Aluminium Garden Tools

Step 1: Clean the Tools
The first step for cleaning aluminium garden tools is to get rid of all the dirt that’s accumulated over time. Sap and dirt left clinging on garden tools can carry weeds as well as a number of soil borne diseases to other parts of your garden. Dirt also attracts moisture and holds it which can lead to the onset of rust. If your garden tools have moving parts, make sure you disassemble them first before cleaning. Using a wire brush, clean the dirt and rust from all the metal surfaces.

Step 2: Use Sand Tools
The second step to cleaning your garden tools is smoothing out all the wooden handles using a medium-grit sandpaper. This will help remove any splinters and get rid of the deteriorated finish. Sandpaper can also be used to remove any rust that may remain on the crevices and surfaces. It also serves to lightly polish the metal. Once you are done, it’s important to wipe the tools down and remove any metal or wood sanding that may remain.

Step 3: Sharpen the Pruners
Once you have cleaned your aluminium garden tools and removed unwanted rust, the next step is to sharpen them. Let’s start with pruners and other beveled blades. You can use a whetstone to get a sharp cutting edge, rubbing the beveled side of the blade against the whetstone and in a curved motion. Rub the sharp edge of the blade towards the stone, and try and maintain the original angle or bevel when sharpening.

Step 4: Sharpen the Remaining Tools
Once you have sharpened the pruners, the next step in cleaning your garden tools is to sharpen your other tools. You can use a medium or fine grit to sharpen loppers, shears, spades, hoes and shovels. Also use a single-cut mill bastard file after the grits. Make sure you always push the file away from your body.

Step 5: Lubricate the Tools
This is one of the most important steps when it comes to cleaning garden tools and keeping them safe from moisture, rust and corrosion. Cleaning alone is not enough for the long life of garden tools, it’s important you lubricate them to keep them safe from environmental factors that cause their wear and tear and corrosion.

Step 6: Preventative Maintenance
Now that you are done with cleaning your garden tools and they look as good as new, take some time out every couple of months to maintain them. Rinse off mud using a garden hose every time you use the garden tools. Wet soil clung to the tools is one of the main reasons of the rusting of garden tools. Use a scrub brush to quickly scrub away any stubborn soil. You can also use a paint thinner to remove pitch and sap.