How to Disinfect Gardening Tools

With dust, dirt and debris a constant in desert air, it is important to clean your gardening tools thoroughly. Disinfecting these same tools, prevents spread of plant disease and infection.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bleach
• Water
• 3 Gallon Bucket
• Clean Dry Cloths

1. Mix your disinfectant. Place one part bleach and nine parts water into your three gallon bucket. Mix the solution completely before disinfecting your gardening tools.

2. Remove surface dirt. With a clean cloth, rub the gardening tools lightly to remove any surface dirt. This will not only make disinfecting more efficient, but stop the dirt from gathering in your disinfecting solution.

3. Dip and dry. After removing the surface dirt, dip the gardening tools into the disinfecting solution and swish or agitate for ten to fifteen seconds. Remove the gardening tools from the solution and dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Drying your gardening tools after disinfecting will prevent rust.
• Gardening tools are sharp. Make sure to use extreme caution when cleaning any sharp tool.

[plumberi]

on 8/10/2009 I better get with the program. Thanks

[Willi]

on 12/3/2007 I agree that disinfecting tools is a great way to prevent spreading disease. I always clean my pruner blades between cuts if I'm pruning out disease wood. I just pour a little rubbing alcohol onto a cloth and wipe the blade as I work.