Whipping Rusty Metal Patio Furniture Into Shape With Simple Remedies

28 April 2016
 Categories: Home & Garden, Blog

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Even though metal patio furniture is bound to outlast other styles crafted with canvas and wood, it can be prone to rust through the years. Thankfully, with a little elbow grease and a good rust remover, you can snap that rusty patio furniture right back into shape. While it is always easier to just pick up a good rust remover at the home improvement store, if you are in a pinch and need to get your outdoor furniture ready for a backyard barbecue in a hurry, there are a few home remedies you can try first.

Tackle rust with a baking soda paste.

Make a simple paste out of baking soda and water and apply the paste to the rusted areas of your patio furniture. Allow the paste to sit for a bit and then gently scrub the paste away with a soft sponge in a circular motion. A lot of the rusty stain will come off right with the baking soda, but be careful with scrubbing with baking soda paste because if it has dried, it can cause small scratches on the painted surface. If the stain is stubborn with gentle scrubbing, remove the paste with water and try a different method.

Soak rusty pieces in white distilled vinegar.

The acidic nature of vinegar makes it an ideal solution to remove simple surface rust. Surface rust can be a problem on painted metal patio furniture when the hardware like screws and brackets start to corrode. Spray the distilled vinegar on the surface rust and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Use a soft cotton cloth to wipe away stains and excess moisture. Just don't forget to spray away the vinegar smell once you are done with water because pests will be attracted to the odor.

Take a potato to stubborn rust spots.

As odd as it sounds, potatoes are actually an effective rust-removing agent. This is because potatoes contain oxalic acid, which is a very effective rust remover because it breaks down the compounds of the corrosion so it is easier to pull it away from a separate surface. In fact, if you do go after a rust remover at the store, look at the ingredient listing for oxalic acid as it can be found in some of the more natural-based rust removing products. If you have some super stubborn spots on your furniture, cut open a potato and scrub the area, wiping away rust as you work.

For more information, contact UnRust or a similar company.