Metal develops rust when iron, oxygen, and moisture collide.
Keep reading to learn how to remove rust from metal with homemade remedies and stronger store-bought products.
Illustration: The Spruce/Daniel Fishel
Before You Begin
Every key in of metal reacts differently to cleaners.
Illustration: The Spruce/Daniel Fishel
Before you begin anymethod of rust removal, consult the manufacturer’s manual if you have one.
Combining a potato with a gentle abrasive makes an effective, natural rust remover.
Most work within just a few minutes of tool.
The Spruce / Almar Creative
Homemade methods are not as strong and take longer to break the bonds of rust from the metal.
Cleaning vinegar mixed with baking soda can make a good homemade rust remover.
The vinegar breaks down the rust particles and baking soda’s gentle abrasive action scrubs the rust away.
The Spruce / Almar Creative
Coca-Cola, or Coke, removes rust if you have patience.
The phosphoric and citric acids in the Coke dissolve small amounts of rust in about 24 hours.
The Spruce / Almar Creative
The Spruce / Almar Creative
The Spruce / Almar Creative
The Spruce / Almar Creative
The Spruce / Almar Creative
