If pruning shears are properly cared for, they will last longer, will not rust and remain sharp. There are several measures to care for a secateurs that you should carry out either after each use or once or several times a year. You can find out what these are and when which measures make sense below.
If you take good care of your secateurs, you will enjoy them for longer
The care measures for a secateurs
The care for a secateurs can be divided into two parts: regular care after each use and intensive care, which you should carry out at least once a year or after heavy use.
The daily maintenance of secateurs
After each use, you should pay a little attention to your pruning shears:
- Remove plant debris, soil and other coarse dirt with a metal or household brush
- Dry the secateurs with a household towel or in the sun. Do not store your pruning shears wet, otherwise they may rust. You can find out how to remove rust here.
Intensive care for the secateurs
Before you store your pruning shears for the winter after the last pruning in autumn, you should give them a thorough care. To do this, proceed as follows:
1. Unscrew
Unscrew your pruning shears, remove the spring and separate the two parts of the shears.
2. Clean roughly
Thoroughly clean both parts with a household brush or a metal brush. Also clean the spring.
3. Disinfection
Shrubs and hedges can have viruses, fungi or germs that stick to the secateurs. To remove these, place your pruning shears in a container with high-proof alcohol or spirit or in boiling water for ten minutes. Here you can find out more about the regular disinfection of your pruning shears.
4. Clean and sharpen
Now it's time for the fine cleaning. For this you need a coarse grinding stone, which you wet with water. Run it in a circle over the cut surfaces of the pruning shears. Then repeat the process with a fine whetstone. Make sure that you feel the angle of the cutting edge when sharpening. Find out more about sharpening your pruning shears here.
5. Drying and storage
Now dry your secateurs with a cloth or on the heater. Store your pruning shears in a dry, clean place, e.g. in a drawer or hanging on the wall.