Vinegar to Remove Rust From Stainless Steel

Vinegar can keep your stainless steel rust-free.

Stainless steel can be found in almost any kitchen, often in the form of cookware, appliances and sinks. While generally stain resistant, the surface of stainless steel can develop rust in certain conditions. Rusted stainless steel is typically only a surface problem, so it tends to be easier to control than rust on other types of metal. Plain white vinegar acts as an effective, all-natural cleaning agent for even the most stubborn stainless steel rust problems.

Things You'll Need

• Spray bottle
• Plastic scraper
• Scrubbing sponge

Instructions

1. Rinse the stainless steel with water to remove any dirt, dust or other types of residue. All of these may potentially scratch the stainless steel during the cleaning process, so it's important to rinse it beforehand.

2. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar. Spray a thin layer of vinegar on the rust and let it soak into the rust for at least 15 minutes.

3. Scrape the rust away with a plastic scraper. Discard the rust in a garbage bin. If the rust doesn't come off in the first attempt, apply more vinegar and let it soak in for an additional 20 minutes.

4. Scrape the rust away and discard it. Scrub the stainless steel with a scrubbing sponge to remove any stains left behind from the rust.

Tips & Warnings

• For hard-to-remove stains, sprinkle 1 tsp. of baking soda on top of the rust, spray it with vinegar and let it sit for five minutes. Scrub the stain with a sponge until it comes out.

References

• Washington State University: Creative Cleaning
• Rogers State University: Spring Cleaning Tips (PDF)