Country equipment will serve you for many years if you arrange for it to be stored properly in the off-season. We will share secrets that will help protect your tools from rust and not update your kit every year.
Storage
Do not store tools outdoors or in a barn. With the onset of cold weather, take them to the house. Someone prefers to wrap shovels and rakes in a film, but this is an unsuccessful method of storage, which leads to the fact that the tools sweat and rust. If you still want to wrap them with something, then take a cotton cloth. The storage room must be dry. The air temperature should not fall below 12 degrees. Prepare a separate cabinet inside the house where you can make inventory.
Mineral oils
Experienced gardeners prefer to lubricate metal parts with special oils. Solidol and nigrol are suitable for these purposes. Iron really does not rust. However, with the onset of the next season, substances can land. And no one wants to pollute their area with oil products, this can harm crops.
Animal oils
Animal fats are great as lubricants for your shovels and rakes. Take a regular piece of fat to protect the iron tips. The main advantage of this method is that animal oils easily decompose in the soil, which means they will not harm the future crop.
Remove tools from the shaft
Before a cold winter, tools are advised to remove from the shaft. The place where the tree connects to the iron nozzle deteriorates very quickly. To keep the handle in good condition, store them separately. In addition, with this method of storage, tools are much more convenient to place in the house.
Blue vitriol
Even if you have followed all the recommendations, sometimes rust gets to iron tools. Another way to avoid corrosion is to process metal parts with copper sulphate. Dip them in a solution of the substance and wait a bit. Since iron is a more active reducing agent than copper, the atoms of this substance will replace a thin layer of iron atoms on the surface of objects. The inventory will have the so-called copper film up to 0.3 mm thick. You can leave this solution until spring. It will also help you take care of the trees - disinfect wounds and large hollows.
To make your rake, choppers and shovels feel comfortable in winter, provide them with the necessary care. Place objects in a dry place, treat with special substances and remove iron elements from the shaft. These rules will help you keep your favorite tools intact!
