If you are a gardener, one of the things you would surely require is learning how to disinfect your gardening tools. These are the tools that you use on your garden to get the things done, right? And since it is not cheap to replace or repair these garden tools and other equipment in your garden, it is important that you know how to disinfect them as well in order to prevent the spread of germs and illnesses. With just a simple thing such as touching a gardening tool with your bare hands can already give you the risk of having a harmful disease like a tapeworm. This is the reason why we should learn how to disinfect our gardening tools as well.
Firstly, sterilize the tools by filling them up with soapy water. If you cannot do so with the inorganic materials, you can also use the baking soda and add some drops of chlorine bleach in it. This is also good for removing the stains that may be left on the tools from the dirt that it was exposed to over time. Let it sit for about half an hour before you are going to rinse it off. It is best that you do this once a month if not more. This would help you maintain its quality as well as keep your garden safe from harmful microorganisms.
Secondly, when you find the need to disinfect your gardening tools, do it the natural way. Using a spray bottle filled with diluted hydrogen peroxide is the right solution. Just spray it on the tools thoroughly but do not saturate it, as this may cause some staining. It is best that you saturate it using water and then let it set overnight.
Thirdly, you can also use vinegar. This method may be a little messy for you so better bring along an old shirt or a wet cloth. Take a spray bottle with the vinegar and spray it all over the tools. Saturate it using water and leave it to set overnight. The following day, remove it from the tools and rinse them off completely to prevent the buildup of bacteria.
Fourthly, how to disinfect gardening tools using alcohols is very easy. You would only need to pour a little bit of the solution on the tools and wipe them with a dry cloth. This is best done immediately after use. However, it is advisable that you leave it for at least two hours before you store them in the dry place. You can also use the solution as a scrubbing material.
Fifthly, you may use mouthwash. It is important that you rinse your mouth out thoroughly after washing it. This is because the dirt may still be present in the mouth and it could trigger an illness. You can purchase these mouthwashes from your local pharmacy or even grocery stores.
Lastly, how to disinfect gardening tools using iodine is not difficult. Just dip the used utensil into the solution and then let it stand for half an hour. For further thorough cleaning, you may rinse the tool under running water. This solution is available from most stores. Iodine is also used to clean the soil of pools and seawater. It helps remove heavy metals like mercury that is found in the water.
Disinfecting tools is vital for preventing bacterial contamination of your garden and soil. You can do this by purchasing commercially available products on the market. However, if you want to save money and do not want to deal with visiting your local store, you can simply make your own solutions at home. The materials needed are readily available in your kitchen and can be made easily.