Scrubbing Rust.

Well, now that the pandemic has given me for freetime, I now I can spend time on all the chores I have neglected…

It’s time to clean my garden hand tools.

I have been very neglectful. I was busy. Now…not so much. For the record, I should have done this in November/December.

It’s January. So I’m not that late.

The easiest way to remove rust - a bucket, vinegar and time. I’ve seen recipes for 100% vinegar and 50/50% vinegar to water and either overnight to 24 hours.

I went with overnight and 50/50 mix. Both cider and white vinegar have 5% acidity. Most use white vinegar. I didn’t have enough - so cider it is! It’s the acidity that softens the rust.

This morning, I took two clippers out and started scrubbing. First with plastic brush and then with Brillo. Yes, it was that bad…

Scrub, scrub, scrub…once done, they get thoroughly dried off and then given a light coating of mineral oil to protect them.

It’s so simple, yet so time consuming. But once I make this a habit (including wiping them clean after each use), they will be around forever.