So, I wanted to share something I’ve been messing around with lately. It’s not a big deal, really, just a small thing that brought me a bit of satisfaction. It’s about this old enamel watering can I stumbled upon.
You know how it is when you’re clearing out old stuff? I was helping sort through some things in the garage a few weeks back. It wasn’t my garage, actually, it was my aunt’s, stuff that had been sitting there for ages. And tucked away in a dusty corner, under a pile of old newspapers, was this watering can. An enamel one. Looked pretty beat up, I gotta say.
First impressions weren’t great. It was a dull, faded green, with a few rusty patches showing through, especially around the handle and the spout. My first thought was, “Well, this is going straight to the tip.” Most folks would have, I reckon. It looked like it had seen better days, probably decades ago.
But then, I picked it up. It had a good weight to it, you know? Not like the cheap plastic ones you get now that feel like they’ll crack if you look at them too hard. This felt solid. And it kinda reminded me of the ones my grandmother used to have in her garden when I was a kid. So, instead of tossing it, I thought, “Heck, let me see if I can clean this thing up.”
Getting Down to Business
So, I took it home. The cleaning part was pretty straightforward, nothing fancy.
- First, I just gave it a good wash with hot soapy water. Got rid of layers of grime and cobwebs. That alone made a difference.
- Then, for the rusty bits, I tried a bit of white vinegar. Poured some on a cloth and let it sit on the rust spots for a while. Then a bit of gentle scrubbing with an old toothbrush and a scouring pad – but I was careful not to go too hard and chip off more enamel.
- There were a few stubborn spots, of course. It’s not perfect now, still got its battle scars, but that’s part of its charm, I think. Shows it’s lived a life.
I didn’t want to make it look brand new. Just wanted to make it clean and usable. And I think I managed that. The inside was surprisingly okay, just needed a good rinse out.
Back in Action
And now? Well, I’ve been using it for my indoor plants. It’s actually a really good watering can. The spout is long and narrow, so I can get right to the base of the plants without soaking the leaves. And it holds a decent amount of water.
It’s funny, the little things, eh? I get a bit of a kick out of using it. It’s more than just a watering can now. It’s like a little piece of history I saved from the scrap heap. It feels sturdy, dependable. My plastic watering can is now gathering dust in the shed.
Every time I fill it up, I think about how many times it must have been filled and emptied before. It’s made me appreciate things that are built to last. We don’t get much of that these days, do we? Everything’s so disposable. This old fella, though, it’s still going strong after all these years. Just needed a little bit of TLC.
So yeah, that’s my enamel watering can story. Not exactly saving the world, but it was a nice little project. And now I’ve got a cool, vintage watering can that actually works great. Sometimes, it’s the simple, practical things that bring a bit of joy.
