It’s completely natural for rust to occur when steel becomes exposed to oxygen and water for an extended period. But not to worry, you can clean rust off steel with ease using a few household items.
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When metals such as iron and steel are exposed to oxygen and moisture, you get rust. If ignored, corrosive orange spots will appear on your tools, pots, pans. Luckily, removing surface rust on steel is simple and can be done with a few items you already have in the cupboard.
Here are our top 5 methods to remove rust from steel
1. Salt and citrus
Cover the affected area in salt. Squeeze the juice of one lemon over the salt. Leave for a few minutes. Using the lemon rind, rub off the residue.
2. Potato and dish soap
Cut a potato in half, covering the fresh surface with dishwashing liquid. Rub the soapy potato on the item and watch the surface rust disappear before your eyes.
3. Vinegar
If possible, submerge the item in vinegar and soak overnight. Once they’ve had a good soak, using either steel wool or a wire brush scrub. This process does require some patience and repetition. Once all the rust has been removed, clean with regular dish soap and water and make sure it dries properly.
4. Baking Soda
For items with light or minimal rust, baking soda works a treat. Mix water and baking soda into a thick paste and spread the paste all over the metal, making sure to cover all the rusty spots. Let the paste sit for an hour, then scour using steel wool or a wire brush. Once finished, rinse under running water and dry thoroughly.
5. Citric acid
This baking item can be found in most supermarkets and does a great job at removing rust. Add two to three tablespoons of citric acid to a bowl of hot water and let your rusty steel objects submerge overnight. The next day, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see the rust dissolve with a light scrub.
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