Banish rusty garden tools for good with this easy DIY cleaning & sharpening hack!

Rusty, over-used gardening tools are a reality for many of us home gardeners. It’s so easy to either get busy focusing on the fun stuff, or whipping through the yard maintenance. By the time you finish at the end of the day, cleaning tools is the last thing on your mind. And that’s assuming you remember to bring them inside; how many times have you left a tool or 2 out in the weather overnight??

Our DIY tool cleaning hack means my hand tools will never look like this again!

It’s no secret that well-maintained tools will always work better and last longer. Not only that, but if you’ve spent good money buying quality equipment, you don’t want to waste your investment. Here is our super-easy, old-school hack, to keep your everyday garden tools clean AND sharpened.

Using just 3 simple components, you can put together this fuss-free tool cleaning & storage station *that actually works*. This simple bucket of oily sand is no single-use product, and eliminates any need to scrub, wash, or buy detergents. As with all things old-school, it is intended to last, needs no maintenance, and will clean your tools hundreds of times over.

Here’s How it Works

Essentially, all you need to do is fill a bucket with a mixture of sand & oil, then place your tools in it, blade end down.

The coarseness of the grains of sand scrape away at dirt particles on the tool as you take them in and out of the bucket, with the added bonus of sharpening the edges at the same time. While the sand cleans and sharpens, the oil protects the metal, thus preventing rust.

To clean and sharpen tools, all you need to do is plunge them in & out of the sand a few times. When you’re next ready to use them, simply take them out of the bucket & brush off any remaining sand.

Here’s How To Do It

Start by taking a clean bucket. It can be whatever size you choose, as long as it is big enough to hold your hand tools. Alternately fill it with layers of sand and oil, mixing as you go. Use a type of motor oil rather than an oil suited for food use. This way your mixture will never degrade.

Keep layering and mixing the sand and oil until you have enough, then mix again thoroughly. Plunge your tools in and out a few times to start the cleaning process. And that’s it, you’re done!

Your bucket should be stored indoors or under cover, and will last for many years to come.