With the steps above, you can remove rust with vinegar and baking soda... but did you know you can do the same with Coke? The steps for using Coke to remove rust are similar to removing rust with vinegar: leave to soak, scrub and rinse. Instead of soaking for three days, Coke only needs 24 hours.
As you can see Coke didn't do much to remove rust. Being less acidic than the other 2 liquids it would probably take more than 24 hours for it to be effective. Vinegar on the other hand does a good job (6% acidity, PH between 2.5 and 3) but leaves some rust attached.
Vinegar and Baking Powder:
Baking powder can work wonders with rust. It makes an effective paste mixed with vinegar. Rub the paste onto the rust spots and leave to work for at least 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
Vinegar is a safe and effective method for rust removal, especially for small items or tools. However, for extensive rust damage, more aggressive methods or commercial rust removers may be necessary.
Most people know WD-40 Multi-Use Product as a lubricant, but it was originally used as an anti-corrosive by the aerospace industry to prevent spacecraft from rusting. WD-40 can help remove rust from metals like iron, chrome, and stainless steel without further damaging the surface of the metal or removing the paint.
This paste is excellent for removing rust from iron, steel, aluminium and other metals. However, please don't leave it on any surface for too long, as vinegar can erode it, weakening the metal and making it more susceptible to rusting.
Fill a plastic or glass container large enough to hold the rusted item with cola completely covering it. Let it soak for 24 hours. If the item is too large to submerge, like a bathtub with rust spots, for example, simply saturate a scrubbing sponge with the cola and scrub the rust stain.
While vinegar by itself is a mild acid, the salt increases the acidity in the solution and let it chew rust even faster. When using a full gallon of vinegar, add a full cup of salt per gallon of vinegar. For this block plane, two hefty tablespoons, distributed evenly, was the perfect amount.
A common method of dealing with rusted screws and bolts implies removing them from their sockets and leaving them to soak in a hydrogen peroxide solution overnight. Hydrogen peroxide is known to dissolve accumulated rust from metal surfaces and can even break up the entire tarnish in some cases.
For stubborn rust, citric acid may be the way to go. Make a paste using two parts baking soda and one part lemon juice, and then apply the paste to the rusty area using a sponge and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes. Use a brush or steel wool to scrub away the rust from the metal.
The main difference between CLR and vinegar is that CLR is stronger and better at removing mineral build ups like limescale. Vinegar is better at cleaning rust. It's also cheaper, versatile and safer than CLR.
Mixing vinegar and baking soda causes an immediate chemical reaction. This reaction forms water, sodium acetate (a salt) and carbon dioxide – the fizzy part. The amount of carbon dioxide gas that is produced from baking soda is remarkable – one tablespoon (around 18 grams) can release over five litres of gas!
Mix a cup of white vinegar with one-fourth cup of cream of tartar until you get a paste-like consistency. Apply the paste onto the rusted areas. Let the paste sit on the affected spots for more than five minutes.
Remove Rust From Metal With Vinegar
Submerge the rusted item in undiluted distilled white vinegar. If the item is large or has electrical components, liberally spray vinegar on the rusty area or place a cloth saturated with vinegar over the rusted area.
White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar or spirit vinegar, is made by fermenting grain alcohol (ethanol) which then turns into acetic acid. Water is then added to the vinegar, so white vinegar is made of five to ten percent acetic acid and ninety to ninety-five percent water.
WD-40 Specialist® Rust Remover Soak quickly dissolves rust and restores tools, equipment, and surfaces to bare metal without chipping, scraping or scrubbing. Great for removing rust from tools, metal, cast iron, chrome parts, and more without harming paint, gaskets, trim, or other surrounding parts.
Here's what Almost Doctor Dan has to say on the subject: To clean old rusty tools with Coke, submerge the tools in a tub or bowl of Coca-Cola overnight (not sure if Diet Coke or Pepsi will work – best to stick with original Coke). If you can still see rust, leave them for a few more days.
If you're wondering how baking soda removes rust; the answer is really simple; just dissolve it in water and scrape off the rust. It's one of the readily available rust removers around and it won't disappoint.
The vinegar-and-salt mixture needs time to break down the rust. This can take anywhere from one to three days. Check the tool periodically to see if the rust has softened. Once the rust has softened, use a metal brush or steel wool to scrub off the surface.
This is often due to the formation of metal oxides or other compounds on the metal's surface. The reaction is more noticeable with metals like iron or steel, where the vinegar can accelerate the formation of iron oxide (rust), giving the metal a black appearance.
Method: Coat the area of rust in a layer of salt and squeeze the juice of a cut lemon or lime over the salt. Leave the mixture to sit and then scrub the rust away with the rind of the fruit. Repeat the process until the dust disappears completely before rinsing and patting dry.