- A potato can remove rust from any pot or pan if it is prepared properly. Purchase an Idaho potato, and slice it in half. Wash one of the halves. You will then need to dip the inside of the potato half in one of three solutions: baking soda, toothpaste or salt. The wet part of the potato half will stick to the solution, and the outside peel will give you something firm to hold on to. The Idaho potato is strong and won't crumble while you are using it to remove the rust.
- Dip your potato half into a plate of baking soda. The baking soda acts as a natural abrasive. Lift the potato up and place it directly on the spot on the pot or pan that has rust. Slide the piece back and forth across the rust, using some strength. Rinse the pot or pan out and make sure all the rust is gone. If some still remains, dip your potato back in the baking soda and repeat the rubbing.
- Squeeze some toothpaste on the cut end of the potato half. You can use a knife to spread it on evenly. Place the toothpaste side of the potato half on the rusty part of the pot or pan. Slide it back and forth by applying pressure with your arm. Rinse the pot or pan and make sure all the rust is gone. Repeat the process if a little bit of rust remains.
- Shake some salt on the cut end of your potato half. Set the salt side of the potato on top of the rust. Move the potato back and forth, and side to side with some. You will feel the rust begin to loosen. Rinse the pot or pan so that you can tell whether you got all of the rust. If you didn't, repeat this.
