How to Remove Rust from Metal Furniture

Metal furniture can bring a pleasant look to your garden. Many have chosen ornate wrought iron chairs and tables to decorate their green space. As convenient, beautiful and durable as metal furniture can be, however, it requires some maintenance to keep it looking its best.

British weather can be one of the biggest enemies of metal garden furniture. Air humidity and rain create the perfect conditions for rust to form. This can severely impact the durability and appearance of your furnishings. So, how do you get rid of rust and can you prevent rusting in the first place?

If you have ever:

• Found that your metal outdoor furniture has started rusting;
• Wanted to know how to get rid of rust and rust stains,

Then this post is for you!

How to remove rust stains

Sometimes what you see on your garden furniture is simply a rust stain. These are far easier to remove than heavy rust and usually don’t require more than a simple scrub. However, if you want to make dealing with them even easier, there are several household products you can use.

Here is how to remove surface rust:

Cleaning spray

This method works on lighter rust stains and requires only some spray detergent.

1. Spray
   Evenly spray the affected area with the detergent.
2. Wipe
   Scrub the stains off with a clean cloth or a sponge.
3. Repeat
   If there is still some rust visible, repeat the process until it all comes off.
4. Dry
   Thoroughly wipe the metal furniture with a dry cloth. Make sure you remove every drop of moisture from the surface to prevent the rust from returning.

Baking soda

Baking soda is an all-around great cleaning agent that you probably have in your house. It works wonders when it comes to cleaning the kitchen, ovens and stovetops. Unsurprisingly, it’s also effective in the battle against rust stains.

1. Prepare a cleaning solution
   Mix the baking soda with water to form a thick paste. For more stubborn stains, you can use hydrogen peroxide instead of water.
2. Cover the rusty area
   Apply the mixture to the affected spots with a clean cloth, spreading it evenly.
3. Let it sit
   Leave the paste on the surface for about an hour.
4. Wipe off
   Scrub the area using a cloth or sponge until all the rust comes off.

White vinegar

Just like baking soda, white vinegar can be used to clean almost anything around your home, from washing machines to windows. Removing rust with vinegar is easy and effective, too.

1. Add salt
   Add a pinch of salt to a cup of white vinegar and stir well.
2. Apply to the surface
   Apply the mixture to the rusted area. For easier application, you can put the solution in a spray bottle and spray it directly onto the surface.
3. Let it sit
   Leave the mixture on for about 10-15 minutes.
4. Scrub
   Wipe the rust stains away using a clean cloth. For more stubborn stains, you can use something abrasive, such as a rough sponge or scouring pad.
5. Repeat
   Keep spraying and scrubbing until all the rust stains come off.
6. Dry
   Thoroughly dry the surface to remove any excess moisture.

Coca-Cola

Yes, that’s right. A can of coke can be just as effective, if not more, when removing rust from metal.

1. Rinse
   Apply cola to the rusted area.
2. Wipe
   Scrub the rust stains off, using an abrasive sponge or scouring pad, or a cloth, depending on how heavily stained the furniture is.
3. Repeat
   Keep wiping away the rust until it is completely gone.
4. Dry
   Dry the surface completely with a clean, dry cloth.

Salt and lemon

For this method, you can use either lemon or lime, both are equally effective. The salt acts as an abrasive, while the acidic lemon juice will eat away at the rust.

1. Prepare a cleaning solution
   Squeeze a lemon or lime and mix the juice with plenty of salt.
2. Spread
   Evenly spread the mixture on the affected area, using a cloth.
3. Let it sit
   Let the solution work its magic for a couple of hours.
4. Wipe
   Scrub away the rust with an abrasive sponge or a cloth.
5. Dry
   Wipe any moisture off the surface with a dry cloth.

Aluminium foil

This method works wonders when removing rust from chrome and stainless steel. It may require a bit more elbow grease, but it’s sure to solve your problem.

How to get heavy rust off metal

If what you’re dealing with is not simply a stain, but the rust has penetrated deeper into the metal, you may need to use some heavy-duty rust removal methods. You can opt for the manual way, sanding and grinding it off, or you can choose commercial chemicals.

When using rust-removing chemicals, keep this in mind:

How to prevent rusting

Naturally, the best way to deal with rust is to prevent it from appearing in the first place. If you take proper care of your metal garden furniture, you can halt or significantly slow down the rusting process. So, here is how to prevent rusting:

Want your garden to look its best?

If you want your patio furniture to be in top shape, you might be thinking the same about the rest of your garden. Maintaining a beautiful, clean and fresh yard can be time-consuming, however, and not all of us look forward to hours of hard work.

Well, Fantastic Services has the solution! The garden maintenance experts can make sure your green space looks neat and lush, and you won’t have to lift a finger. From weeding to lawn mowing, to hedge trimming, we can do it all.

Takeaways

• Removing rust stains is far easier than dealing with heavy rusting.
• You can remove rust stains using household items.
• Aluminium foil works great when removing rust from chrome.
• For deeper, heavier rust, you may need to use commercial rust removal chemicals.
• Prevention is key when dealing with rust on metal.

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Did you find this post useful? Have you ever dealt with rusty patio furniture? Let us know in the comments below!

Image source: shutterstock / Iuliia Khabibullina