Keep rust from dulling the edge of your shovel with basic preventive maintenance. By their very nature-digging-shovels come into contact with damp earth. They're often left in the bed of pickup trucks, or jammed into fresh earth while workers have lunch, or tend to other tasks. Many owners simply store their shovel against a shed wall, its tip resting on a concrete floor-exposed to the moisture in the concrete. It's safe to say working shovels are exposed to moisture and at high risk for rust, on a daily basis.
Preventive Maintenance
The best way to prevent rust on a shovel is to keep the shovel clean, dry and protected with lubricant-either oil or WD-40, every time you use it or store it. Before each use, spray the blade with WD-40. Not only will it help keep dirt from clinging to the blade, it will make cleaning the shovel easier and it will create a barrier and help prevent rust.
Cleaning For Rust Prevention
To prevent rust, clean your shovel after every use. Use a stiff wire brush to dislodge chunks of dirt, then rinse with water from a hose. Apply a thin coating of WD-40 or plunge the blade several times into a bucket filled with motor-oil soaked sand to coat the blade so it resists moisture. Always hang shovels above the ground when storing.
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