On the plus side, naval jelly gets rid of rust in about five to 10 minutes and any excess product can be removed and cleaned with water. Naval Jelly, a phosphoric acid-based, caustic rust remover, is suited for heavily rusted iron or steel, but should not be used on delicate materials like fabrics, as well as aluminum, chrome, stainless steel, cement, fiberglass, marble, plastics, or painted surfaces (it will remove paint). Though effective and fast, usually working within minutes of application, acids emit harsh chemical fumes, so you must use them in an outdoor or well-ventilated space and wear protective gear (goggles, face mask or respirator, rubber gloves).Īcids also incur the risk of surface damage due to corrosiveness. The typical percentage of acid in a rust remover is about 30 percent-the maximum amount that can dissolve in water and serve as a cleaning agent. The three main types of chemical rust removers are:Īcids, including nitric acid, acetic acid (white vinegar), phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, muriatic acid, oxalic acid, and citric acid.
The most common method of removing rust involves commercial-grade chemicals that eat away at rust build-up and stains. Rust removers aren’t good for delicates like wool or silk, but for most other surfaces, you’ll find your solution below. Rust stains are difficult to remove because of their bright color and stubborn resistance to typical cleaners like bleach and soap. When iron molecules are oxidized they form an orangey-red residue (rust) on any surface containing-or in contact with-iron, including clothes, tools, household faucets, shower caddies, and the chrome fixtures on cars and bicycles. Basically, iron corrodes when it is exposed to oxygen and moisture (water or humidity), the technical term for the process being oxidation. Photo: Understanding Rustīefore attempting the chemical process of rust removal, it helps to understand just what rust is in the first place.