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Hedge trimmers are a must have for any true landscaper who wants to keep their entire lawn cleanly cut. Trimmers work perfectly for bushes, trees and shrubs that surround your home. You can use ahedge trimmer  to give them a uniquely beautiful visual appeal that they don't naturally possess.

man working with an edge trimmer

Over time, your hedge trimmers are going to accumulate residue from the plants that they are cutting. This is true for manual, electrical and gas trimmers alike. When they cut through these plants they get sap, dirt and another plant residue on the blades.

This can cause the blades to seize up and not operate effectively. In the case of manual trimmers, the residue can keep the blades from cutting effectively by covering the sharp edges.

To ensure that you are keeping your hedge trimmers in peak performance, you want to care for them properly throughout their lifetime. Neglecting to clean your trimmers can cause efficiency to decrease and rust to form . It can even cause you to spread potentially harmful bacteria from one plant to the other.

Some plants harbor bacteria in or on them and just like a sickness that can transfer from human to human, the same can happen with your plants. Plant diseases can ruin your yard and make it appear unsightly. They can also end up killing off some of your landscape over time. Don't take the chance. Take action!

Taking the time to clean off your blades after each use or during a set interval of time as a routine will allow you to maintain peak performance for longer.

Below are some top cleaners and lubricants:

What do you Need?

  • Clean Soft Clothes
  • Wired Brush
  • Soap/Water Mixture
  • Household Bleach
  • Solvent
  • Safety Glasses

How To Clean Manually Operated Hedge Trimmers?

  • Rinse off the blade shears with your hose to remove any large debris that may have attached to them. Alternatively, you can soak the tool in water for a short time to remove some of the tougher surface soil.
  • Get your wired brush or putty knife and scrape off any residue that may not have come off.
  • DO NOT use steel wool or sandpaper, this can open the metal up to the atmosphere and cause rusting corrosion.
  • Put on a pair of gloves. Either outside or in a well ventilated indoor area, wipe the blades with solvent to remove the sticky sap.
  • Dry the blades with a soft cloth.
  • Sterilize your blade with either rubbing alcohol or a mixture of 1 part household bleach and 9 parts water. Leave this solution on the blades for about 30 seconds and than wipe them dry.

How To Clean Electrically/Gas Operated Hedge Trimmers

how to clean hedge trimmer blades

  • Unplug the electrical power source or remove the spark plug connector on the gas-powered motor.
  • Remove the loose dirt and soil with a wired brush.
  • Wipe the blades with a sponge dipped in soapy water.
  • Clean off the blades with solvent to remove the sticky sap.
  • Dry your blades completely with a clean soft cloth.
  • Spray the clean blades with a lubricant that is labeled to be useful for garden tools.

By applying each of these methods to either your manually or electric/gas operated hedge trimmers, you will give your trimmers a long-lasting durability and higher performance. Clean your tools routinely and care for them, and they will work well for you during their lifetime!