Saturday, June 7, 2008

Taking care of your things: Garden tool maintenance


Use those skills you picked up in kindergarten —make sure you pick up after yourself and clean up your things! Keep your tools out of the weather, no matter what they’re made of, and bring them indoors after use. Otherwise, dampness causes wood to rot, and exposure to sunlight breaks down plastic parts. Plus you don’t want anyone running over them on foot or with a bicycle or vehicle — for their safety as well as the good of the tool itself. And make sure you store sharp objects away from where kids or pets can get to them.
Keep tools clean. They’re always going to have some dirt, soil, or other material adhering to their blades after a project, but take the time to hose or wipe it off — this simple step really, really prolongs a digging tool’s life. Just make sure the tool is dry before storing, because many tools are made of high carbon steel, which rusts easily if not coated in rust-resistant material.

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