I was biking at the gym the other day since winter is still in full swing here in Minnesota, and I am training for a 100 mile bicycle ride this summer. During my final push I looked down at my feet and saw red rust running along the metal base of the bike—yuck! The reddy hues of red oxide rust are unmistakable, but at least it is removable. So I decided to do a little poking around for home remedies to quietly pass along to the gym owner. Here are the top 5 eco-friendly tips to remove rust, most of which came from you, our readers!
Rust comes in many different forms, but the most common in households is rust from iron oxides, where metal is exposed to water or air moisture and becomes oxygenated. A lot of commercial rust removers contain toxins, so here are some items you just may have laying around the house to get a jump start on your spring rust removal projects. One tip before diving in is to grab an old toothbrush for your applicator if one isn't included in the recipe. Although steel wool and abrasive brushes are thought to really "scrub" away the rust, they also can cause further abrasions on the piece causing more rust. So with the right proportions of the recipes below, all that harsh scrubbing shouldn't be necessary.
1. Salt + Lime: Sprinkle a little bit of salt on the rust, then squeeze the lime over the salt until it is soaking. Let the mixture sit for 2-3 hours and then remove the rust with the lime rind. This can also be done with a lemon. We like the salt and lime a little more because they double as margarita ingredients as well.
2. White Vinegar + Aluminum Foil: One smart reader dipped aluminum foil in white vinegar and scrubbed away the rust.
3. Baking Soda + Water: Put baking soda directly onto the rust, and then with a toothbrush apply water and scrub. This Re-Nest reader suggests going with the grain depending on what you are cleaning.
4. Vinegar Soak: This smart reader places smaller rusty items in an overnight vinegar soak, like rusty tools, and hasn't needed to scrub any of them!
5. Potato + Dish Soap: Emily Ho recommends cutting a potato in half, and then dipping the cut end in dish soap or baking soda. Then apply the soaked end to the rusted area and rub. To keep going, just cut the potato's top layer and re-apply the soap.
One final tip, make sure to dry the item thoroughly after removing the rust! We wouldn't want all of your hard work to be undermined. Also, prevention is key. So keeping things clean, paint jobs fresh, and applying quick coats of primer will help reduce rust in the future.
Any other tips? We heard rumors of a coca cola soak...
(Image: Atlanta Iron Works)
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Yes! To clean the rust off the chrome surface of my 1953 Chambers stove, I used a little cider vinegar on top of the rust, and rubbed away at it with a piece of aluminum foil. Use the shiny side to make contact. It actually creates a chemical reaction to remove the rust, and there's no scratching.
I have also tried baking soda, but it requires a lot more elbow grease than the aluminum and cider vinegar.
I have been told that ammonia works great, but I cannot see buying a huge jug of chemicals and keeping it under my sink to be used once every 5 years.
I love this product, HinderRUST, that I've been using around the house. It will help prevent rust from starting again once you've removed it. I applied it to a metal fence after repainting - no problems! (Hubby uses it on the undercarriage of his truck to prevent corrosion too!)
I have heard of one (1) part molasses to nine (9) parts water, soak over night and longer, then hose, brush with a wire brush and re-soak as necessary. I was told it works well with large motor car body parts. Have not tried it myself. Just thought I would add it for general discussion.