DIY Rust Remover

Tired of dealing with rust spots on utensils? Check out this simple DIY Rust Remover and take those rust stains away. This simple tip easily removes rust at home without any harsh chemicals.

I don't know about you, but I put just about anything in my dishwasher. It makes me feel like when I put things in the dishwasher everything comes out clean and sanitized.

I even put my favorite food scissors and knives in the dishwasher. However, I have heard that putting your kitchen knives in the dishwasher is a big no-no.

So, I wasn't too surprised when I noticed my scissors had some rust stains on them.

Luckily I was able to remove the rust from the scissors with this easy homemade rust remover.

DIY Rust Remover

To remove rust from your utensils or scissors you will need a few things.

You can see the rust stains forming on the scissors below. They aren't terrible yet, but if I don't do anything about the stains I know they will just keep getting worse.

There are plenty of rust removers you can buy in the store, but I didn't want to use anything with chemicals because I use these on foods.

Getting Started Removing The Rust

Note: It takes about 30 minutes total to remove the rust and have your utensils looking like new. So, don't start this if you need your utensils in the next 30 minutes.

Step 1: Start with a big glass or bowl. Fill the glass to the top with lemon juice. These bottles are under $2 at Aldi, so I didn't mind pouring a big glass.

Step 2: Place the utensils in the lemon juice. Make sure all the rust spots are completely covered by the lemon juice.

Step 3: Let them soak for about 10-30 minutes depending on how bad the rust stains are. The lemon juice will slowly start to eat away at the rust stains as they soak.

The lemon juice will help remove the rust. You can see the scientific reason why lemon juice removes rust here.

Step 4: Once they have soaked for about 10- 30 minutes you can rinse them off with warm soapy water.

Step 5: Check to see if the rust stain is still on the utensils.

Step 6: If the rust stain is still there add a little bit of table salt to the rust and scrub. Use a microfiber cloth to help scrub around the rust stain.

You don't need much salt to scrub the rust, around 1/2 tablespoon will be plenty for a knife or scissors.

The salt will be abrasive and help get the last of the rust stains off. The great thing about salt is it abrasive enough to remove rust stains but not abrasive enough to damage the metal. 

Step 7: If your stains are very heavy you may need to repeat the process again.

You can let your utensils soak for longer than 10 to 30 minutes if the rust stains are really bad. However, I don't recommend you let them soak for longer than two hours. Soaking for longer can damage metals.

You can also use some steel wool pads if the salt and lemon doesn't completely budge the rust stains. Just be very gentle when you are using the steel wool so it doesn't damage the metal.

My scissors look so much better after getting all the rust stains off of them. Plus, it's nice to be able to remove them with safe products and not a bunch of chemicals.

If you have tools or items that you don't mind using chemicals on you can also use Bar Keepers Friend.

Just sprinkle some of the Bar Keepers Friend over the rusted area and use a wet rag to rub it in. Rinse the Bar Keepers Friend off the tools and make sure to dry the tools completely.

To prevent rust stains from forming on your knives or utensils make sure you wash them as soon as you are done using them. Certain foods left on them can cause rust to form.

Also, make sure that you remove them from the dishwasher right away and dry them with a towel. Letting your utensils air dry can let rust spots form.

So, if you are dealing with rust stains on your utensils try out this fantastic DIY rust remover to get your knives shiny once more.

With just a few minutes in the kitchen, you can easily get all the rust stains from your utensils and scissors with this simple DIY rust remover.

Looking for some other quick kitchen tips? Check out these kitchen tips below.

• How to Remove Rust from Pots and Pans
• Easy way to sharpen kitchen knives
• How To Clean The Dryer Vent Like A Pro