Best Way To Removing Rust Marks from Cutlery

How to Remove Rust Marks from Cutlery

If you’ve just found rust marks on your cutlery, don’t rush out and buy expensive cleaners and rust removers, you probably already have everything you need at home. These are the simplest, and most natural ways in removing rust marks from cutlery:

Lemon Juice

Squeeze some fresh lemon juice into a small container, preferably one that is wide enough and long enough to fit your cutlery. You’ll probably need several lemons, and you can zap them in the microwave for a few seconds to maximise the amount of juice you get. Simply place the cutlery in the solution for a few minutes and then take them out and give them a clean. The acid in the lemon juice loosens the rust making easier to scrub away.

Potato

This method works best for smaller cutlery, and particularly well for knives. Simply take a potato that is the same length (or close to the same length) as your rusty cutlery. Push the cutlery inside the potato, making sure the rusty part is inside. Then leave for either a full day or overnight before removing the cutlery and scrubbing it. This method works as potatoes contain oxalic acid, which helps to remove rust.

Vinegar

Vinegar is pretty commonly found in households, and it makes a wonderful rust remover. Not only is it non-toxic, but it’s cheap as anything and so easy to use and dispose of. Just pour vinegar into a container that will fit your cutlery and then leave them to soak for several hours or overnight. Following the vinegar soaking, you should be able to easily scrub the rust away. White vinegar is fine to use, but apple cider vinegar may do a better job on tough rust.

Baking Soda

Like vinegar you’ll find baking soda in most kitchens, so you don’t have to wait to get started dealing with the rust. You can use it to clean up your cutlery by making a simple paste with baking soda and water. There’s no definite amount, just add water to a few tablespoons of baking soda until it’s the thickness you think is right. Apply it gently with a sponge or soft cloth, and work it gently into the areas of rust. Avoid using steel wool in this process. After light scrubbing, rinse gently.

Salt and Lime/Lemon

Just as the acid in lemon juice can have a positive effect on the rust, so too can that acid be missed with the gentle abrasive nature of salt. Mix a solution of lemon or lime juice with a sprinkling of salt and allow your cutlery to soak in the mixture for several hours. Use a toothbrush or similar to gently scrub the cutlery while in the mixture, focusing on the rust points. Rinse off and check your results.

Sand Paper

The final choice for extreme rust, or in situations where neither natural remedies or specially-made products have been able to get rid of the rust on your cutlery, is sandpaper. This is a method that should be done with extreme care as it’s very easy to damage cutlery with this method. Gently rub on the rust marks, being careful to sand in the direction of the grain for stainless steel. Rinse regularly throughout the process.

How do you get rid of marks on cutlery?