Mini Clean Mate
Rust and sap eraser

A new formulation that’s tough on rust and sap but kinder to carbon steel. Your tools will look nicer and work better with regular use.

More Information

The harsh reality of gardening means that your prized, pristine secateurs won’t stay pristine for long once you start using them. Sap and other muck can build up surprisingly quickly and, if you don’t take action, begin to affect performance.

Since most of our tools are carbon steel not stainless steel rust can also begin to build up, especially if you leave them lying about in the garden.

The Niwaki Clean Mate is the answer to both these problems. Effectively a rubber (no sniggering - that’s an eraser to our North American friends), the Clean Mate is an essential part of your maintenance kit to help you keep your tools in tip top condition, year in year out.

Simply add a little water and rub away the rust and sap before you sharpen. Keep a rag handy to wipe off the resulting muck, then protect your newly cleaned blades with a little Camellia Oil.

It’s not just for garden tools – you can clean up any rusty, mucky carbon steel with this clever little object.

Tips

You can use Camellia Oil instead of water if you prefer

Options

Mini Clean Mate	$10.00
	exVAT

Delivering to US (Paying in USD) Edit

Mini Clean Mate

1.2oz
2.6 x 0.7 x 0.7"
Composite blend
Made in Japan
In Stock - Available to dispatch worldwide, contact us for showroom stock availability

Global Delivery

Free delivery for orders over £/$/€100*
Price depends on location - adjust the COUNTRY tab in your basket to see the price.
We use DHL, FedEx, or UPS, and we’ll email you the tracking info.

*Customs fees may apply and are estimated during checkout. Surcharges may apply to some larger or heavier items to some areas.
* Please note Niwaki are not responsible for any import duty, taxes or fees incurred and these will be will be collected by our courier during customs clearance — For EU countries, when possible DHL will provide an estimate on the order confirmation page.

Caring For Your Tools

Most of our sharp tools are made from carbon steel - this means they may, through regular use, stain (and eventually rust) and gradually lose their edge. Caring for them involves three things…

1. Correct Use:

Japanese steel is hard and sharp, and can be more brittle than some people are used to - it will chip if abused
Do not cut wire, metal, stone, plastic or any other hard material (even bamboo fibres and some very hard woods, especially knots and burrs, can damage steel edges)
Do not twist or apply uneven pressure
Cut diagonally across branches (not straight across) so you cut along the fibres
Pay attention to our maximum cut dimensions, and don’t overdo it (shears are not loppers)
Use the base of the blades, not the tips, for heavier cuts

2. Keeping Them Clean:

Remove leaf resin, rust and gunk with a Clean Mate and water
Dry, wipe over with Camellia oil and store in a dry place

3. Keeping Them Sharp:

New tools won’t need sharpening for some time, but after a while you’ll notice them gradually lose their edge, especially if you’re box clipping (you need REALLY sharp blades to get a good finish with box). Use the Niwaki Sharpening Stones for best results (#1000 grit is best for general sharpening).