How to remove rust from metal 🥝 How to clean and wash with detergents

Strong, reliable, durable and at the same time attractive metal products constantly surround us in everyday life. Without noticing it, we use them daily. However, the metal has one unpleasant feature - it actively interacts with the environment, for this reason it is covered with a layer of rust, this action is also called corrosion. The most unpleasant thing happens when a rusty thing or equipment needs to be painted, and a layer of corrosion interferes with this. This raises the question of how to remove rust from metal before painting? It is with him that we will deal with this article.

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Do I need to clean the metal from rust?

Corrosion affects absolutely everything metal: household appliances, tools, electrical appliances, etc. Scientists have proved that about 10% of metal products per day suffer from rust. Most people, faced with this problem, try to remove rust by not quite the right methods, thereby spoiling the product even more. Some leave it as it is or just forget about the problem.

None of these approaches is correct - it is necessary to process the metal from rust, moreover, correctly. Only in this case will it be possible to extend the life of your product by preventing its final and rapid destruction.

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Causes of Rust

The main reason for the formation of a rust layer on metal products is the interaction with the environment. And in danger are absolutely all unprotected metals. The surface of such materials undergoes a chemical reaction, after which a rusty layer appears, the former appearance of the product and its properties are lost.

In order to clearly see an example of metal corrosion, just go outside:

1. Take a close look at the metal stairs, fences, partitions and railings - all of them are undoubtedly corroded.
2. Also, metals that are constantly exposed to high temperatures, such as some engine parts, are not protected from rust.
3. At a high risk of corrosion are metal products that are constantly in contact with a liquid, such as alcohol, water or oil.

Due to all of the above factors, the question arises: “How to get rid of rust on metal, and is it real at all?” Yes, you can get rid of the effects of corrosion, and this is done quite easily. And to prevent the appearance of a rust layer on the metal, the most important thing is to properly care for the products.

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Universal ways to get rid of rust on metal

The biggest mistake of the housewives is that they think that rust is like a normal coating and is washed with ordinary detergents. This is not so, because corrosion occurs as a result of a chemical reaction with the interaction of oxygen. But if rust has already appeared, then you need to act quickly.

To remove rust from metal before painting, ordinary home components that everyone has at hand can come to the rescue.

Lemon acid:

1. Buy a bag of citric acid in powder form - you can find it at any supermarket.
2. Pour the entire contents of the bag into a bowl, fill it with hot water. Notice that the liquid begins to bubble.
3. Put a rusty object in a bowl, if you still need to, add boiling water.
4. Leave it as it is for the night, and in the morning you will see that the rust has disappeared.

Lime with salt:

1. Take the rusted thing, strew it tightly with salt.
2. Squeeze lime or lemon juice on top, you should get a thick mixture.
3. Leave the metal product in this mixture overnight.
4. With the remaining peel of lime and lemon, clean the rest of the mixture, and then rinse the product with water.

Baking soda

In this method, you will also need to prepare the mixture to remove rust from the metal before painting:

1. Mix the soda with water until thick.
2. Apply this product to a metal product, leave everything as it is overnight.
3. Rinse the thing in the morning, leave to dry.
4. Use a toothbrush to remove soda from the metal.

Potato and laundry soap:

1. Potatoes cut in half should be rubbed with laundry soap. This procedure will improve the course of the chemical reaction.
2. Put half the potatoes on a rusty product and wait a couple of hours.

Important! Laundry soap can be replaced with soda or salt.

Oxalic acid

This acid is sold in powder form. The main thing is not to forget about safety measures and put on gloves, glasses and a bathrobe. Another important point - in no case should you inhale this acid, so protect your airways with a respiratory mask.

Next - act in such a way as to process the metal from rust:

1. To begin, wash the metal product with any detergent, rinse the metal and dry.
2. With 250 ml of warm water, mix about 5 tablespoons of oxalic acid.
3. Place the rusted metal product in this solution for about 20 minutes and rub it with a toothbrush.
4. At the end, rinse and dry the product thoroughly.

White vinegar

Vinegar easily reacts with rust and removes it. In order to get rid of rust on the metal, just dip the object in a container with white vinegar and leave it overnight.

Important! If the item is too large, soak a rag in vinegar and wipe the product with it.

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Chemical ways to get rid of rust on metal

In addition to home cooking products, you can use store-bought products that can be used to treat metal from rust. Here is a list of the most effective and efficient consumers in their opinion:

• "Cinderella". A liquid agent to get rid of signs of corrosion. Its main advantages can be considered the absence of smell and a relatively low price.
• “Furman”. A tool in the form of a powder that resembles citric acid in some way. Also quite an effective method of cleaning from rust.
• “Topperr.” Express cleaner for rust on metal. Its advantages include the most careful attitude to a metal product and its restoration.

In fact, stores offer a huge number of different tools that will save and protect the metal from rust. You just have to choose among this rather big list. But some metal products, such as coins, bathtubs, toilets or a blade of skates, are cleaned in separate ways. They will be discussed now.

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Get rid of rust from coins

In order to clean a coin from rust, determine what it is made of, because each metal is cleaned in completely different ways:

1. For silver coins, ammonia or lemon juice is better. Moreover, note that for a metal with a low breakdown, lemon juice is better, and a metal with a higher breakdown should be cleaned with ammonia.
2. Rust is removed from copper coins with vinegar.
3. If the coin was made from an alloy of zinc and iron, then use a saline solution. It will save your product from rust.

Important! In each of the methods for cleaning coins from rust, not only dry and paste-like products can be used, but also in liquid form. When using solutions, coins must be placed in them and left until the rust is completely dissolved.

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Get rid of rust from the bath and toilet

In this case, one can also note several methods of cleaning metal from rust. We will consider each of them in detail:

1. The first tool that with ease and in the shortest possible time will save the toilet and bath from rust is vinegar. But it is used only on fresh spots, he can cope with them in a day. All rusty areas are moistened with vinegar in its pure form. You can apply it with a rag or brush.
2. Also effective is soda. It must be diluted with a small amount of water. The resulting mixture should be similar to sour cream in consistency. It must be applied on top of the stains for 20 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.
3. If you have a bathtub or toilet with an acrylic surface, then salt and potatoes will help you get rid of rust. To get started, take a handful of salt and sprinkle rust on it. Then start rubbing the coating with a cut potato wedge.
4. Potatoes can be used not only in cut form. Take a coarse grater and grate potatoes on it, add lemon juice and oxalic acid. Treat the rust with the resulting mixture and leave for several hours. Then rinse off with warm water and enjoy a clean surface.

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Getting rid of rust from skates

Skates are a very delicate thing. The most important thing is that if the blade of the skates is rusted, then they will not be able to slide on the ice, and if you abandon the problem and do not solve it, they will completely become unusable. Unlike coins and the bathroom, there is only one way to clean the skate blades.

To do this, you will need to prepare a soap solution, take one lemon, baking soda and a few soft rags.

The order of your actions will be as follows:

1. To begin, wipe the skate blade with soap and water and remove dirt from it. Then you need to wash and dry the skates.
2. Then it is worth mixing the lemon juice and soda. A dense mass should form. Put it on the blade of the skates and start rubbing it with a soft cloth. You need to rub until the entire rust layer disappears.
3. At the end, rinse the skates and let them dry.

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How to prevent the formation of rust on metal?

In order not to be puzzled by the question of how to process metal from rust, you need to take care and care for your things and equipment. And how exactly - read on:

1. First, take care of the correct storage conditions. The moisture level should not be exceeded in the room, but there should be no stuffiness.
2. All metal products that you do not use often need to be covered with cling film. It will protect them from corrosion. There are also various coatings that are applied industrially.

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Stock footage

Before throwing away a rusted metal thing, try to get rid of the problem by other methods. For example, by cleaning. Most of the proposed methods are budgetary and readily available. In addition, you will need a little time and desire. And if we are talking about metal processing before painting, then the proposed methods will certainly come in handy. And most importantly - remember that it is better to prevent a problem than to get rid of it later. Therefore, watch and care for your equipment, appliances, and everything will be fine.