How to Clean Rusty Garden Tools

There are many reasons garden tools become rusty. When they become rusty people tend to want to throw them away and not use them any more because they think they are useless. Although they are unpleasant to look at, they can be cleaned with a few simple tricks. There are no expensive chemicals to purchase to get them looking new again. Once you remove the rust, you should take prevent measures to keep them that way.

Materials Needed:

• 2 cups white distilled vinegar


• Bowl


• Protective gloves


• Brillo pad


• 5 gallon bucket


• Sand


• Motor oil or baby oil
  
  

Instructions:

1. Pour 2 cups of white distilled vinegar in a bowl. Distilled vinegar easily cleans the tools without causing damage like harsh chemicals. It is also cheaper. Make sure you wear protective gloves.

2. Dip a Brillo pad in the vinegar. You may have to let the pad sit a little longer to make sure it absorbs the vinegar. Pour more distilled white vinegar into the bowl if you need more during the process.

3. Clean each garden tool with the Brillo pad and vinegar bath. Make sure you reach all cracks and crevices on the tools. The acid in the vinegar along with the texture of the Brillo pad will lift the rust from the tool.

4. Fill a bucket halfway with sand. A 5 gallon bucket works perfectly. Mix in motor oil or baby oil in the sand. Pour enough into the bucket to wet the sand but do not over soak the sand. Mix the oil and sand with one of the garden tools. This is a great way to store the tools so they are protected from rust. This also conditions the tools.