You don’t have to be a handyman to be surrounded by iron wares and tools. Most households have some items made of iron in their kitchen, garden or garage. With time, these items get rusty, while you remain a helpless witness to this reddish-brown affliction.

Rusting is a natural process by which iron forms its oxide following exposure to oxygen. Moisture accelerates this process, making it a hazard. If not cared for properly, your car, furniture or tools might become visibly rusty before long.

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Rust diminishes the life of the metal significantly. Also, rusty items are not safe to use.

Replacing rusty items with new ones is often not necessary. Rust rarely becomes a severe issue, if tackled timely. Preventive measures also reduce the risk of rusting.

The market is full of chemical rust removers that are generally phosphoric acid-based. Such commercial rust-removing agents need to be handled with utmost caution. You need to arm yourself with gloves, mask and full clothing to protect your skin, as well as take proper heed of the instructions that come with the products. And the fumes these chemicals emit!

To ease your distress, here are some safe, mild and easy ways to get rid of that stubborn rust. Many ingredients are natural and all are readily available. All you need is some time and a little elbow grease. Treating rust at home will be cheap as well.When you’ve rid your tools and wares of rust, you can take preventive measures to keep it from coming back.

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Here are five different methods to remove rust from iron tools:

Contents

Method 1: Remove Rust Using Citric Acid

This is a sufficiently effective method that can be used to remove rust on a variety of items. Citric acid should be available to buy at the nearest supermarket.

Things you’ll need:

Method 1 things need

  • Rusted iron
  • Mason jar
  • Hot water
  • Pure citric acid – 2 tablespoons
  • Measuring spoon
  • Protective gloves
  • Plain water in a bowl
  • Old toothbrush
  • Clean cotton cloth

Step 1. Pour hot water into a Mason jar

Pour hot water into Mason jar

Pour hot water into a Mason jar. Make sure that the jar is big enough to soak your tools.

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Step 2. Add citric acid

Add citric acid

Measure 2 tablespoons of pure citric acid into the jar.

Step 3. Stir to dissolve

Stir to dissolve

Stir with a spoon so as to dissolve the citric acid completely in the hot water.

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Step 4. Submerge the rusty iron tools

Submerge rusty iron tools

Submerge the rusty tools

One by one, put all the rusty tools into the Mason jar, making sure that they are completely immersed in the solution.

Step 5. Screw the lid tightly and let it sit

Screw the lid tightly

Let it sit

You can observe the bubbles that form on the surface of the tools already. Screw on the lid of the Mason jar tightly and let it sit for about 2 hours. This will allow the citric acid to dissolve the rust.

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Step 6. Take the tools out

Unscrew the lid

Take the tools out

Take tools out

Unscrew the lid of the Mason jar after 2 hours. Take out the tools and put them in a bowl filled with plain water.

Pour out the solution from the Mason jar. You might observe some rust settled at the bottom of the jar. The citric acid helps loosen up the rust from the tools, which then settles at the bottom of the jar.

Step 7. Remove remaining rust with an old toothbrush

Remove remaining rust

Use an old toothbrush

Remove rust with toothbrush

The surface of the tools that still appear rusty can be easily cleaned with an old toothbrush. Scour gently to clean all the traces of rust from the tools.

Step 8. Dry with a clean cotton cloth

Dry with a clean cotton cloth

Dry with cloth

Dried tools

Once you’ve completely rid your tools of rust, dry them with a clean, dry cotton cloth. Be sure not to leave any trace of moisture behind. It won’t take long for the rust to rear its ugly head again.

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Method 2: Remove Rust Using Lemon Juice and Salt

This method is best used on less severe rust. Another great thing about it is that it uses a cheap ingredient commonly found in most kitchens. The only downside is the time it takes. Also, you’ll need to use some serious elbow grease.

Things you’ll need:

Method 2 things need

  • Rusted iron
  • Mason jar
  • Lemon juice– enough to fill the jar
  • Salt – 2 tablespoons
  • Measuring spoon
  • Plain water in a bowl
  • Protective gloves
  • Steel wool
  • Clean cotton cloth

Step 1. Fill a Mason jar with lemon juice

Fill Mason jar with lemon juice

Fill up a Mason jar with lemon juice. The jar should be big enough to completely submerge the tools in the solution.

Step 2. Add salt

Add salt

Add 2 tablespoons of salt to the lemon juice.

Step 3. Stir to dissolve completely

Stir to dissolve completely

Stir the liquid with a spoon so as to completely dissolve the salt in it.

Step 4. Put the rusty tools in the jar

Put rusty tools in jar

Put rusty tools in the jar

Place the rusty tools in the jar with the solution.

Step 5. Screw the lid tightly and let it sit

Screw the lid tightly

Let it sit

Tightly screw on the lid of the Mason jar. Allow the tools to sit in the solution for 2 to 3 hours.

Step 6. Unscrew the lid and pour the liquid out

Unscrew the lid

Pour the liquid out

After sufficient time, unscrew the lid of the Mason jar and pour out the solution.

Step 7. Transfer the tools to a water-filled bowl

Take out the tools

Put tools in a water filled bowl

Transfer the tools from the jar into a bowl filled with water. You may observe that the obstinate rust has surrendered to the effective lemon juice-salt solution. Most of the surface appears rust-free.

Step 8. Remove remaining rust with steel wool

Remove remaining rust steel wool

Use a steel wool

Remove rust with steel wool

The remaining traces of rust can be easily removed using a little abrasion. Use a steel wool scrubber to scour the remaining rust off your tools.

Step 9. Dry thoroughly with a cotton cloth

Dry thoroughly with cloth

Dry with a cotton cloth

Immediately dry the tools with a cotton cloth after you’re done removing all the rust. Be sure not to leave any trace of moisture as it might lay waste to all the hard work you’ve done.

Method 3: Remove Rust Using White Vinegar

The best feature of this method is that you can soak your rusty iron items in vinegar without compromising the integrity of other materials. For example, if your screwdriver has a wooden or plastic handle, you won’t have to worry about vinegar corroding the surface of the handle.

The only downside of this method is that it’s time consuming.

Things you’ll need:

Method 3 things need

  • Rusted iron
  • Glass
  • White vinegar
  • Protective gloves
  • Steel wool
  • Clean cotton cloth

Step 1. Place your tools in a glass

Place your tools in glass

Place the rusty tools in a glass. You can use any container according to the size and quantity of the tools so long as it is made of glass.

Step 2. Pour in white vinegar

Pour in white vinegar

Pour enough white vinegar into the glass to completely submerge the tools.

Step 3. Let the tools sit in vinegar

Let the tools sit in vinegar

To allow the vinegar to work on the rust properly, you need to let it sit for 24 hours at the very least. You’ll notice that the vinegar becomes a bit rust-colored with time.

Step 4. Take the tools out of the vinegar

 Take the tools out of vinegar

Take the tools out of vinegar

Remove the tools from the glass of vinegar the next day. You’ll see the rust has settled at the bottom of the glass.

Your tools should be free from rust now.

Step 5. Scrub with steel wool

Scrub with steel wool

Scrub using steel wool

If any rust remains on the surface of the tools, remove it by employing mild abrasion. A steel wool scrubber works great for this purpose.

Step 6. Dry with a clean cotton cloth

Dry with clean cotton cloth

Dried with cotton cloth

When your tools are completely free of rust, you should immediately start drying them with a cotton cloth until they’re entirely free of moisture.

Method 4: Remove Rust Using Coca-Cola

This one is probably the most fun method to rid your tools of rust. Citric acid is one of the ingredients of this bubbly drink that attacks rust. You can efficiently use this method if your metal is not severely rusted.

Things you’ll need:

Method 4 things need

  • Rusted iron
  • Large bowl
  • Coca-Cola
  • Aluminum foil
  • Clean cotton cloth

Step 1. Pour Coca-Cola over the rusty tools in a large bowl

Pour Coca Cola on rusty tools in bowl

Place your tools in a large bowl. Pour a stream of Coca-Cola over the metal.

Step 2. Scour the rust with aluminum foil

Scour the rust

Use aluminum foil

Crumple or wad up a small piece of aluminum foil. Be sure to keep the shiny side of the foil exposed. Scour the tool with the crumpled foil, using it like a scrubber. You’ll notice the rust coming off the metal.

Step 3. Pour Coca-Cola again

Pour Coca Cola again .

Pour Coca Cola on tools

Pour Coca-Cola over the metal again. The shiny surface of your tool will reveal itself. If some rust remains, repeat the process until your tools shine.

Step 4. Dry the tools

Dry the tools

Tools dried

Shake the tools to remove any dripping cola and dry them with a cotton cloth.

Method 5: Remove Rust Using Baking Soda

This method is best used on less severe rust. Another great thing about it is that it uses a cheap ingredient commonly found in most kitchens. The only downside is the time it takes. Also, you’ll need to use some serious elbow grease.

Things you’ll need:

Method 5 things need

  • Rusted iron
  • Baking soda
  • Water
  • Plain water in a bowl
  • Protective gloves
  • Old toothbrush
  • Sandpaper
  • Clean cotton cloth

Step 1. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water

Make paste of baking soda and water

Add just enough water to baking soda powder to make a thick paste. The paste shouldn’t be too runny. Make the paste thick enough to be easily spread.

The quantity of the paste should be determined by the size and the quantity of the tools you are cleaning.

Step 2. Coat the tools with baking soda paste

Coat the tools with baking soda paste

Coat tools with baking soda paste

Apply baking soda paste on tools

Using an old toothbrush, coat the tools thoroughly with the baking soda paste. Make sure that you completely cover the metal with the paste.

Step 3. Allow the paste to dry

Allow the paste to dry

Now you need to set the baking soda-covered tools aside to let them dry.

Step 4. Remove the hardened baking soda with a brush

Remove the hardened baking soda

Remove the caked paste from the tools with the toothbrush. You’ll find the rust crumbling off your tools along with the paste.

Step-4.2-Remove-the-hardened-baking-soda-with-a-brush

After the paste is sufficiently removed, you can further scrub the rusty surface as well as any nooks and crannies to remove as much of the rust as you can. You’ll find the powdered rust easily comes off.

Step 5. Wet the tools and brush the rusted surface

Wet the tools

Brush the rusted surface

When you’ve removed as much of the dry rust as you can, wet the tools. Adding a little baking soda, scour the rust with the brush. Baking soda has an abrasive quality that’ll help you along.

Step 6. Rinse off the tools in plain water

Rinse off the tools in water

Rinse the tools in plain water to remove any loosened rust and traces of baking soda.

Step 7. Dry the tools

Dry the iron tools

Dry the tools with a cotton cloth. The metal should be rust-free by now, but you might observe some lingering stains if your tools were severely rusted.

Step 8. Scour any remaining rust with sandpaper

Scour remaining rust

Scour remaining rust with sandpaper

Treat these stubborn rust stains with sandpaper. Scrub the rusted surfaces and crevices with the sandpaper.

Step 9. Wipe off the rust with the cloth

Wipe off the rust with the cloth

Clean tools

While you’re at it with the sandpaper, keep wiping off the rust with the cotton cloth. This will keep the surface clear of the rusty dust and you can easily zero in on the stains. This will also remove any lingering trace of moisture from your tools.

Additional Tips:

  • Citric acid removes paint, so if you need to protect the handles of the tools, don’t let them come in contact with the citric acid.
  • If you’re unable to immerse the tools in vinegar, completely cover the rusty tools with rags soaked in vinegar.
  • Work in a well-ventilated area for rust-removal if you’re using chemicals because different chemicals release different fumes, some of which might be harmful.
  • Deal with severe rust by combining multiple methods.
  • Prevention being better than the cure, protect your iron wares from rusting by applying a coat or two of paint whenever required.
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