Q&A for How to Clean Rust Off Stainless Steel

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What removes rust from stainless steel at home?

Dario Ragnolo
House Cleaning Professional
Dario Ragnolo is the Owner and Founder of Tidy Town Cleaning, a home cleaning service in Los Angeles, California. His business specializes in residential & commercial cleaning. He is a second generation home cleaning expert, who grew up around his parents cleaning business in Italy.

Dario Ragnolo

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

You can remove rust from stainless steel by mixing 1 tbsp of baking soda in 1 cup of water. Then, use a soft-bristled brush to scrub the stainless steel with the mixture. If the rust is too deep inside of the steel, you can try to use a product like CLR, or Calcium, Lime, and Rust remover. However, avoid using that on delicate appliances or surfaces, or it might damage them.

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Does vinegar remove rust from stainless steel?

Dario Ragnolo
House Cleaning Professional
Dario Ragnolo is the Owner and Founder of Tidy Town Cleaning, a home cleaning service in Los Angeles, California. His business specializes in residential & commercial cleaning. He is a second generation home cleaning expert, who grew up around his parents cleaning business in Italy.

Dario Ragnolo

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Yes, especially if you have a small object or something you can submerge in the white vinegar. After 2 or 3 minutes, remove the item and brush off the rust with an old toothbrush.

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Question

How do you remove rust from appliances?

Dario Ragnolo
House Cleaning Professional
Dario Ragnolo is the Owner and Founder of Tidy Town Cleaning, a home cleaning service in Los Angeles, California. His business specializes in residential & commercial cleaning. He is a second generation home cleaning expert, who grew up around his parents cleaning business in Italy.

Dario Ragnolo

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Depending on how bad the rust is, you may be able to remove it with a brush dipped in a mixture of baking soda and water. For more serious rust problems, you can use a product that has oxalic acid.

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Question

What methods can I use to removal rust from stainless steel?

Community Answer

Try using white vinegar, baking soda and water, oxalic acid, lemon and salt, or a potato cut in half dipped in dish soap.

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Question

What about making a paste out of baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice? Would that be like a "super paste" using multiple elements, or would the combined chemistry mess it up?

Community Answer

Since baking soda would just react with the acidic vinegar and lemon, it will become neutral and ineffective.

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If it has rust on it, it's not stainless steel, is it?

Community Answer

Nickel, molybdenum, niobium, and chromium enhance the corrosion resistance of stainless steel. It is the addition of a minimum of 12% chromium to the steel that makes it resist rust, or stain "less" than other types of steel.

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