This Household Staple Makes Disinfecting Garden Tools A Breeze

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Whether you're a small-time gardener with a couple of tools for your flower beds or you have everything you need to make a vegetable garden flourish, it's important to keep your all your must-have gardening tools clean. Left dirty, they can spread bacteria across your flower beds and garden, particularly if you've been trimming diseased plants. If you just soak them with your the best Costco garden hose and soap every time, there's a risk your tools will rust. This is why it's essential to have a quick and easy way to keep these tools clean and disinfected. You can do that with a household staple you may already have under your kitchen sink or in your bathroom cupboard — Clorox disinfecting wipes, or similar disinfectant wipes.

With Clorox wipes, you've got disinfecting and cleaning all in one pre-wetted wipe. There's no need to add any other cleaners or water. You don't even have to rinse them off after cleaning. Though if your tools are extra dirty after a day's work, brush them off with a stiff-bristled brush or rinse them with either water or soapy water first then rinse completely. After that you can disinfect them with the wipes. If you're curious about why Clorox wipes are one of the best choices for keeping your gardening tools clean, we're about to dive deep into the subject.

Clorox disinfectant wipes use a bleach-free, ammonium-based disinfectant that is a household staple that kills a wide range of fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Using it on your gardening tools helps prevent the spread of viruses and other harmful pathogens that can kill or damage the health of your plants. Because it is bleach-free (even though Clorox has long been associated with its bleach laundry products), you also prevent the corrosion that can happen if you're using bleach to disinfect your gardening tools. Even diluted bleach solutions can stain clothing and cause tools to rust if used too frequently.

More importantly, for some folks, cleaning your garden tools with Clorox wipes can save time, allowing you to focus on other tasks on your to-do list. It's as easy as first brushing off any dirt from your tools. After all, you don't want to create a muddy mess from any caked-on dirt. Once you pull out a wipe, take your time cleaning your garden tool, getting into all cracks and crevices, as well as the handles. Once you've thoroughly wiped down each tool with your Clorox wipe, leave them out to air dry before putting them away. Dampness on gardening tools can quickly lead to rust, which, over time, can cause your tools to corrode (although reviving rusty tools is an unexpected use for vinegar in your garden).

If you're not keen on Clorox wipes for whatever reason, there are other options. Many gardeners like to spray down their tools with a 70% isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) solution, vinegar, or with Lysol disinfectant products. Whatever you use, the goal is to keep your tools clean and ready for the next round of plant maintenance.