I soaked the bypass pruner in distilled vinegar overnight, then rinsed it thoroughly with water. Afterwards, I soaked it in a baking soda solution for 10 minutes to neutralize the acidity of the vinegar. (4 cups water to 4 tablespoons baking soda). Apply oil after the tool is thoroughly dried. I used mineral oil since that’s what we had on hand. You can use a wide variety of oils, including linseed, camellia, or multi-purpose mineral oil. Vegetable oils can also be used, but they won’t provide l