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Disinfecting Secateurs

celcius_kkwcelcius_kkw Posts: 751
in Plants
Just wondering what do people generally use to clean and disinfect their secateurs after pruning of diseased plants, say roses with blackspots or fungal infections? 

Ive read about use of bleach (but I’m terrified of the idea of using bleach) plus I wonder if the secateurs have to be rinsed after being dipped in the bleach solution? Doesn’t it take forever to fully rinse out the bleach solution from the instrument? I mean whenever I have a bit of bleach on my hand it takes FOREVER to get rid of that slippery feel. I don’t want to spend all day rinsing my secateurs when I’ve got more pruning to do. 

The second option I came across is methylated spirit which sounds more pleasing to me, firstly they’re ready made unlike use of bleach which requires making up the solution. Secondly it should rinse very easily. 

So so what would you guys recommend? 
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,071
    We had a recent discussion about cleaning/sharpening secateurs, and many of us just wipe them with nothing special - water [damp cloth]  soapy water etc. 
    I've never cleaned mine with anything like bleach. I don't really have any fungal infected plants, and I don't grow roses, but I expect a wipe with surgical spirit would do the job.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,269
    Probably the safest is a wipe with isopropyl alcohol (Surgical Spirit).
    It'll kill any nasties and evaporates within seconds.
    An alternative is vodka or gin
    They'll all work
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 9,354
    Are you using the thick bleach designed for toilets and bathrooms? I think that stuff leaves residue on purpose to help it clean better. You'd need a more liquid general purpose bleach for secateurs I think. I use surgical spirit when I clean and sharpen mine though, which admitedly isn't that often.
    Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,071
    I think we're all saying the same thing, @celcius_kkw, although I reckon @Pete.8 is really just drinking the gin/vodka to take his mind off cleaning the secateurs.... ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,107
    My tutor at college advocated always carrying vodka for this purpose, though was very specific about it being cheap and nothing you'd want to drink ;)
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,071
    LG_ said:
    My tutor at college advocated always carrying vodka for this purpose, though was very specific about it being cheap and nothing you'd want to drink ;)
    That's just what he's telling you .... :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,269
    Fairygirl said:
    I think we're all saying the same thing, @celcius_kkw, although I reckon @Pete.8 is really just drinking the gin/vodka to take his mind off cleaning the secateurs.... ;)
    Well, once you've got the bottle out....
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,071
    Pete.8 said:
    Fairygirl said:
    I think we're all saying the same thing, @celcius_kkw, although I reckon @Pete.8 is really just drinking the gin/vodka to take his mind off cleaning the secateurs.... ;)
    Well, once you've got the bottle out....
     :D 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,232
    I give my secateurs a swish around in a mild bleach solution and quick rinse and pat down with a towel. At least I do when I remember to clean them. The only issue I can see with bleach is it causes rust (the metal kind, not the plant kind) if you leave implements for too long in a bleach solution.
  • celcius_kkwcelcius_kkw Posts: 751
    Haha thanks guys. I got it. So it’s surgical spirit or vodka. I think I know which one I’ll be going for 😉
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