

STEP 3: Thoroughly rinse and dry the metal.įully rinse the metal surface under the kitchen faucet or with a damp cloth. Continue until the rust diminishes or disappears. Using moderate pressure, press the cut end of the potato against the metal and rub it into any visible rust spots.

STEP 2: Rub the cut end of the potato onto the rusted surface. Follow up with a light dusting of salt or baking soda to cover the soapy surface. Apply and rub in a small amount of liquid dish soap to the cut end. Slice a potato in half-lengthwise for larger rusted surfaces, horizontally for smaller rust spots.

Microfiber cloths STEP 1: Cut a potato in half, and coat the cut end with soap and salt. You can even stab the rusty metal blade of a kitchen knife into a potato and let the oxalic acid work its magic for a few hours before skipping ahead to Step 3 below.
#RUST REMOVER FOR STEEL HOW TO#
This method is especially helpful if you’re looking for how to get rust off cast iron pans. If you have some spare spuds in the pantry, you’re in luck: Raw potato contains oxalic acid, making it a natural rust remover. Once you’re satisfied with the results, fully dry the clean metal surface with a dry microfiber cloth. If the treated rust spots remain but have lessened in size or color, repeat these steps until all of the rust disappears. Use a clean cloth to wipe off the lemon juice and salt from the metal, and thoroughly rinse the surface under the faucet or with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue. STEP 3: Wipe, rinse, and dry the surface completely. When removing rust from especially rusty tools or hardware, you may need to lightly scrub the mixture into the metal surface before allowing it to soak. Let the lemon juice and salt soak on rusted metal for up to two hours. STEP 2: Allow the lemon juice and salt to sit on the metal surface. Then, squeeze a cut lemon or use a cloth to wipe some lemon juice directly onto those problem areas. Lightly sprinkle salt onto the reddish-brown spots. Microfiber cloths STEP 1: Coat the rusted area(s) with salt and lemon juice.įor pans, hand tools, and other small metal items, lay the piece being cleaned in the sink or on a suitable work surface with any rust spots facing up. Combined with the abrasiveness of everyday table salt, these citrus fruits are as effective in cleaning and rust removal as they are delicious in zesty dishes and refreshing beverages. How to Remove Rust With LemonsĪnother popular natural cleaner, lemons can also eliminate light-to-moderate cases of metal rust. Finally, fully dry the cleaned metal with dry microfiber cloths.

With a clean cloth, thoroughly wipe down each metal surface. STEP 4: Wipe down, rinse, and dry the metal. Allow the metal to sit in the mixture for about 10 minutes before once again transferring each piece to the sink and dumping out the water. Pour ½ gallon of water and ½ cup of baking soda into the container and mix until the baking soda dissolves. STEP 3: Briefly soak the pieces in a baking soda and water mixture. Thoroughly rinse each piece before returning them all to the bucket or tub. Put on disposable or dishwashing gloves, transfer the metal items to the sink, and dispose of the vinegar mixture down the drain with the faucet running. STEP 2: Remove and rinse metal after soaking. Add the rusty metal pieces to the vinegar solution, and allow them to soak for up to 12 hours. Disassemble any rusted items that have removable nonmetal parts, such as wood or plastic handles. Mix the two together until the salt fully dissolves. In a large bucket or tub, pour ½ cup of salt into ½ gallon of distilled white vinegar. Microfiber cloths STEP 1: Prepare rusted metal objects before soaking them in a salt and vinegar mixture. This rust removal method is easy but takes time, and it’s ideal for cleaning several rusted metal items, such as a kitchen utensil set, at once. White vinegar and baking soda are a well-known duo for their efficacy and flexibility as household cleaners, and they can even be used for removing rust from metal when combined with salt.
