Vinegar to Clean Rust
Vinegar is common in the kitchen as it is used in many recipes. Vinegar is very versatile, however, and has many uses around the home beyond cooking. A powerful cleaning agent, vinegar can remove stains in everything from carpet to fabric to leather and can be used as a polish for silverware. Because it is cheaper, vinegar is an economical solution to many household cleaning chores and is also more environmentally friendly than chemical cleaning agents.
Beyond cleaning, vinegar is a great tool for removing rust from metal surfaces.
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Vinegar
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Vinegar comes from the French word "vinaigre" which literally means sour wine. Vinegar was discovered by accident thousands of years ago when a barrel of wine turned bad. It is produced when sugar ferments into alcohol; this alcohol undergoes a second fermentation through the introduction of naturally occurring bacteria which produces the vinegar.
Because of the first fermentation, vinegar can be produced from any fruit or natural sugar, producing different types of vinegar depending upon the original sugar source.
The secondary fermentation is an acetic or acid fermentation which is how vinegar becomes an acid and therefore capable of dissolving rust.
Acid
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Rust is known chemically as iron oxide and forms on metal surfaces which come in contact with water and oxygen. Acids are the best tool for cleaning as they dissolve the rust. Because vinegar is an acid, it is effective for clearing rust away.
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Household Items
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Cast iron pans often fall victim to rust due to frequent washing. Using a solution of two parts vinegar to one part water, pans should be soaked overnight. The solution will dissolve the rust.
Regions with high levels of iron in the water may have problems with rust rings in sinks and toilets bowls. Vinegar can be used instead of cleaning products to remove the rings. Simply scrub the rings with a brush using vinegar and rinse.
Automotive and Garden
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Rust can be removed from smaller car parts by submerging the items in vinegar. Heating the vinegar increases the effectiveness. Again, the rust is dissolved by the acid in the vinegar.
Garden tools, which are exposed to sunlight and water, are prone to rusting as well. Vinegar can be used to keep tools from rusting to the point of being unable to be used. In addition, rusty bolts and screws can be soaked in vinegar, making them easier to remove if needed.
Warning
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It does not matter from which object rust is being removed, care must be taken when using vinegar. It is an acid and will therefore work upon the metal underneath the rust if left submerged too long. If the object is not going to be painted, it is particularly important to prevent the vinegar from eating away at the metal as there will be no paint to protect the item from future rust.
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References
- Photo Credit rust image by jamalula from Fotolia.com
