Supplies You’ll Need

Glass jar or casserole dish

White vinegar

Table salt

Baking soda

Steel wool

Multipurpose oil

Carbide sharpener or diamond file

Clean rag

Step 1: Rust Removal (AKA Science Experiment)

Mix the Magic Potion: Combine white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of salt in a jar.

Stir until dissolved.

Soak Your Tools: Submerge your rusty shears (and their parts) in the solution.

Leave them for 12–24 hours.

Scrub It Off: Remove the shears and scrub off remaining rust with steel wool.

Neutralize the Acid: Soak the pruners in a baking soda and water solution for 10 minutes.

Dry thoroughly.

Step 2: Sharpen Those Blades

Clean First: If your pruners aren’t too rusty, skip the vinegar bath. Just clean with soapy water and a toothbrush.

Sharpen the Blade: Use a carbide tool or file on the beveled edge.

Match the angle (10–20 degrees) and swipe from base to tip 4–5 times.

Smooth the Flat Side: Flip the blade and run the sharpener flat against it to remove burrs.

Step 3: Oil for the Win

Rub a thin coat of multipurpose oil on the blades and moving parts. Open and close the pruners a few times to spread the oil evenly.

The Final Test

Now, snip something! Clean, smooth cuts that make your plants and your sanity happy.

Pro Tip: Maintenance Is Key

Clean and sharpen your tools in the fall before storing them for winter. Future you will thank you when spring rolls around and your tools are ready to go.

Don’t let rust win—your garden deserves better.