Now Is the Time to Give Your Pruners Some Winter TLC – This Simple Method Gets Them Sharp, Clean, and Ready for Spring

Of all the tools in my shed, my hand pruners work the hardest. After a long season of pruning, deadheading, and shaping, culminating in an epic fall cleanup operation, they are ready for some well-earned TLC. At this stage, they are gummy with sap and blackened with grime; the blades are dull and stick together, and have lost that smooth spring-back. All this buildup affects their performance and makes pruning harder than it has to be.

I’ll admit I’m not the most diligent when it comes to tool maintenance, but I do relish the winter ritual of cleaning and sharpening my pruners. I’ve tried every method – from specialty stones to the wine cork hack – and over the years, I have settled on a consistent routine that needs just a few basic supplies.

In case you're wondering, my go-to pruners are the Felco 2 pruning shears, available on Amazon, though several of my colleagues swear by these budget-friendly Fiskars bypass pruners. If you put in a bit of effort to keep them sharp, they’ll serve you well for many years to come. Here’s how to give pruners a winter spruce-up – and this method also works wonders on garden knives, loppers, and snips.

Step 1: Clean Your Pruners

Start by cleaning your pruners to get rid of any grime and rust. I use two methods for this – outlined below – depending on the level of dirt.

Note that it is not necessary to disassemble pruners for a light clean, but for a deep clean or restoration, it can be beneficial. For higher quality brands, disassembly is usually easy and intended, whereas cheaper pruners might not reassemble smoothly. If you want to take that extra step, read the manufacturer’s instructions before proceeding. The advice below assumes assembled pruners but applies either way:

1. Open the pruners fully so that as much of the blade and pivot area is as exposed as possible.
2. Brush off any loose dirt with a wire brush or toothbrush and apply a light penetrating oil, such as WD-40, available on Amazon, on both sides of the blades and the pivot area. Let it sit for a few minutes.
3. For light grime, a nylon pot scourer works well. For heavier buildup, switch to fine steel wool, like this (wear gloves when using steel wool).
4. Open and close the pruners repeatedly while you work the steel wool around the pivot – this helps loosen hidden rust and compacted debris.
5. Wipe away the dirty oil with a rag.

If your pruners are really neglected or heavily stained, Bar Keepers Friend (I like the powder cleanser for this job) can give them a deeper, restoration-level clean. It’s mildly abrasive and contains oxalic acid, which helps lift rust and discoloration without being too harsh. Here’s how to use it on pruners:

1. Slightly dampen the blades with water. Sprinkle a small amount of powder onto the metal (or onto a damp cloth or sponge).
2. Rub gently over the blades and metal parts, focusing on rusted or stained areas.
3. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry completely before moving on to sharpening and oiling.

Pro Tip: My favorite discovery this year has been using a wine cork to clean pruners. It makes a surprisingly brilliant firm “sponge” or applicator for cleaning and oiling blades. Cork is firm but slightly cushioned and rounded, so it conforms to the curve of the blade. It has enough grip to hold onto oil and cleanser and provides light abrasion. It’s also great for using during the sharpening stage (more below)

Step 2: Sharpen the Blades

For quick on-the-go sharpening, a multi-functional tungsten carbide sharpening tool, like the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp 6-in-1 Sharpener on Amazon, is great for keeping pruners and other tools in tip-top condition – just drag the blades along the groove. However, for a more involved sharpening session, I recommend the DMT DiaSharp Diamond Mini-Hone Sharpening Kit, which contains coarse, fine, and extra-fine grit sharpeners.

Start with the coarsest grit if the blade is very dull, matching the existing edge angle. Sharpen in smooth, single-direction strokes, never sawing back and forth. Progress to finer grits for a polished edge.

To remove any burs and give your pruners a final polish, rub a wine cork back and forth along both the flat and edge of the blade. Wipe with a dry cloth to remove any remaining dust or grit.

Step 3: Finish with Protective Oil

After cleaning and polishing, it’s important to finish with a light coat of protective oil on the blades and pivot to prevent rust. 3-IN-ONE Multi-Purpose Oil on Amazon works well, or camellia oil, a traditional Japanese blade oil.

Give the pruners a good coverage and apply some oil into the pivot point. pen and close the pruners several times to work it in, then wipe away excess. Store your tools somewhere dry, and they’ll be ready to glide through early-spring pruning.