How to Clean Rust From Wrought Iron
Wrought iron is commonly used in home decor, furniture, household items and pipelines. It is pure iron that is durable and has a grainy texture. Although it is a heavy-duty metal, it is not rust-proof. Removing rust from wrought iron will restore the natural beauty of the metal. You can remove the rust with the right products and a little elbow grease. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Coarse sandpaper
- Medium grit sandpaper
- Wire brush
- Commercial rust cleaner
- Sponge
- Water
- Dry rags
- Fine steel wool pad
- Rust-resistant primer
- Kerosene or turpentine
Instructions
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Scrape as much rust from the surface of the wrought iron as you can using coarse sandpaper, 80 grit or less. Follow this by sanding with a medium=grit sandpaper, 120-160 grit. Scrub the rusted iron with a dry wire brush to remove more of the rust.
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Scrub the rusted wrought iron with the wire brush and a commercial rust cleaner, such as CLR or Lime Away. Follow the instructions on the cleaner for proper diluting, if necessary. Scrub the stain using a circular movement. For large rust stains, pour the solution into a bucket and dip the wire brush. Continue scrubbing the iron until all of the rust is removed.
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Wipe the wrought iron with a sponge and plain water. Dry it with a soft rag.
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Buff the surface with a fine steel wool pad to restore its natural appearance.
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Apply a primer to any bare spots on the wrought iron from cleaning off the rust, if it is painted.. Be sure to use a rust-resistant primer.
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Use kerosene or turpentine for heavier rust spots on wrought iron. Place about three drops of either turpentine or kerosene onto a steel wool pad. Scrub the iron with the steel pad.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid smoking, building a fire or using any other kind of flame while working with kerosene or turpentine. Both are highly flammable and caution should be used.
Wear rubber gloves while removing rust. The chemicals may cause skin irritation.
