Looking for some rust removal methods? The following article suggests some of the most effective home remedies for removing rust from metals, clothes, and porcelain.
Rust can occur anywhere: on metal surfaces, clothes, tiles, utensils, decorative items, porcelain, vehicles, etc. Rust develops when water and oxygen from the air combine, and a process known as oxidation occurs on a surface. Usually, it forms a reddish-brown-yellowish spot, or flakes on affected surfaces. For getting rid of it, there are a number of products and cleaning solutions available in the market. However, if you are looking for some easy and environment-friendly methods, then given below are a few rust removal home remedies.
Potato
If the surface from which the rust has to be removed is small, such as the blade of a knife, an effective method is to put salt on a peeled potato, and rub it vigorously on the spot. If the spot is on a utensil, a good idea is to simply keep the peeled potato and salt on the area, for about fifteen minutes. Follow this up by rinsing and drying the surface. Potatoes consist of oxalic acid which helps to remove rust from metals.
Alka-Seltzer
This works for clearing rust off aluminum items. Fill a tub with clean water. Next, soak all the aluminum items in the water. Put in a few Alka-seltzer tablets. Shake the tub so that the water, mixed with Alka-seltzer tablets, rubs off on the entire surface of the aluminum items. Let the items sit in this mixture for about five minutes. After this, rinse them with clean water, and make dry them thoroughly with a towel cloth.
Lemon Juice and Vinegar
A simple homemade rust remover can be made by mixing together lemon juice and vinegar, in equal quantities. Apply this mixture on clothes, tiles, or metals, which have stains on them, and let it stay for some time. For the clothes, fifteen minutes would be enough for stain removal, while for metals two hours would be fine. After letting the mixture sit for an appropriate duration, rub the spot gently with a brush in case of a cloth item, and with a steel wool for a metal surface. Rinse with water, and make it absolutely dry. This is one of the most useful home remedies for removing rust from clothes, porcelain wares as well as metals.
Coke and Tomato Sauce
To remove rust from metals, rub them with coke and tomato sauce. Let these remain on the metal for a few minutes, and then rinse off with water. Many people vouch for this remedy. Hence, you can give it a try in case of an emergency.
Baking Soda
Another way is to apply baking soda on the metal surface. Start with mixing baking soda with water so that it obtains the right consistency. It should neither be too thin, nor too thick. Now, cover the metal surface with this mixture. Let it sit for fifteen minutes. After this, take a steel wool, and scrub the metal surface. Rinse with water. Repeat the procedure till you find the rust spot clearing away.
White Vinegar and Flour
For brass items, an effective method is to make a paste with a cup of vinegar, one teaspoon salt, and enough flour to form a thick paste. Cover the brass item with this paste, and let it sit for half an hour. Next, take a clean cloth, and rub the brass surface with it. Rinse the brass item with water, and using a towel cloth, wipe it dry. Repeat the entire process, till the brass becomes shiny and clean again.
Make sure that you do not keep the natural solutions given here on the rust spot for a very long time, otherwise they may damage the clothing or the metal item. Also, after every procedure, do not forget to rinse and dry the surface. Keeping it wet may further add rust to it. With these precautions and solutions, now you can look forward to making your home completely rust-free.