing their best, enabling you to maintain your garden with the same equipment for years. Understandably, the upkeep of your garden is not always possible during the winter months, with the unpredictable British weather often meaning you can’t attend to your external spaces as much as you would like during the colder months. However, we have all the advice you need, from cleaning your garden tools to ensuring they are stored correctly and ready to use again once spring commences.
At Gustharts, the quality of our landscaping tools reflects our commitment to having your garden look its best. So, whether you’re looking to refresh your secateurs, shears, or other hand tools or want to focus on electrical appliances, such as your lawnmower or chainsaw, our expert tips and tricks will guide you through a quick and easy cleaning process.
Table of Contents
- Why is it important to clean your garden tools?
- What do you clean garden tools with?
- What is the best way to clean garden tools?
Why is it important to clean your garden tools?
Clean garden tools are crucial when perfecting your garden’s aesthetic. Tackling your garden with dirty, blunt equipment will significantly minimise the standard of finish, so it is important to keep them looking and feeling sharp for best results!
Preventing rusting
Cleaning or storing your garden tools incorrectly could cause your equipment to deteriorate and rust. While leaving dirt to dry will cause damage to your tools, leaving them outside or in a moist environment will minimise their ease of use and mobility. As we will explore later, giving your tools a quick scrub after every use will prevent rusting and maintain your gardening kit's high quality and function.
Maximising performance
Along with removing dirt, sharpening tools such as loppers now and then will enhance their performance, helping to keep your garden at its best. Blunter edges of your equipment will weaken their effects, causing your greenery to lose its beauty and standards.
To sharpen your tools:
- Wipe them down so all of the dirt is removed.
- Position a file at a 45-degree angle and run it repeatedly across the blade of your tool.
- Once you are happy with the sharpness of your blade, wipe it down with a second cloth to ensure there are no obstructions on the blade.
Store your garden tools correctly
Storing your garden tools correctly ensures they are ready to tackle your garden every time you return to them. It is particularly important to thoroughly clean them and store them in the right environment in winter.
We recommend housing your equipment in a space with no moisture and away from overly cold temperatures to prevent rusting. Instead, look at keeping them in your shed or garage. You may wish to store small, handheld tools in a large bucket filled with sand within your garage, as this will offer further protection against the cold.
What do you clean garden tools with?
Ways of cleaning garden tools can vary depending on how much dirt has built up over time. Our cleaning tips prioritise quality and practicality, so we have included specific recommendations and some simple yet effective DIY techniques. Whether you’re giving your entire kit a deep clean or looking to give your tools a quick and affordable refresh, we’ve got you covered.
STIHL Multiclean Spray
The STIHL Multiclean Spray is a universal-use cleaning agent that can be applied to plastic, metal, painted surfaces, and rubber. Not only does it dissolve and remove grass stains, dirt and oil, but it can combat resin from the various surfaces of a STIHL lawnmower or robotic mower, such as the housing, docking station and mowing blade. With optimum ease of use, this spray simplifies all your cleaning tasks, leaving every surface shiny and clean.
STIHL VarioClean Eco
Experience the effects of cleaning like never before with the STIHL VarioClean Eco, made from 92% ingredients of natural origin and contained within a bottle made from at least 50% recycled materials.
This cleaning agent is formulated to dissolve and remove organic oil residue easily. You can apply VarioClean Eco on STIHL power tools, cutting attachments, and air filters on chainsaws and wet/dry vacuums (HD2, wire, PA, PET and PTFE filters).
The non-toxic features are also compatible with all surfaces and effectively remove various types of grime and dirt, such as sap, stains and mud.
STIHL FS Care and Clean Kit Plus
Combine our previously listed products with the STIHL FS Care and Clean Kit Plus, and add Superlub FS to the mix! The high-performance gear grease reduces wear and tear on the transmission of your brushcutter, making it the perfect choice for enhancing the utility of your gardening machinery.
Warm soapy water
Maintaining your garden tools on a budget is easy with the ever-reliable combo of warm water and soap. Soaking some of your landscaping tools will help to remove any stubborn dirt or debris. Then, give them a quick scrub once it starts to loosen.
Vinegar and baking soda
Mixing vinegar and baking soda is a perfect DIY solution to remove rust from your garden tools. Soak your equipment in the mixture for a day or two, and scrape the rust away with a toothbrush once it has loosened. Wipe away any excess rust to return your tools to their original condition. Be careful not to place wooden handles into the vinegar, as this may damage the material.
What is the best way to clean garden tools?
Cleaning garden tools with our recommended STIHL cleaning agents is the best way to maintain them. You will always achieve optimum results thanks to their adaptability to different surfaces.
How to use STIHL Multiclean Spray and STIHL VarioClean Eco
Luckily, the ways to use both cleaning products are the same, making the process quick and easy.
- Choose your preferred product for cleaning specific garden tools.
- Spray your Multiclean or VarioClean solution onto your equipment’s surface.
- Leave the solution to sit on your tools for five minutes.
- Use a brush to scrub away any loose dirt or debris.
- Wipe the surface down with a damp cloth.
The best way to clean cutting tools
- Position your tools so their entire surface is exposed. Do not take your tools apart unless you are extremely confident in reassembling them.
- Scrape away any loose dirt or sap with a brush.
- Add washing-up liquid to a bucket of hot water and soak your tools for 15 minutes.
- Remove the tools from the water and rinse any leftover dirt with a wire brush or steel wool.
- Wipe down your tools using a fresh cloth and repeat any previous steps if they require further cleaning.
- Alternatively, follow the above methods on using STIHL cleaning agents and apply one of them to your garden tools.
The best way to clean cultivation tools
- Remove any dirt from your tools using a high-pressure hose or a scrubbing brush if it is loose.
- Use a fresh cloth to dry your tools, as this will prevent damage to the metal and wooden handles.
- Apply oil to your tools after cleaning every once in a while, as this will give them added protection.
The best way to clean electrical appliances
Cleaning your electrical appliances will differ from other equipment, given the extra precautions that must be taken.
It is, therefore, important to refer to the specific manual guides of your equipment, as this will ensure you clean your machinery safely and correctly.
Keep your garden tools at their best with Gustharts!
Gustharts is committed to providing you with the best equipment for cleaning garden tools. While our collection of cleaning agents is meticulously crafted to ensure the longevity of your equipment, our STIHL Service Kits and grease and lubrication products are guaranteed to ensure prime performance.
Choose your favourite garden cleaning tools from Gustharts today, and qualify for Free UK Delivery On Orders Over £75!
