How to Clean Black Pipe Rust
Black pipes are made of steel and lacquered with black paint. These pipes are sold in many lengths and diameters for various plumbing needs. Steel is susceptible to rust, and with the pipes’ exposure to water and air, there is a strong likelihood rust will form. Rusted pipes are harder to remove when there is a leak and therefore harder to replace. But there are a few ways to clean rusted black pipes. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Steel wool or wire brush
- Lemon juice
- Borax
- Naval jelly
- Work gloves
- Scrubbing pad
- Cloth
Instructions
-
-
1
Scrape off the rust. The easiest way to get rid of rust on pipes is with a wire brush or steel wool. Use pressure, scrub the rust rigorously. For stubborn rust stains, add mineral oil. Apply the oil with a paper towel and wait 10 minutes for the oil to soak into the rust. Then scrub with the steel wool or wire brush.
-
2
Use lemon juice and borax. For a deeper cleaning, make a paste of lemon juice and borax, suggests the article “How to Create Home Made Rust Removers” on the Edubook website. Add 1 tsp. of lemon juice to about 1 tbsp. of borax. Make a thick paste and apply to the pipe with steel wool. Wait 15 minutes. During this time the citric acid in the lemon juice helps to remove the rust. The borax has abrasive particles that scrub away the rust. Wipe clean with a cloth. If rust remains, repeat the method.
-
-
3
Use naval jelly. Naval jelly is a popular rust remover. It main ingredient is phosphoric acid. The article “Removing Rust from Tools” on the Thrifty Fun website reports that phosphoric acid dissolves rust stains. Put on a pair of work gloves before applying the naval jelly with a scrubbing pad. Rub the gel-like material into the rust stains. Let it stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Then scrub the rust stains with the pad. Wipe with a cloth.
-
1
