From tools to household items to bicycles, rust can be difficult to remove using home remedies. Luckily, there are some effective cleaning methods you can use to restore the shine to rusted items, surfaces, and household appliances. Try out some common ingredients and see for yourself the cleaning power of the natural products you already have. Additionally, you can remove rust from metal using home remedies without harsh chemicals to quickly solve the problem. Here are some of the best examples of homemade rust removers that have proven to be great helpers in the home.
How to remove rust and keep your home rust-free with inexpensive home remedies
Rust can form on some metal surfaces when iron, oxygen and moisture collide. It's best to remove it as soon as you see a small stain, as it will continue to corrode the metal the longer it remains on the surface. While there are dozens of commercial rust removers, the acids found in pantry products like vinegar, lemon juice, and potatoes can break the bonds of small amounts of rust from some metals. Add the abrasiveEffect of baking sodaor salt, and you may never have to buy a commercial remover again. So what do ketchup, lemons, vinegar, potatoes and cream of tartar have in common? They are excellent and natural solutions for removing rust. However, before you get started, it's good to know how rust occurs and what it can cause.
For example, if water gets to the surface of a metal tool and remains there for days, an oxidation process can occur and cause the tool to rust. You may be wondering how or why a radiator rusts if a drop of water has never touched it. Water itself is not always to blame. In fact, humidity along with iron and oxygen is enough to cause rust. This could explain the reason why tools, old horseshoes, and even jewelry become rusty. Whether on a garden tool or the kitchen sink, that dreaded orange color tends to age favorite items when new. While you can't always prevent this chemical reaction, you can get rid of rust naturally using a handful of cleaning methods.
Remove rust easily with home remedies
While there are many products that will make your metal shiny and new again, home remedies often do a much better job without increasing the price or environmental impact. Rust weakens and destroys metals, ultimately rendering them unusable. But if you catch it in its early stages, it can be easily treated and removed using a variety of methods. Fortunately, many of the effective rust removal methods rely on common kitchen products found in most homes. As long as metal items are cared for and early signs of rust are removed, they can last for years.
Each type of metal reacts differently to cleaning. Before beginning any type of rust removal, consult the manufacturer's manual if you have one. If it is a valuable or antique item, you should speak to a specialist or test your homemade rust remover on an inconspicuous area first. Additionally, when cleaning rusty items, you should also protect countertops and wooden surfaces with a plastic cloth or tarp to prevent stains or damage. Also keep all rust removers away from children and pets. Although these ingredients are less aggressive than most commercial rust removers, they can still pose risks if not handled properly.
Use salt with lemon juice to prevent rust
The uses for lemon juice are endless and you can also use it to combat rust. This method is best for small tools or items that can be completely submerged in the liquid, such as rusted jewelry. Here is a common method using salt and lemon juice as a rust remover:
Ingredients:
- Salt
- ½ lemon or 1 lime
Preparation and rust removal:
- Sprinkle salt generously over the rusted object until it is covered in a thick layer.
- Squeeze the juice from the lemon over the salt to slightly soften the mixture.
- Let this mixture sit for 10 minutes.
- Use the lemon to scrub the salt mixture from the object and remove the rust.
- Rinse it out and let the item dry as usual.
How vinegar can remove rust as a home remedy
Similar to lemon, the acidic nature of vinegar works wonders in breaking down rust to leave your metal shiny. Again, the best way to use acetic acid is for smaller items that you are soaking. However, since it is much easier to pour vinegar than to squeeze lemons, it could also be suitable for slightly larger items, including rusty picture frames. Both vinegar and lemon can damage some paintwork due to their acidity. Always test first and avoid using on aluminum or delicate items.
Ingredients:
- White wine vinegar
Cleaning method:
- Before testing, soak the item in distilled white vinegar for at least 12 hours. The rust should have loosened, so if it remains hard at this point, you will need to leave it longer. Use a piece of crumpled aluminum foil to gently scrub away the rust.
- Cover the object with white vinegar. If it does not contain liquid, place the item to be cleaned in a large container or bucket and cover it with vinegar.
- Soak the object overnight.
- Drain the vinegar and wipe the object dry. If you have particularly stubborn rust spots, you can clean them with a cloth or brush dipped in vinegar.
- Finally, rinse and allow the item to dry completely so that the vinegar smell evaporates.
Rub rusty pieces with raw potatoes and salt, dishwashing liquid or baking powder
It turns out that peeled raw potatoes contain oxalic acid, making them a natural homemade rust remover. Simply cut the potato in half, cover the smooth surface with either salt or baking soda, and rub it against your rusty items. This works especially well for kitchen utensils.
If you're particularly looking for a way to remove rust on knives, you can also simply stick the tarnished utensil into a potato and let it sit for several hours. All that would be left to do is rinse the metal under water and it should be as good as new. Here is another cleaning method with potatoes and dishwashing liquid or with baking soda:
Ingredients:
- Dishwashing liquid or baking soda
- Two halves of a potato
Cleaning method:
- First, dip the potato in dish soap or make a combination with baking soda
- Scrub the desired item or surface with the vegetable until the rust is rubbed off.
- Rinse with water and allow the area or object to dry.
This is how effective baking soda can be as a home remedy to remove rust
Turns out baking soda is also great for removing rust. Simply make a paste with it by slowly adding water to baking soda. Spread it over the rusted area, making sure the layer is thick enough to adhere to the rusted surface. Let the stuff sit for a while and then scrub it off with steel wool or an abrasive cleaner such as a scrub brush or sponge. You may need to repeat this process a few times. Here is the method in simple steps:
Ingredients:
- baking powder
- Water
Cleaning:
- Sprinkle baking soda generously over the rusted object or surface until it is covered in a thick layer.
- Pour just enough water over the baking soda to make a thin paste.
- Using a scouring pad or wire brush, scrub the mixture on the item until all rust is wiped away.
- Finally, rinse and let dry.
Treat rust stains with washing soda and ketchup
Break up a rust stain with washing soda and ketchup, then wipe it away. For this homemade rust remover trick, you'll need to reach into the fridge and grab a favorite tomato sauce or ketchup. Mixed with washing soda, this can work wonders and restore your metal items to their former shine. To make the concoction, add water and washing soda to a spray bottle and shake the bottle vigorously. Then soak the orange rust spots with the mixture and finally add some ketchup or tomato paste to get rid of the rust. Allow the items to sit for two hours before rinsing with water and wiping dry.
Make rust remover from cola
If you're a Coca-Cola fan, you probably have some in your fridge right now. The drink may not be particularly healthy for the body, and when you see what it does to rust, you'll understand why. Cola and other soft drinks are high in phosphoric acid, which is a common ingredient in store-bought rust removal products. These can be used for rusted nuts and bolts or even corroded battery terminals.
However, it can be quite a challenge to clean the items with it as the stuff is sticky. So you might want to try another method first. Try the cleaning method by submerging the rusty item in cola for 24 hours. Then scrub it and rinse it clean. If you have rust onRemove bike home remediesIf you're looking for metal hardware and this isn't possible, you can try pouring Coca-Cola over it and then letting it sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing.
How suitable home remedies can remove rust
Rust needs three things to form: iron, oxygen and water, so it's more likely to be rust stains on clothing or carpets. Additionally, removing them can be difficult, especially if you don't know how to do it. However, you should not attack such stains with WD-40 or Coca-Cola as this can damage the textiles. The best way to remove rust stains from clothing or carpets is to use home remedies such as lemon or vinegar. Place the garment on a clean countertop or sink and pour white vinegar or lemon juice over the rust stain. Make sure the area is completely saturated, then blot it with a clean paper towel. Place it outside in the sun or daylight until the stain fades, then wash as usual.
You can also grateRemove bathtub home remediesuse those that are suitable for this purpose. Rust is rarely found on tiles, bathtubs and countertops, but it can occur. This is often because rusty items such as pans and razors are left on them. Acrylic, enamel ceramic and porcelain are all much more delicate than metal and must be treated as such. Similar to fabrics, the best methods to combat rusty tiles and bathtubs are home remedies – lemon and salt. If you use home remedies such as lemon juice to remove rust from tiles, you should squeeze it over the rust stains and then sprinkle salt over it. Leave the stuff on for 3-4 hours and then wipe it off gently with a microfiber cloth. Don't forget to rinse the tiles or tub afterwards as this can dry out your skin.
