How to Loosen a Rusty Bolt With Coke

If you're working on a maintenance project and find a rusty bolt you just can't loosen, you could get out a propane torch to loosen and remove it safely. But if you don't have a propane torch on hand, you can just use a can of Coca-cola to help dissolve the rust.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soft cloth
• Can of Coke
• Small bowl

1. Find a large, absorbent cloth. It should be at least eight times larger than the bolt that you're trying to remove so you can fold it over and still be able to cover the entire surface area of the bolt.

2. Pour the Coke into a small bowl and soak the cloth in it. Allow the cloth to sit in the Coke long enough to be thoroughly saturated with it. Only if it's fully saturated will it successfully loosen the bolt.

3. Fold the cloth over several times to give it thickness and place the cloth on the bolt, making certain that it covers the entire bolt. The carbonation in the cola, which is a source of carbonic acid, will work on removing the rust and loosening the bolt.

4. Remove the bolt after several minutes. If it's still not loose, or if the rust is not noticeably removed, resoak the rag. Fold it so the clean sides with no rust are exposed, and repeat the process.

[KentD]

on 9/26/2008 Coke (and other colas) also contain phosphoric acid, the active ingredient in Navel Jelly. It reacts with rust. So, use a cola rather than some other carbonated drink.