How to Remove Rust and Stop It From Coming Back

From garden shears to gym equipment exposed to the elements, anything made out of steel, iron or iron alloys can rust. While it’s not too difficult to get rid of rust, there are countless methods for doing so. Knowing which one to use, especially in certain circumstances, can greatly improve your results and potentially save you time and money. Here are some tips to add to your rust removal repertoire.

What is Rust?

Rust is the common name for iron oxide. As its name suggests, iron oxide forms when iron molecules combine with oxygen molecules, something that happens so readily that pure iron is rarely found in nature. Iron oxide appears as reddish-brown flakes. Don’t think your items are safe from rust just because you store them out of the rain or even inside your house. All it takes to convert steel, iron and iron alloys into rust is oxygen and water. This includes the water found in humidity.

There is no set timeframe when it comes to rust. An item can develop rust in days, weeks, months or years. Naturally, increased exposure to water and oxygen can accelerate the process, though. The more water the metal comes in contact with, the quicker it can be expected to rust. However, other factors, such as living in an area with a high concentration of salt from the ocean, can intensify the reaction.

How to Remove Rust?

There are several ways to get rid of rust. Some require expensive products while others use common household ingredients, like vinegar. You can also remove rust with an abrasive tool like steel wool. This overview explains these methods.

Rust Remover

Rust Converter

Abrasive Tools

What Are the Best Ways to Remove Rust?

There are many popular ways to remove rust, but some simply work better than others. And even the best rust remover isn’t suited for every application. Read on to learn which methods work best, which ones aren’t very effective, the steps involved and when to use them.

Lemon and Salt

  • Lemon (or lime) juice
  • Kosher salt
  • Steel wool or metal brush

Instructions

  • Cut a lemon in half and rub it over the rusted area.
  • Pour salt liberally over the same spot.
  • Squeeze lemon juice over the area and let sit.
  • Check every few hours to see if the rust is loosening.
  • When rust loosens, rinse off the salt and juice.
  • Scrub with steel wool or metal brush to remove the rust.
  • Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Vinegar

  • White vinegar
  • An old container
  • Optional: Scrub with steel wool.

Instructions

  • Place the item in an old glass jar, plastic container or something similar.
  • Fill with enough vinegar to cover the item.
  • Let it sit, checking every hour to monitor its progress.
  • Remove the item when the vinegar appears to no longer be loosening the rust.
  • Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Coca-Cola (and Similar Colas)

WD-40

  • WD-40
  • An abrasive tool like an old toothbrush
  • An old cloth

Instructions

  • Spray the rust with WD-40.
  • Wait 10 minutes.
  • Use an old cloth to wipe it away.
  • If needed, scrub with an old toothbrush, steel wool or other abrasive material.

CLR Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover

  • CLR
  • Rubber gloves
  • Cloth or small brush
  • An old container

Instructions if applying:

  1. Put on rubber gloves.
  2. Mix equal parts CLR and water. (For more severe damage, use full strength.)
  3. Brush on or apply with a cloth.
  4. Wait 5 minutes. Rinse.
  5. Reapply if necessary or try submerging.

Instructions if submerging:

  • Place the item in an old container or glass jar.
  • Put on rubber gloves.
  • Pour CLR over the item, covering it.
  • Check after 5 minutes to gauge progress.
  • Monitor it every half hour after that.
  • Rinse item when done and dry.

Evapo-Rust

  • Evapo-Rust
  • Storage container, like a glass jar
  • Steel wool or old toothbrush
  • An old cloth

Instructions

  • Place the item in the container you want to store Evapo-Rust in for reuse.
  • Pour Evapo-Rust over the item.
  • Monitor every few hours for progress.
  • When all or most of the rust is gone, remove the item from the bin.
  • You can use steel wool or an old toothbrush to loosen more flakes.
  • Wipe the item dry.
  • Seal the container and store Evapo-Rust for reuse.

Krud Kutter

How to Prevent Rust

The easiest way to prevent rust is to properly store your iron and steel items. Don’t leave garden tools in the yard, or car parts exposed to the elements. Keep them in a dry place with little to no humidity. Maintenance matters, too. Oil your garden tools, and handwash steel pots and kitchen knives instead of running them through the dishwasher.

Rust inhibitors can also help prevent rust. These products create a barrier that prevents rust from forming on iron, iron alloys and steel. WD-40 makes a rust inhibitor, but even multipurpose WD-40 provides some protection. Other inhibitors include Fluid Film and CRC White Lithium Grease Spray.

You can also paint over metal to prevent rust with these steps.

Instructions

  • Sand the metal lightly.
  • Clean it get rid of newly sanded metal pieces.
  • Apply primer over the metal surface.
  • Spray a rust-inhibiting paint over the surface.
  • Apply a clear topcoat.

Rust can be tricky to remove, so preventing it in the first place is always the best option. However, if an item gets rusty, there are many ways to get rid of the corrosion. Just remember no one method works best in all situations. If you try to remove rust and don’t get the results you hope for, try another method.