Spades, forks and rakes hung in a row on a shed wall

Clean, sharpen and oil your hand tools before they go in the shed

Growing guides
November 06, 2026

Caked-on soil, a rusty blade and a split handle are all waiting in the shed for you in April. A little work now saves that.

Scrub it, dry it, then oil it

Start by getting the dirt off. Illinois Extension says to use a wire brush, a paint scraper or a strong blast from a hose on shovels and trowels. Rust comes off with sandpaper.

Stubborn sap on pruners can come off with alcohol or mineral spirits, then fine steel wool. For pine pitch, UNH Extension suggests a rag with paint thinner, and says to follow the directions on the can.

Tools must be clean and dry before storing, says Illinois Extension.

Once dry, coat the metal with a light oil. Iowa State suggests an oily rag or WD-40, and Illinois adds lightweight motor oil. Illinois Extension says to wear eye and hand protection when applying protective coatings.

Old forks, rakes and a scythe hung on a gray wooden wall This is what skipping the oil looks like by spring.

Sharpen while you are at it

Winter is a good time to sharpen, and even shovels benefit from a few passes. Match the angle of the original bevel, and file down nicks.

  • A whetstone needs a lubricant such as 3-in-1 oil.
  • A diamond-coated flat file needs only water.
  • Standard blade sharpening is about 700 to 2000 grit; go coarser for a very dull shovel.

Skip the power grinder. Illinois Extension says the friction heat can make the metal brittle. If your shears are sharp but still cut badly, check for loose or bent parts and a gap between the blades.

After sharpening, coat the blade lightly with oil.

Handles, then hang them up

Sand rough wooden handles smooth, then finish with boiled linseed oil, or linseed or mineral oil per the Illinois blog.

Store tools in a dry shed, barn or garage and off the ground, not outside in the dew. Hang long-handled ones on racks, and draw each hand tool's outline on a pegboard so you can see what is missing.

Bottom line

  • Scrub off soil and sap, dry the tool, then oil the metal, per Illinois Extension.
  • Sharpen at the blade's original angle, and skip power grinders, per Illinois Extension.
  • Sand and oil wooden handles, then store everything dry and off the ground.

Your zone

  • Zone 3-4: In New Hampshire, UNH Extension says to check the snow shovel's blade and handle, and wax or spray the blade so wet snow slides off.
  • Zone 5-6: In Illinois, Illinois Extension says to clean tools before packing them away for winter, and that winter is a great time to sharpen them.
  • Zone 7-8: In South Carolina, Clemson HGIC says to clean tools, sharpen mower blades, shovels, pruners and saws, and wipe pruner blades with an oil-soaked cloth.
  • Zone 9-10: In San Diego County, UC Master Gardeners say to wipe tools with a damp rag after every use and never store them wet, since they rust quickly.
  • Zone 11+: Same rule, per Illinois Extension: scrub off soil and sap, dry the tool, then oil the metal.

Sources

helpzone 3-4zone 5-6zone 7-8zone 9-10zone 11+
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Garden Hero

We have killed more plants than you have grown. Rooted is what we learned, sourced to the extension office and written by your zone.

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