Cleaning garden tools in the Fall

INSIDE : Wrap up your gardening season the right way with my essential Fall checklist on how to clean and care for your favorite garden tools before storing them. It helps to maximize your tool lifespan, helps with rust prevention and with the proper care your garden tools will be ready for the Spring season!

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As the busy growing season of summer slowly fades into the crisp air of autumn, most gardeners are thinking about harvesting the last of their vegetables, doing some final trimming of their flower beds and enjoying a well-deserved break.

But before you completely hang up your gardening gloves for the season, there’s one important task that will really help you come next season – giving your garden tools some much-needed TLC!

My pruners especially get worn, loose their sharpness and are covered in a layer of dirt and dust at the end of each season.

Your tools need to be cleaned, sharpened, and prepped for their long winter’s nap. This fall to do task not only extends the life of your equipment, but also ensures they’re ready to go come spring time.

A Fall Guide to Garden Tool Care

Cleaning your tools

First things first, all your digging, pruning and cultivating garden tools have likely accumulated a season’s worth of soil, sap and plant debris. Ignoring this grime can lead to rust, dull blades and even the spread of plant diseases.

Wipe down with a soft cloth

Start by knocking off any large clumps of dried mud or plant debris with a simple paper towel or rag.

I wipe down ALL my tools including hand pruners, hand forks, trowels and garden scissors. Some people even recommend doing this to their yard shovels, axe and rakes.

Rub down with a Stainless Steel cloth

For stubborn residue and grime, a good scrub with a stainless steel cloth is a good choice. I found these Non-Scratch Steel Wool Dishclothes to be easy to hold, but still very strong in getting the job done well.

I also used the steel cloth on my hand trowels to get excess dirt off.

Clean with Mineral Spirits

For particularly sticky sap on pruning shears, a bit of mineral spirits or WD-40 on a rag can work wonders. Make sure to get into all the nooks and crannies.

Sharpen Your Tools

A sharp tool is not only more efficient but also so much safer to use. When you are cutting with dull hand pruner blades, they require more force – leading to fatigue and a higher risk of accidents.

Sharpening Stone

For pruning tools, a sharpening stone or a diamond file is ideal.

Hold the tool securely and run the sharpening stone or file along the beveled edge, again following the original angle.

For bypass pruners, you’ll only sharpen the outside of the upper blade, leaving the flat inside edge untouched.

Shears with two beveled blades will need both edges sharpened.

Note – Always wear sturdy gloves when sharpening and keep your fingers away from the cutting edge. Once sharpened, wipe away any metal filings.

Prepping for Storage, Oil and Protect

With your tools sparkling clean and razor-sharp, the final step is to protect them against winter’s dampness. Oiling the metal surfaces is the best way to ward off rust while they sit unused.

For all your shovels, spades and metal hoes, you can use a lightly oiled rag to coat the blade. For your precision cutting tools, like hand pruners, a quick and easy solution is mineral oil. Place a few drops on the pivot point and the blades and work the handles to distribute the oil.

Mineral oil is a great choice because it’s non-toxic and effectively prevents rust while also keeping the moving parts lubricated and smooth. This step ensures that your shears will open and close effortlessly the moment you pull them out next spring. (I also add just a dab or two of mineral oil to my handles, even if plastic.)

Don’t forget the wooden handles! A light sanding followed by a rub-down with mineral oil prevents cracking and splintering, giving you a better, more comfortable grip for years to come.

The Spring Payoff

Once clean, sharp and oiled, store your tools in a dry, safe place—ideally hanging on a pegboard or rack to keep them off the floor and away from moisture.

This simple fall routine is an investment that pays off every spring. You’ll save time, reduce frustration and know that your trusty garden helpers are ready for another glorious season in the dirt.

Happy garden puttering and see you in the spring!

If you’d like some other outdoor garden help, check out some of these posts…