How to clean, maintain and store garden tools

Most tools are susceptible to rust and, like pots and seed trays, can carry disease and fungal spores, so it’s important to keep them clean throughout the season whilst you’re using them. One key thing to always remember is; never put your tools away wet.

Hand tools are simple to maintain. Always wipe or wash off any soil, clippings or other plant material from the blade or tool surface.

Dry and then wipe all metal parts with an oily rag, minding the sharp edges, or spray them with lubricant. Cutting tools will need sharpening from time to time, and this is covered in more detail later in this guide.

Power tools, and petrol-engined tools in particular, require more attention. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for everyday care and make maintenance part of your regular routine – it’s best not to wait until something goes wrong.

Spray metal surfaces with a light coating of general-purpose oil to prevent them rusting. After spraying, turn the tool on to allow the oil to work its way into all the right areas.

Looking after your mower will give your grass a cleaner cut and extend the mower’s life. Here are our tips on how to keep your mower in tiptop condition.

Before you start, always check the instruction manual and its schedule of maintenance. Observe all the mower’s safety precautions before undertaking any cleaning or maintenance.

If you are in any doubt about what to do, have your mower serviced by a local servicer once a year to get the best out of your mower.

Cylinder lawn mower blades are best sharpened by a professional, or if they are chipped or in a bad condition, get them replaced.

Spray a little general-purpose lubrication oil onto height adjusters and blade fixings. Turn them slightly to prevent them from stiffening up. Check the operating manual to see what other parts need lubricating.

Once a year, remove and clean or replace the air filter. This is usually made from foam or paper, and foam filters can simply be washed with hot soapy water and left to dry. Once dried, put it in a small plastic bag and add a tablespoon of general-purpose lubrication oil onto the filter. Squeeze the bag around the filter so the foam absorbs the oil. Remove the filter from the bag and wrap it in a paper towel, squeezing out any excess oil from the filter. Place the filter back in the mower and you’re done for another year.

Always check the lawnmower oil level and top it up when required. Without enough oil, the engine will burn out and damage the mower beyond repair. Oil should also be drained and replaced every spring.

There is usually a drain plug underneath the mower to drain the oil, if not, tilt the mower and drain the oil through the fill hole. Don’t forget to check your product manual for the recommended oil to use when replacing or topping up.

A chainsaw needs regular maintenance, not only to perform at its best, but also to reduce the chance of an accident.

Before you start any cleaning or maintenance, always switch off the engine, unplug from the power source or remove the battery pack from the chainsaw to reduce the risk of starting the power tool accidentally.

Here’s our top tips on how to maintain your chainsaw, don’t forget to refer to your product manual for specific maintenance and servicing instructions.

Make sure the saw chain is correctly tensioned. A slack chain can jump off the guide bar and injure you so it is really important to make sure the chain is correctly tensioned.

Check the chain tension before use, after the first few cuts and regularly during use (every 10 minutes). Refer to the operating manual for the correct tensioning instructions.

Keeping the chain well lubricated reduces premature wear on both the chain and engine and operating the chainsaw with no oil will result in extensive damage.

Always check the oil level before use. Place the chainsaw on a flat surface and clean the oil cap with a cloth to prevent debris from falling in. Only use the recommended oil and fill until the reservoir is full. Check the operating manual for the recommended chainsaw oil.

Poor cutting techniques, little or no lubrication and incorrect chain tension are the main causes of bar guide problems which can all be avoided.

The underside of the bar is prone to the most wear, and we recommend turning the bar over every time the chain is changed or sharpened so that it will wear more evenly.

Check out our self-sharpening chainsaw with its unique built-in self-sharpening system to sharpen your chain on the saw, on the job, in seconds.

Takes your chain from dull to sharp with a simple pull of the red PowerSharp lever.

Use a soft brush to brush away any grass from the trimmer’s casing. A vacuum cleaning can also be used to clear out any debris from around the ventilation slots and filter.

Turn the trimmer over and remove any build-up of grass from under the guard and around the line feed or blades with a stiff brush.

Cutting lines and plastic blades can become brittle over time and should be inspected and changed when needed. It’s worth checking your supplies too so you have an extra spool of cutting line on hand for when it does run out.

Don’t forget to check the maintenance manual for advice on cleaning or replacing any air filters, spark plugs etc that are specific to your trimmer. This should be done at least once a year, depending on usage.

Before storing away your grass trimmer for the winter, give it a thorough clean and lightly spray the metal surfaces with a little WD-40, leave it on for 10 minutes before wiping dry. If you have a petrol grass trimmer, see Chainsaw maintenance: Stabilising fuel in petrol or diesel engines , above, for tips on stabilising the fuel when the trimmer is not used for long periods.

Check the blade and remove any twigs, leaves or other debris. To remove sap, spray the blade with a resin-cleaning solvent and wipe it clean with a dry cloth.

If the sap is stubborn, dip the blade in a bucket of hot, soapy water for a few minutes before drying and spraying with WD-40.

If the blades are blunt, use a sharpening file along with an oilstone or whetstone. Sharpen each blade with the file, no more than 10 times per tooth. It’s important that the file only sharpens in the direction of the cutting edge. Turn the hedge trimmer over and remove any build-up from the bottom of the blade with a handheld oilstone or whetstone.

Once all the blades have been sharpened, spray the blades again with some WD-40.

Petrol hedge trimmers

If you have a petrol hedge trimmer, see Chainsaw maintenance: Stabilising fuel in petrol or diesel engines, above, for tips on stabilising the fuel when the hedge trimmer is not used for long periods.

More often than not, your digging tools will be coated with damp soil, mud or dirt after use. Try not to leave dirt to harden as it will make the tools more difficult to clean later on. Instead, wash or wipe tools down at the end of the day, dry them off then wipe the metal with an oily rag to keep the steel from rusting. Stainless steel tools won’t rust and so do not need oiling.

Prevent bare wooden handles from drying out and splintering by rubbing down with boiled linseed oil on a rag, wearing protective gloves. Allow the handle to absorb the oil for 10 minutes before applying more. Rub the handle with a clean cloth until it feels dry before storing away in a cool dry place to cure over night.

Aim to do this a couple of times a year, once in spring and again towards the end of the year but don’t wait until the handles show signs of cracking or splitting. Not only will your tools last longer, but they’ll feel better in your hands too.

Garden tools are best stored in a dry and secure place and tool hooks are ideal. Garden tools come in various sizes and shapes, instead of piling them up in a jumble you can keep them sorted by storing them on a tool rack or on hooks attached to the wall of a shed or garage.

Store your tools securely – not only from thieves, but also from children as curious fingers cause accidents. Small hand tools should be kept out of reach and out of sight. Lock up sharp or pointed tools as well as all power tools.