In spring, when the grass is coming through and it is time to start pruning, many of us pull out of the shed a pair of secateurs that will not open, shears with orange blades and a rusty spade. Winter rain, wet snow, thaws and condensation in an unheated shed all take their toll, especially if the tools were put away dirty in autumn.
The good news is that most of these problems can be sorted in an evening. And if you give your tools another half hour in autumn, they will be ready to use straight away in spring. For garden tools that come into contact with soil and plants, a biodegradable lubricant is a convenient choice.
What you will need
Important: Wear gloves: secateur and shear blades are sharp even under a layer of rust. Wear safety glasses when using a wire brush. Keep lubricant off handles and grips so the tool does not slip in your hand.
Step 1
Set up your work area
Work outdoors or in your workshop. Lay a dust sheet or old cover over the ground or workbench so rust and dirt do not end up on the lawn or floor. Lay your tools out on the sheet or put them in a container so you can work through them one by one.
Step 2
Remove soil and plant residue
Wash caked soil off spades, rakes, hoes and forks, and plant sap and resin off secateurs and shears. Dry them with a rag: lubricant does not go on as well over wet metal, and moisture trapped underneath will cause rust again.
Step 3
Apply Bio Lubricant and let it work
Pick up a tool and spray it generously with WD-40 Specialist Bio Lubricant Multi-Use, especially rusty spots, pivots and springs. Leave it for at least 10 minutes. For stubborn rust stains and seized mechanisms you can leave it overnight.
Step 4
Scrub off the rust
Once it has soaked in, scrub the metal with a wire brush or sandpaper. You can spray some Bio Lubricant onto the brush as well, so the softened rust comes away more easily. Then apply another coat and wipe the tool clean.
If a tool has built up heavy rust over the years, the lubricant will only loosen it. To remove it completely, use files or wire brush attachments on a drill or angle grinder, then treat the metal afterwards.
Step 5
Free up the mechanisms
Oxidation often seizes anything with cutting or moving parts: secateurs, loppers, garden shears and hedge trimmers. Apply lubricant to the pivot and spring and open and close the tool several times until it moves freely. For heavy joints that work under load and in dirt, such as on a wheelbarrow, long-handled loppers or gates, add white lithium grease: it is thicker and lasts longer.
Step 6
Finish with protection
Finish with a thin coat of Bio Lubricant over all metal surfaces and wipe off the excess. It leaves a protective film that guards the metal against corrosion. In autumn this is the last step before storage: keep tools somewhere dry, with blades off the ground, and hang spades and rakes up if you can.
Tip: Give your tools a full service twice a year: in spring before the first pruning and in autumn before putting them away for winter. In summer it is enough to knock the soil off after use and give the secateur blades a quick spray, especially after cutting wet or resinous branches.
What next
Well-kept tools cut cleanly, do not tear branches and do not spread infection into plant wounds. The same can of Bio Lubricant is handy for garden furniture, gate hinges and lawnmower mechanisms.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».