Protecting the value of your home requires a keen eye for detail because most problems with home systems start out small. What was just a tiny leak or a dripping faucet can turn into a flood over time, and small areas of corrosion can eventually lead to much bigger problems if left untreated for years. There are plenty of chemical products out there that can treat corrosion, and some can even remove corrosion completely and refresh areas where corrosion has caused damage. Unfortunately, these products have the potential to damage sensitive metals, and they can also cause a lingering odor in some cases.
The good news is that there are also household products you can use to remove and even prevent corrosion like rust. If you want to get rid of rust and other corrosion around your home without using harsh chemicals, below are some tips to help you naturally treat corroded areas and restore surfaces that have been damaged by corrosion:
Use Aluminum Foil To Remove Rust From Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is notorious for developing rust, particularly when this type of metal is used in kitchens and bathrooms. In particular, stainless steel shower and bath products are prone to developing rust when they are left to sit in moist environments. Many rust removal products are designed to be used on tougher metals, so they may damage stainless steel if used to remove rust.
Thankfully, you can simply use some aluminum foil to get rid of rust and restore the shine to your stainless steel. To do this, tear off a sheet of aluminum foil and ball it up. Once you have a tight ball of foil, scrub the rusted areas. Afterward, rinse with water and dry the surface. You’ll be amazed at how quickly and easily this method works, and it can also save you money over buying cleaning products in the store.
Soak Rusted Items In Vinegar
If you’re dealing with rusted silverware or other items of a similar size, you can use a bowl of white vinegar to remove corrosion. Do this by filling a bowl or other container with white vinegar from your pantry. If you don’t have any white vinegar on hand, you can purchase the store brand from your local supermarket. Place your rusted items in the container of vinegar, and make sure to completely submerge each item. Allow the corroded metal to sit for about 24 hours, then remove the items to rinse and dry.
This method works wonders for removing spots of corrosion on silverware and kitchen gadgets, and it won’t harm the metal. This method also helps to remove stuck-on debris that may be clinging to the teeth of serrated knives as well. For larger or thicker areas of rust, you may need to soak items more than once since the vinegar will need to penetrate and loosen the corrosion in layers. After a few attempts, your items should look almost like new.
Scrub With Potatoes And Lemons
Potatoes and lemons aren’t food items that usually go together on a dinner plate, but this combination can be great for loosening and removing stubborn rust. To use these items around your home to remove corrosion, slice a common potato in half. Shake some salt onto the rusted surface, and then cut open a lemon. Squeeze some lemon juice on the salted area of rust and scrub with a scouring pad. Afterward, scrub the area with the raw side of the potato you just cut in half.
It sounds a bit strange, but this method works to get rid of tough corrosion spots on household metal items. The best part is that it doesn’t leave behind a chemical odor like store-bought cleaners, and there’s no risk of damaging the metal either. When you’re done, cleanup is a snap since all you have to do is throw your scraps away and rinse and dry your metal items.
