Since many things in the house are made of metal or have metal elements, sooner or later you have to declare war on rust. Everyone suffers from a red scab on metal objects. Men are afraid that rust will appear on the car body or favorite tools, and women are worried about knives, pots and other kitchen utensils.
If you notice that an object has become covered with an orange-brown coating, do not rush to throw it away. Knowing how to remove rust from metal can save you money on buying an expensive replacement. In addition, you can try to stop corrosion with home remedies.
The problem of rusting and corrosion of metals has been familiar to mankind for centuries. The people have come up with many ways to clean iron objects without the use of household chemicals. The effectiveness of these methods does not allow them to lose popularity. Folk advice helps to remove rust not only from iron, but also from clothes. .
Remove brown plaque and save the thing will help:
- table vinegar;
- lime with salt;
- baking soda paste;
- Raw potatoes;
- laundry soap;
- lemon acid;
- oxalic acid.
You can read more about the use of each proposed tool below.
table vinegar
Acetic acid is excellent at fighting rust, corroding flakes of brown plaque. If you need to remove a rusty coating on a small object (coin, knife, pliers, key, jewelry or decorative element), soak it in table vinegar for two hours.
After the scab has softened, it must be removed with a crumpled piece of aluminum foil. It's tough enough to remove rust, but won't scratch the surface like a wire brush.
If rust has formed on a large object (saw, shovel, ladder, fittings, etc.), you need to generously moisten the rag with vinegar and wipe the damaged areas of the iron. After some time, the plaque will soften and be removed with a metal brush.
lime and salt
Acid with salt has a detrimental effect on rust. This is the second most popular effective way to remove rust and stop the destructive process of corrosion. Cut a citrus in half and squeeze as much juice as possible onto the rusty areas. Sprinkle wet areas with salt.
Do not throw away the lime peel, as it will serve as a "sponge" to clean the softened rust. After 2 hours of etching, try to remove plaque. If it doesn't respond well, wait some more time. Limes can be substituted for lemons, but the green fruit works best.
Soda
Make a paste of baking soda by mixing it with water. There are no exact proportions. The main thing is that the mass resembles thick sour cream or toothpaste. The resulting mixture is spread in a thin layer on the corrosion layer and left for 2-3 hours.
Do not expect that after the specified time, the rust will easily “peel off”, leaving a shiny metal surface in its place. Plaque can be removed with an old toothbrush or a piece of aluminum foil. After the applied efforts, the corrosion layer softened with soda can be washed off.
Potatoes and laundry soap
In this way, you can clean both small and large metal objects, but in the latter case you will have to sweat. Cut the potato tuber in half, rub the cut with brown laundry soap, and attach the root crop to the rusty area. Interacting with soap and potatoes, rust enters into a chemical reaction. After 2 hours, you can try to wash the brown plaque under a stream of warm water.
Lemon acid
Prepare a very strong solution of citric acid (3 sachets per 1 liter of water). Bring the resulting liquid to a boil and turn off the gas. Place damaged items (screwdrivers, pliers, nuts, bolts, etc.) in boiling water. You will immediately notice that the water in the pan will begin to bubble. Soak metal products for at least 8 hours. Softened plaque is removed with a brush or sponge.
Oxalic acid
The procedure with the use of oxalic acid should be carried out in a ventilated area.
Take all precautions: wear rubber gloves, goggles and a gown.
Acid can cause severe burns if it comes into contact with skin or eyes.
You need to prepare a solution (4 tablespoons of acid per 1 cup of warm water).
Before soaking, the iron object must be washed with dishwashing detergent and dried.
The metal product should be in the solution for up to half an hour. After 20 minutes, you can try to remove rust with an old toothbrush.
After the procedure, rinse the cleaned item with plenty of warm water and wipe dry with a napkin.
Chemical solvents and rust converters
If you want a quick result and do not feel like experimenting, the best option for you is to buy special rust control products.
These funds can be divided into 2 groups:
- Solvents (soften rusty deposits).
- Converters (create a protective layer).
Solvents
The most well-known rust solvent is called Rust Neutralizer BCH-1. It is fast and simple action. The cost of this tool is very low, which makes it more affordable. After applying a gel with a special composition, the rust changes its structure and dissolves. After the time specified in the instructions, it can be easily wiped off with a regular rag.
Most often, the composition of such funds includes orthophosphoric or oxalic acid. When working with such liquids, do not ignore safety precautions. Acid on skin can cause burns.
Converters
The rust converter is able to create a protective film that stops the corrosion process that has started and prevents its recurrence. Available in the form of a solution, suspension or emulsion. Most often, such products are made on the basis of phosphoric acid or tannin. Before applying the solution, be sure to clean off loose flakes and dust with a wire brush and sandpaper.
To get rid of brown plaque, you can prepare a special “cocktail”. Ingredients: phosphoric acid solution (1 l), tartaric acid (15 ml), butanol (5 ml). Applying such a solution to rusted areas will stop the corrosion process. Before processing, do not forget to wash off all easily removable rust particles.
Trying to remove rust at home, clearly follow all the rules and recommendations. If you overexpose a metal product in one of the proposed solutions, you will not only remove rust, but also cause damage to the metal.
How to remove rust from metal surfaces - this issue is relevant for owners of country houses and apartments. Before you make the final finish, be sure to prepare the surface. There are various ways to eliminate corrosion deposits. Consider the most effective means that will help remove rust from metal at home.
How to clean metal from rust? The process is basically in a few basic ways. So, for example, chemistry is the most effective means by which rust is removed. You can buy rust remover in specialized stores. There are also folk mixtures and household products.
You can remove rust from metal due to mechanical action. Removal is carried out using special tools: hard metal brushes, grinders, special sandpaper. It is also possible to remove rust with the help of a special device - an auto cleaner. The degree of purification is much better than any of the above methods. But such pleasure is expensive.
The most effective combination of several methods is when rust is removed partially with the help of special tools, and then by mechanical action. The result is fixed by secondary processing by means of chemical production.
Remove the layer of oxidized metal with a special cleaning agent. How to clean rust in this case? The substance is applied to the damaged surface and after some time the layer will have to be washed off. Then secondary processing takes place.
Experts recommend using a chemical in any case, which will not only help clean rust from the metal, but also prevent its further occurrence for a long time after the aesthetic finish. How to get rid of rust at home? Use any of the above methods. The main thing is to comply with the rules of work. The choice depends on the possibilities of technical equipment.
Related article: Purpose of corrosion inhibitors and their main types
Mechanical restoration
It is possible to remove rust from metal qualitatively using mechanical influences. First, it is worth assessing the degree of oxidation of the metal and the area to which it has spread. It is important to take into account the type of metal that will be cleaned, and the features of further finishing.
How to clean the surfaces in accordance with this and what removing objects are used? The main stages of machining are as follows:
- It is best to start removing corrosion with a rust preventative. The substance should be chosen not too aggressive. The holding time is several minutes. This stage is necessary only in order to soften the oxidized part of the metal.
- How to remove rust from the surface further? If the metal is strong enough, and the spoilage product has formed in a thick layer, then a small hammer and chisel will be the best option to remove the excess. With the help of these tools, you can beat off dense formations with light movements.
- Further purification of the metal is carried out by the main mechanical action. If only plaque is observed, then manual cleaning is done with sandpaper. A metal brush is also great for this. You can either make it yourself from the remnants of the wire, or buy it in a household goods store.
- It is more difficult to remove rust from metal with a thick coating of oxidized product. This is where automation comes in handy. What exactly is worth choosing, it is better to decide, starting from the type of metal itself and its strength.
- How to remove corrosion permanently? All residues of waste that settle in the form of dust on the product should be completely wiped off the iron. It is necessary to remove the oxidizing product completely, otherwise it will soon return, appearing through the paint. You can finally wipe off the rust with a thick cloth or sandpaper.
To remove rust, the mechanical method is ideal, but it is produced with high quality only if all the above steps are followed. To enhance the process of exposure, it is recommended to resort to chemical agents.
Chemical exposure
How can rust be removed from metal using chemical methods of exposure? The agent is selected in accordance with the required degree of purification of the metal from rust. The choice is up to the buyer. Sometimes cleaning is done using several tools at the same time.
So what can be applied:
- Acid to remove rust. The substance can be purchased at any hardware store. The method of use is usually indicated on the packaging. Rust acid is an aggressive agent, so it can dissolve not only an oxidized environment, but also metal surfaces.
- The product is anti-rust. Eroding the corrosive coating, it preserves the material itself, on which the problem area was concentrated. This is the best rust remover you can use at home.
- Rust converter. This is a current tool that is actively used in order to remove a damaging formation. The key to effectiveness lies in the correct use of the composition in relation to a particular surface and material.
There are actually a lot of drugs that do a great job with corrosion and its derivatives. Each product has its own characteristics regarding the use and principle of operation. The choice depends on how quickly the cleansing needs to be done and what degree of damage will be treated.
The use of folk remedies
Above, we looked at the main ways to remove rust from metal. But there are also popular methods. The following products work well with rust:
- Vinegar and lemon. They are used as cleaners for thin deposits of metal. Vinegar and citric acid are used to remove rust. The products are mixed in equal proportions and applied for two hours. After that, the mixture must be washed off and wiped the treatment site dry.
- Potato. Also often used to cleanse plaque. However, such a rust remover on metal acts for a long time, gradually destroying the base material. Potatoes need to be cut in half and carefully salted. Place a cut potato on the problem area, hold it for 10-15 minutes. Only after that, be sure to wash off the traces of oxidation.