Aug 03, 2020 Convert the rust. Purchase a rust converter which works to stop rust from eating away any more of the metal. It is similar to a spray paint, and acts as a primer for a coat of paint over the top as well. Although this stops rust from expanding, it may not be as effective as completely removing the rust from the metal.
Aluminum is a metal most commonly found in our kitchen’s pots, pans, baking pans, and utensils. Believe it or not, this metal is prone to corrosion, which causes our favorite household tools to tarnish and be covered in rust. If you’re looking for information on how to remove rust from aluminum, keep reading.
Surprisingly, when water from everyday use has not been adequately removed from aluminum, it jump-starts an oxidation process in the metal.
Over time, this corrosion can leave wear and tear on your once perfectly shiny pots and pans. Putting in a bit of elbow grease leaves your kitchen and house tools looking brand new.
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- If you haven’t already done so, get a water test to determine the type and amount of iron, in parts per million (ppm), as well as the water’s pH and dissolved oxygen content. The three most common types of iron in well water are.
- When you get rust stains on your clothing, it is imperative to track down the source of the rust to prevent more stains from appearing on your garments. While rust stains from locks, corroded metal furniture, or cars are easy to track down, rust stains that appear in on your freshly laundered clothing can be more difficult to track.
Ways to Clean Rust from Aluminum with a Few Tools and Ingredients
Cleaning aluminum is pretty straightforward. Whether you need to know how to clean aluminum trailers or your car rims or pots and pans, the procedure is basically the same. Simple soap and water are just right for cleaning aluminum mini blinds, too.
However, after you wash the car and finish cleaning aluminum rims or some other aluminum piece in the yard or kitchen, you discover a couple of rust spots. What is the best way to get rid of it?
Removing rust from aluminum may sound like a difficult task, but there are many standard household tools and ingredients that put in most of the hard work for you. If you have scrubbing pads and aluminum foil at home, you’re already in good shape.
If you have baking soda and condiments in the fridge, you’re even closer to quickly removing rust from aluminum in your home. Here are some tips and recipes that are smart ways to clean rust from aluminum.
Ways to Remove Rust from Aluminum using Steel Wool or Sandpaper
Using steel wool and sandpaper are both effective ways to remove rust from aluminum. Steel wool contains a bundle of fine fibers that easily scrub away hardened grease and stains. Sandpaper is often kept in the garage, but you can bring it inside to help remove rust.
Scrubbing pads are okay too, but be careful not to use any metal objects you find. The key when using either of these on aluminum is to make sure they’re not too coarse. High-grade steel wool or high-grit sandpaper do more damage and leave scratches in the metal.
Fine grade, 0000 steel wool or 100 grit sandpaper are both gentle enough not to scratch the aluminum, while still strong enough to scrub away any signs of erosion. Take your aluminum pot, pan, or tool and gently scrub a small area to make sure you’re not causing any damage to the metal.
Once you’ve determined it’s safe, rub over any spots that contain rust. Wash the object how you usually would. Dry with a clean cloth and make sure you didn’t miss any spots.
Repeat if necessary. This tactic is great for any light rust spots that aren’t overly corroded and can be used for other purposes like cleaning aluminum window blinds.
Remove Rust from Aluminum using Aluminum Foil
No, this isn’t a joke. It is possible to remove rust from aluminum with aluminum. Take your aluminum foil and create a large ball. Aluminum foil has a shiny side and a duller side.
Make sure the shiny side is facing out and scrub the foil ball on a small test area to ensure you don’t scratch the metal. Rub foil ball over remaining rust spots. Wash the metal as you usually would.
Using aluminum foil is an effortless way to get rid of any small rust stains, as well as any grease or grime that doesn’t come off when washed.
Removing Rust from Aluminum with Condiments and Vegetables
What can you do with cream of tartar, ketchup, cola, and potatoes? A whole lot more than you ever thought was possible. Check out these DIY recipes to make rust remover for aluminum.
Cream of Tartar Rust Remover for Aluminum
Although cream of tartar is usually only used a few times a year for baking, a lot of households already have a small jar in the cupboard.
This ingredient is an acidic byproduct of the wine-making process, and the acid in it acts as an ally when removing rust from aluminum.
Cream of Tartar Rust Removal Paste
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- ¼ cup baking soda
- Hydrogen peroxide
Combine cream of tartar with baking soda. Slowly add hydrogen peroxide until a thick paste forms. Use an old rag to rub the paste on aluminum as the best way to clean rust off metal and let it sit for one hour.
Wash away paste with hot water. This recipe is a unique yet effective way to remove rust from your aluminum tools.
How to Remove Rust from Aluminum with Ketchup
You may think ketchup is only suitable for putting on hamburgers and hotdogs, but this unique ingredient is packed with citric acid, making it robust against rust spots.
When combined with washing soda, a chemical compound often used in laundry stain removal, this ingredient leaves your aluminum looking fresh and clean. Clean cast aluminum or standard aluminum pieces with ease.
Ketchup Rust Remover for Aluminum
In a spray bottle, combine equal parts washing soda and warm water. Spray on aluminum. Cover aluminum in ketchup using a gloved hand or a basting brush and let it sit for two hours.
With warm water, rinse away ketchup and wash with soap and water. Who knew that a great cast aluminum cleaner would come from this delicious condiment?
Using Potatoes to Remove Rust from Aluminum
Potatoes are another surprising ingredient that can help remove rust from aluminum. These root vegetables are high in oxalic acid and, when used on aluminum, create a chemical reaction that easily dissolves rust spots.
There are two approaches to using potatoes for rust removal. You can either stick a small object like silverware or garden tools into the potato and leave it overnight. Give it a quick rinse, and it is ready to be used again.
You can also peel and cut a potato in half and use it as a scrubbing tool. Cover your aluminum in baking soda and scrub all over with the potato half. The potato lifts any residue from the rusted area.
Using Cola to Remove Rust
If you haven’t learned it by now, acids are a crucial element in removing any rusting from aluminum. Using dark sodas like Coca-Cola and Dr. Pepper provide surprising ways to clean rust from aluminum. These dark sodas contain phosphoric acid that eats away at rust.
Using this ingredient is easy. Soak your aluminum in cola overnight. Use a toothbrush or wire brush to scrub away any tougher areas. Wash the metal with dish soap and clean water to give your aluminum a rust-free finish.
Remove Rust with Vinegar or Lemon Juice
We all know the cleaning powers of vinegar and lemon juice. These are two household ingredients that have been used in DIY cleaning recipes for years, and they make no exception when removing rust from metal. If you’re looking for a reliable way to clean rust, this recipe won’t disappoint.
Use it for cleaning metal patio furniture or the barbecue grill. You’ll be pleased with the results.
Lemon Juice and Vinegar Rust Remover
Cover aluminum with table salt. Squeeze lemon juice or vinegar over the salt and let sit for up to one hour. Use a scouring pad or clean cloth to buff away rusted areas. Wash and dry normally. Using vinegar as rust remover eats away at any corrosion, and the table salt assists in fighting the areas that need more scrubbing.
Although this article has taught you how to remove rust from aluminum, make sure not to use these on all metal surfaces found in the home. Metals like stainless steel can easily be scratched, so be sure to double-check that the item you’re cleaning is aluminum.
These tips and recipes also make a great weekend home improvement project. Ditch commercial rust removers and make your own homemade remedies to remove stubborn rust stains. They’re quick and make all of the aluminum in your home shine like new.
If you enjoyed learning about how to remove rust from aluminum, please share these ways to clean rust from aluminum on Facebook and Pinterest.
Don’t let rust run rampant in your house. Fight the intrusive tarnish with these surefire methods, and your countertops and appliances will soon glisten once again.
Photo: istockphoto.com
At its best, a kitchen furnished with shiny stainless steel appliances and surfaces is practically the picture of pristine and professional. But when the thick, seemingly impenetrable metal making up your kitchen sink, counters, and pots and pans begins to rust, the expensive aesthetic looks worse than if actually damaged.
Homeowners dealing with these blemishes may ask, Isn’t stainless steel supposed to be, well, stainless? Though its name is somewhat misleading, any appliance made up of the chromium-based metal can easily corrode if not properly cared for. Luckily, there’s no need to panic!
If you’re one of the many who have accidentally left utensils or frying pans soaking in the kitchen sink longer than you care to admit, don’t throw in the towel on removing unsightly surface stains just yet. In fact, the solutions—yes, there are a few—are so simple that they’re probably staring you right in the face if you happen to be in the kitchen.
Read on for how to remove rust from stainless steel all throughout the kitchen and home.
Photo: istockphoto.com
METHOD 1: Simply Baking Soda
MATERIALS AND TOOLS Available on Amazon
– Baking soda
– Water
– Soft cloth
– Soft bristle brush
– Paper towels
For small rust spots…
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STEP 1:
When removing only a few unseemly spots from the side of a pan or the front of your dishwasher, mix a paste from 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 2 cups of water. (For larger rust spots, skip ahead to the next set of steps.) Baking soda is a very mild abrasive, so you can rest easy knowing that you’re conquering corrosion in a completely chemical-free way that won’t scratch up your stainless steel.
STEP 2:
Rub the paste onto your stainless steel surface in the direction of the grain using a soft, clean cloth.
STEP 3:
Finally, rinse and gently wipe the affected area with a damp paper towel.
For larger areas showing signs of rust…
STEP 1:
Rinse the larger surface area—be it the basin of your sink or a section of your stainless steel counters—thoroughly to remove any debris and dampen the surface. Immediately after, sprinkle a layer of baking soda over it, making sure to coat the entire rusted region.
STEP 2:
Let the layer of baking soda sit for between 30 minutes and an hour.
STEP 3:
Roll up those sleeves and start scrubbing! You can scrub with a soft bristle brush, or—if you’re fresh out of cleaning brushes—use an old toothbrush that you may have saved for these sort of cleaning purposes.
STEP 4:
Rinse and carefully dry with a paper towel.
METHOD 2: A Stronger Solution
If you’ve ever left cast iron pots in the sink while wet, it is likely you’ve woken up to the menacing sight of rust decorating a once perfectly varnished stainless steel sink. A forgivable gaffe, indeed. But how to treat it? You may wish to bump up your cleaning ammo by employing a cleaner containing oxalic acid. It’s true, not all stainless steel behaves the same way. So when a baking soda bath does not do the job to your satisfaction, oxalic acid-based cleaners offer a very effective alternative method for dissolving rust and cleaning stains.
MATERIALS AND TOOLS Available on Amazon
– Cleaner that contains oxalic acid
– Soft sponge
STEP 1:
Apply a generous amount of cleaner containing oxalic acid onto the affected area, following the package’s instructions. The appliance manufacturer General Electric recommends Bar Keeper’s Friend Soft Cleanser (a liquid cleanser free of grit), which you can pick up for less than $10 at your nearest big-box home improvement store. Revere Ware Copper and Stainless Steel Cleaner/Polish and Kleen King Stainless Steel and Copper Cleaner are two more highly effective, rust-busting cleaners containing this key ingredient; you can find them at your local grocery store. Avoid using any caustic cleaners that contain chlorides, as the abrasive nature of these products will only further damage the steel’s chromium film (the protective layer).
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STEP 2:
Once set, rub the cleaner in the direction of the metal grain lines using a soft, slightly damp sponge. Again, a little elbow grease is required here, but well worth it for the sparkling finish that awaits you!
STEP 3:
Finally, rinse clean with fresh water and gently towel dry.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Best (and Worst) Practices for Rust Removal
Whatever you choose to do to remove rust, stay far away from steel wool, steel brushes, or any cleaner that contains fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine (to name but a few elements in the chloride family). Remember, chlorides are so abrasive that they’ll mar the “stainless” surface, making it susceptible to corrosion. As well, harsher cleaners and scrubbing pads like steel wool can cause damaging scratches—or worse, leave a pesky remainder of particles that can lead to yet another unpleasant rust encounter.
Of course, in order to avoid rust in the future, it’s best to minimize moisture around any stainless steel appliance. Refrigerators are particularly vulnerable if you live in coastal areas with salt-laden air—or if you happen to share the kitchen with those with small, impatient fingers that tend to spill liquids into the nooks and crannies of your fridge! So, if you happen to spot a splash or spill, don’t tell yourself you’ll get to it later—grab a mop or an absorbent paper towel and get to work. Your gleaming stainless steel-enhanced kitchen will thank you later.
For everyday upkeep—and to maintain that glowing luster throughout your kitchen—wipe away smudges and fingerprints regularly with warm water with a mild soap or dish detergent. Then give these stainless steel surfaces a quick rinse with cloth dampened with fresh water, and don’t skimp on the drying! Remove standing water or leftover droplets with another clean cloth, and you can eliminate moisture before it starts the problematic cycle all over.