As you hustle in your kitchen every day, your trusty knives and other kitchen utensils grow rusty. Rust develops as iron reacts to the oxygen in water and moisture. Even expensive iron tools are not safe from rust, especially if you do not keep them dry.
But don’t throw your rusty utensils just yet. They can still be good as new. In this article, we will teach you how to get rust off of kitchen utensils.
How To Clean Rusty Kitchen Utensils
There is science behind removing rust from your kitchen tools. But you can do it using everyday items that are already in your kitchen.
Use White Vinegar
- Fill a bowl with white vinegar.
- Submerge your rusty utensils.
- Soak them overnight.
- Remove utensils from the vinegar.
- Scrub the rust off with a wire brush.
If there are still some rust spots after this process, submerge the tools again. Repeat the procedure. Once you have removed all the rust, clean the utensils with water and dish soap. Dry them well.
Use Baking Soda
You can use baking soda to clean kitchen tools with light rust stains. It also works well with items made of thin metal.
- Make a thick paste using water and baking soda.
- Squeeze lemon juice over the layer covered with salt.
- Let it sit for at least two hours.
- Use the lemon peel to scrub off the rust.
- If the rust remains after scrubbing with lemon peel, use a steel brush.
- Rinse off the remaining salt, lemon, and rust.
- Dry well.
Use Potato And Dish Soap
- Cut the potato in half.
- Dip the cut end in dish soap.
- Use the end of the potato to scrub rusty spots on pans and other utensils.
- When the potato starts slipping, cut it and dip it again in dish soap.
- Repeat the process until all the rust spots are clean.
- Rinse off the tool with running water.
- Dry thoroughly.
Use Citric Acid
Citric acid is available in food stores and baking isles in supermarkets. It works well in dissolving rust in your utensils but may peel off coatings. Be cautious about what you clean it with.
- Prepare a bowl of hot water.
- Add three tablespoons of citric acid.
- Submerge rusty kitchen utensils overnight.
- After a good soak, scrub off the rust.
- Rinse the utensils and dry them well.
Conclusion
See, it’s no rocket science! Everyday items can clean your valuable tools. The five methods listed above are sure-fire ways on how to get rust off of kitchen utensils. To keep your knives and other kitchen tools rust-free, keep them clean and dry. Water is the main culprit of the oxidation problem. After washing utensils, dry them immediately. Also, keep your storage dry and low in humidity. Remember, your tools also deserve TLC. Here’s how to learn more about kitchen cleaning tips.