Keeping your tools clean

Getting Started

The following steps will work on any type of shears such as pruning or garden shears, hedge shears, or edging shears, etc.

You will need the following:

• Dirty pruning shears
  
• A small bucket of water
  
• A small wire brush (about the size of a toothbrush)
  
• A sharpening file
  
• Some bleach
  
• Some oil, like WD-40

Cleaning

• Put some water in your bucket
  
• Take your small wire brush and start scrubbing
  
• No soap is needed, just water, and scrub vigorously over all the metal areas
  
• Stop when the metal is clean as shown on the right

Sharpening

• Place your sharpening file, available at any hardware or home improvement center, on the existing bevel so that it is sitting level and flush
  
• With short, firm strokes push the file away from you making sure the file is still flush with the existing bevel
  
• Work your way from the base of the shear all the way to the very tip
  
• This may take a few minutes if your shears are really dull and haven't been sharpened in a while
  
• Using your finger, VERY CAREFULLY, check to feel how sharp the blade is. DON'T CUT YOURSELF!
  
• Notice that when sharpened, the bevel is the same width as when you started
  
• When satisfied with the sharpness, take the file and smooth off the other side of the blade if any filings are hanging over

Disinfect

• Fill your bucket again, but this time with a 1 part to 10 parts water and bleach solution. 1 part bleach to 10 parts water
  
• This will give you a mild disinfectant. Simply wash the cleaned and sharpened shears in the solution for a few seconds and then allow to dry
  
• As a note, every time you are done using your pruning shears, you should disinfect them so you don't pass any plant diseases around next time you prune something

Coat With Oil

• Apply a very liberal coat of oil (I use WD-40 because it is so versatile) to your newly cleaned and sharpened pruning shears
  
• This will help prevent future rust from building up
  
• Oil also helps your pruners open and close smoothly without catching or sticking
  
• Use a rag or paper towel and wipe off any oil residue, leaving a thin coat of oil

Courtesy of http://www.weekendgardener.net/garden-tool-care/pruners-050805.htm