How to Remove Rust From Keys
We all have keys of various shapes, sizes and for many different things. We even have stored away keys with forgotten uses. But frequently used keys or keys hidden in a drawer or tool box can become rusty, and possibly unusable. The metal keys turn rusty when exposed to moisture for long periods of time. You can use a few simple techniques to clean off the rust. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Steel wool or scrubbing pad
- Mineral oil or WD-40
- Vinegar
- Naval jelly
- Work gloves
Instructions
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Scrape off the rust stains. Take a kitchen scrubbing pad or a steel wool pad and scrub it against the rust. This process usually removes surface rust. Use a little elbow grease for stubborn stains.
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Apply a lubricant. For rust stains that don’t respond to scrubbing or scraping, apply a small amount of lubricant to the rust on every key. Use WD-40 sold in hardware stores or mineral oil. Spray on the WD-40. If using mineral oil apply with a paper towel. Let the lubricant soak in, then scrub the rust stains again with steel wool or a scrubbing pad. Wipe clean.
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Use white vinegar. For heavily rusted keys, pour a few ounces of white vinegar into a bowl. Place all the rusted keys in the bowl. Wait 15 to 30 minutes. After the keys have soaked in the vinegar, remove the rust with a scrubbing pad or steel wool. The article "How to Remove Rust from Metal” on the Edubook website suggests using vinegar because its ascetic acid content helps to remove oxidation from many metals.
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Apply naval jelly. Buy naval jelly from a home improvement center. Also purchase work gloves. With a paper towel apply the naval jelly to the rust on the keys. Wait at least 10 minutes then scrub off the rust. Naval jelly is useful for tough rust stains because its phosphoric acid dissolves the rust.
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