Rust isn’t just unsightly. When people see it, their thoughts turn to things that just aren’t well-cared-for. Even the tiniest speck of rust on a faucet or appliance can make it look old and run down, and it can make you look like you can’t be bothered to maintain your home or apartment and keep it looking nice.
Even stainless steel, which is supposed to be durable and resistant to stains—just like the name says—can fall victim to rusting if you’re not careful. Homeowners, DIYers, renters, and even pro cleaners might need a smidge of guidance to figure out how to clean rusted stainless steel, so here’s our advice.
What Causes Rust?
What is rust, anyway? Simply stated, rust is just the common name for something known as iron oxide. That’s a name that may be a tad confusing because it can form on metals other than iron, including stainless steel.
Rust has an orangey-red color and is a form of corrosion. It’s more than just unsightly. If left untreated and if rust continues to form on metal surfaces, metal things like pipes and appliances may lose their strength, spring leaks, and more.
Here are a few examples of places where rust may appear.
- Stainless steel sinks
- Stainless steel appliances
- Stainless steel countertops
- Metal pipes
- Stainless steel utensils
- Stainless steel pans
- Metal outdoor furniture
Rust may be caused by exposure to:
It can also be caused by manufacturing flaws. Later on, we’ll run through some of the precautionary steps you can take to prevent the formation of iron oxide on your belongings.
Can Rust Form on Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel isn’t iron, so what’s the deal with rust forming on it? The scoop is that despite its name, stainless steel is really an iron alloy, which is why it can rust in some circumstances. Here are some examples.
- Rust can appear when stainless steel items are left sitting in water or they’re not properly drained.
- Exposure to a substance that has the ability to erode the alloy on the exterior of stainless steel fixtures or items can allow rust to form.
- Prolonged contact with salt, oil, or heat can weaken the iron alloys and cause stainless steel to get rusty.
In most circumstances and when properly stored and cleaned, stainless steel is unlikely to rust, but it can happen. When it does, you’ll need to know how to clean it to get rid of the rust.
Cleaning Products and Supplies to Remove Rust
Many of the items needed to banish rust from stainless steel are ordinary things that you’ll likely already have on hand in your house.
Cleaning Products |
Supplies |
Baking soda |
Microfiber cloths |
|
Sponge |
Lemon juice |
Spray bottle |
Cream of tartar |
Soft-bristled toothbrush |
Salt |
|
WD-40 |
|
Bar Keeper’s Friend |
|
Some of these products will be used in combination, including lemon juice with salt or baking soda, or cream of tartar mixed with ordinary white vinegar.
How to Remove Rust from Stainless Steel Appliances
If your kitchen has stainless steel appliances, then you may need a reliable method to attack rust on their surfaces. Follow these steps.
Step 1: Make a paste of two parts baking soda and one part lemon juice. You can use fresh lemon juice or the reconstituted stuff in the plastic lemon. The paste should be of a thick enough consistency to stay where you put it, so add more baking soda if you need to.
Step 2: Spread the paste over any rusted areas on your stainless steel fridge, stove, or sink.
Step 3: Allow the paste to sit for a half an hour. Keep an eye on it and if it starts to dry out, spritz it with plain water. The key here is that you don’t want the paste to get so dried out that it falls off the area being treated for rust.
Step 4: After 30 minutes, use a damp sponge to wipe the paste away. The rust should come with it. If it doesn’t, then you can repeat steps one through four.
Step 5: When the rust is gone, dry the treated area with a clean cloth. Make sure it’s totally dry to prevent rust from re-forming.
As an alternative, you can make a scrub of ¼ cup of cream of tartar and one cup of white vinegar. In this case, allow the scrub to sit on the rust for five minutes, then use a sponge to gently scrub the area. You may repeat this technique if necessary.
Watch this video to see three different methods to use lemon to clean your stainless steel sink, including the sprayer and garbage disposal.
How to Remove Rust from Stainless Steel Utensils
What about stainless steel forks, spoons, and knives? Use this method to remove stainless steel rust from your cutlery.
Step 1: Before removing rust, wash all of your rusted stainless steel items in warm water with dish soap.
Step 2: Fill a small ramekin or dish with lemon juice, either fresh or reconstituted. Fill a second dish with salt.
Step 3: Dip a corner of a clean sponge in the lemon juice, then dip it into salt.
Step 4: Using the corner of the sponge, scrub the affected area gently until rust disappears. You can repeat for stubborn stains.
Step 5: If your flatware has an ornate pattern with small crevices, use a soft-bristled toothbrush dipped in lemon juice and salt to make sure you can reach any rust in those recessed areas.
Step 6: Rinse the cleaned flatware with plain water.
Step 7: Allow to dry completely before you put your utensils back in a drawer.
You may want to employ a fan or hair dryer to make sure that ornate flatware is totally and completely dry. If you leave water anywhere, you run the risk of rust reappearing after you’ve cleaned it.
If you prefer a commercial cleaning product, we suggest Bar Keeper’s Friend.
How to Prevent Rust on Stainless Steel
Here are a few easy things to do to prevent the formation of new iron oxide after you’ve followed the steps above to clean your stainless steel of rust.
Step 1: Never use abrasive cleaners (like SOS or Ajax) to clean stainless steel surfaces. You should also avoid bleach, ammonia, and alcohol-based cleaning products.
Step 2: Likewise, avoid using wire scrubbers or brushes with wire bristles to clean stainless steel. These things are likely to scratch the stainless steel, creating crevices where rust may form.
Step 3: Never leave stainless steel soaking in water overnight.
Step 4: Use the drying cycle on your dishwasher or leave the door open after dishes are clean to make sure everything is dry before you put it away.
Step 5: Dry your stainless steel sink after each use, and do the same with any stainless steel appliances you own.
Step 6: Clean any spills immediately after they occur.
Following these tips will minimize the chances of rust ruining your stainless steel cutlery and appliances and keep your home looking its best.
FAQs
Question |
Answer |
Does vinegar remove rust from stainless steel? |
Vinegar alone won’t remove rust from stainless steel. However, mixing it with cream of tartar to make a paste can be effective. Mix one cup of vinegar with ¼ cup of cream of tartar to make a paste and use that to treat and scrub rust off of your stainless steel. |
What is the fastest way to remove rust from stainless steel? |
We like dipping a sponge or toothbrush in lemon juice and then in salt, then scrubbing the affected area. The citric acid in lemons does a good job of softening rust so it can be wiped away. In most cases, this technique will get rid of rust quickly and easily. |
Does WD-40 remove rust from stainless steel? |
Yes, WD-40 can be very effective. Spray it on the rusted area and leave it to sit for 10 minutes. Then, use a clean sponge to wipe away the rust. Wash and dry the stainless steel completely after cleaning it. |
Is it true that you can use a raw potato to remove rust from stainless steel? |
Yes, potatoes contain oxalic acid, a natural salt that may dissolve rust. Rub a few drops of dish soap on the cut end of a potato and use the potato to scrub away at the rust. Then, let the potato sit on the rust stain for several hours, before removing and rinsing. |
Can I use hydrogen peroxide to get rid of rust on stainless steel? |
No, we don’t recommend using hydrogen peroxide to remove rust from stainless steel. Hydrogen peroxide is corrosive because it’s acidic. If you apply it to rust spots, you may end up actually accelerating rust formation instead of getting rid of rust. |
Conclusion
We hope you can see that having rust on stainless steel appliances or utensils isn’t a reason to throw things away. Using one of the easy, DIY methods we’ve spelled out in this article can help you get rid of rust for good, and then you can use our tips to prevent rust from forming to keep your home rust-free and attractive.
