How to Remove Rust From Metal Furniture

Is your metal patio furniture looking worse for wear? Discover how to remove rust from metal furniture to keep it looking its best. Surface rust is unsightly and annoying. It stains your clothes or hands when you use your table and makes your patio space look dingy. Deeper rust threatens the aesthetics and structural integrity of your patio set.

Learn how to get rust off metal furniture to keep it appealing and prolong its lifespan. Rust happens when metal corrodes and oxidizes. The oxidization eats at the metal surface and forms visible rust. The durability of rusted metal is significantly less than non-rusted metal. Rust forms in the presence of oxygen, water, and iron.

While iron and oxygen are unavoidable for your metal furniture, preventing moisture as much as possible lowers the risk of rusting. If your metal furniture is already rusted, don’t panic. There’s no need to resort to arduous scrubbing or expensive chemical treatment. Follow our step-by-step directions on removing rust from metal furniture with everyday products.

How to Get Rust off Metal Furniture Effortlessly

Learning how to remove rust from metal furniture is vital for proper maintenance and care of your patio set or outdoor bench. Rust is one of the worst threats to the structural integrity and visual appeal of metal kept outdoors. Explore ideas for removing rust from metal furniture with a potato, vinegar, lemons, tomato ketchup, a DIY rust removal paste, and a rust converter.

Does a Rust Stain Come off a Metal Surface?

Whether your furniture is cast iron or stainless steel, rust is never a good look. When homeowners notice the recognizable burnt orange color of rust on chairs or tables, they immediately want to know if it’s possible to clean it off.

Thankfully, rust is easily removed, but any structural damage already caused is more challenging to repair. Whether your furniture has surface rust or deeper issues, the first step is eliminating the unsightly build-up to assess what’s underneath. Use our easy-to-follow tricks to make cleaning rust off your patio set a breeze.

How to Remove Rust From Metal Furniture With a Potato

As strange as it seems, a potato helps you wash rust off outdoor metal furniture. Potatoes are loaded with oxalic acid. This naturally occurring substance is used in many commercial cleaners and is known for its ability to eradicate rust quickly.

If you like to use natural techniques, a potato is a cost-efficient and uncomplicated way to get the rust off your outdoor furniture. Grab a potato, some salt, and your liquid dish soap, and make quick work of the rust on your chairs.

Slice the potato in half. The cut surface is the part used to clean the rust. Squeeze dish soap onto the cut side and add a sprinkle of salt. Use the potato to scrub back and forth over the rust. The dish soap and oxalic acid from the potato loosen the rust, while the salt acts as a mild abrasive. Use the potato method on flat metal surfaces rather than intricate details where it cannot reach between the grooves.

Vinegar for Removing Rust From Metal Furniture

Distilled white vinegar is the star of several cleaning hacks and for a good reason. This pantry staple contains acetic acid, which is adept at breaking down everything from grease and grime to rust on your garden furniture.

Distilled white vinegar or cleaning vinegar is inexpensive and an excellent natural way to eliminate rust safely. Apply white vinegar directly to the rust spot on your table, allow it to stand for a few minutes, and scrub the vinegar and rust away with a wire brush.

For thick layers of rust, soak an old towel in a bowl of white vinegar and lay it over the orange residue. Leave the towel on the furniture for up to 24 hours. The acetic acid softens the rust, making it easy to scrub away with steel wool once you remove the towel. Rinse your furniture thoroughly with water and leave it to dry.

Salt and Lemons Fix Rusty Metal

If you have a lemon in the back of your fridge and some salt in the pantry, you have all you need to clean rust off old metal furniture. The citric acid in lemon juice adds to the exfoliating effects of salt to craft an efficient scrub to remove surface-level rusting.

Sprinkle salt over the rusted region, squeeze the lemon juice onto the salt, and let the combination sit for up to three hours. Use the leftover lemon rind to rub off the rust. Rinse the metal off with clean water and let it air dry.

Ketchup and Washing Soda Rust Remover

Although it’s the last thing you expect to clean rust, tomato ketchup is ideal for removing the orange marks from your metal garden furniture. Tomato ketchup is made from a high percentage of vinegar, which also contains ample acidic acid to break down rust. The surfactants in washing soda loosen the rust particles and facilitate the process.

Combine the washing soda and water in a spray bottle and shake vigorously. Spray the rust until saturated, and add a thick layer of tomato ketchup. Leave the washing soda and ketchup on the rust for at least an hour before wiping it away with a damp cleaning cloth. Inspect the metal. If evidence of rust remains, repeat the washing soda and ketchup treatment.

Homemade Rust Removal Paste

Save money and avoid bringing toxic chemicals into your household by making your own heavy-duty rust removal paste with products you already have. Hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and cream of tartar create a paste to cut through rust without tarnishing your metal.

Baking soda and cream of tartar are mild abrasives, while hydrogen peroxide is an antibacterial and brightening agent. Together, these ingredients make rust removal easy.

Add your baking soda and cream of tartar to the bowl and pour in hydrogen peroxide, stirring until a thick paste comes together. Use the wire brush to apply the paste over the rusty metal, and leave it to sit for at least one hour.

Gently scrub the rust spots with the wire brush, then rinse away the paste and any orange particles. The rust rinses off smoothly. Check for missed patches and reapply the paste if necessary until your furniture is clean and rust-free.

Tools for Getting Rust off Metal Furniture

The proper tool makes scraping rust off painted metal furniture easier. Steel wool is a ball of fine steel tendrils that create a gentle, abrasive cleaner. The tendrils rub over the iron oxide and remove it without damaging the cast iron beneath.

Similarly, a wire brush has fine metal bristles to lift and flick rust off your outdoor furniture without leaving scratches. If you don’t have steel wool or a wire brush, use aluminum foil to make your own rust-removal tool. Take a large piece of aluminum foil off the roll and form it into a ball.

The aluminum foil ball has many edges and divots that rub over the rust as you use it, lifting it off your patio furniture. Use as much or as little foil as needed to craft a comfortably sized ball. If the foil begins to wear out or becomes too smooth, stop cleaning and create a new foil ball.

Trust Rust Converter on Stubborn Rust Stains

If you have no time for scrubbing rust off antique metal furniture, a rust converter might be an ideal solution. The rust converter comes in a pressurized can. Apply it to the rusted area like spray paint.

Most hardware and home-improvement stores sell rust converters in the paint section. Be sure to choose a converter appropriate for the metal your furniture is made from. Cover the rusted metal with a rust converter to convert the iron oxide residue into a protective barrier ready for a new coat of paint. If your furniture has rust cracking or chipping, sand it down smoothly before applying the converter to ensure the best results.

Are you confident about how to get rust off metal furniture after reviewing this article? Some chores like carpet cleaning or getting rust off your outdoor chairs seem daunting when you’re unsure where to begin. Use our simple tips to ensure getting rust off your furniture is effortless.

Rust is ugly and detrimental to the metal and, left unchecked, leads to decay. Don’t waste money on expensive new furniture. Take measures to prevent rust and get rid of any spots as soon as they begin to form using our rust removal techniques.

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