Easily Remove Rust With This Cleaning Hack Hiding In Your Kitchen

If you've ever owned a metal tool, you've likely dealt with the frustrating reality of rust at one point or another. Despite the perceived durability of some metals like stainless steel, no metal appliance is immune to rust once it's exposed to moisture. From your iron pans to your garden shears, rust can creep in and destroy your most prized possessions. While preventing your tools from rusting is the best method of all, there are luckily still tricks to remove rust once it's already occurred. For this hack, you won't need to use chemical solutions like phosphoric acid that are corrosive to certain metals and dangerous to your body. Instead, try this natural and safe secret ingredient you can use to clean up rust that's hiding in your kitchen: molasses.

Yes, the same sticky substance that's often used to bake your favorite treats, like gingerbread cookies, is surprisingly effective at removing rust. Turns out, molasses is also a chelating agent, which binds to rust and makes it water soluble. A fan favorite of car enthusiasts, this sweet substance has often been used to clean parts. Some have even gone as far as submerging entire car wheels in it. It's a safe, gentle, and effective alternative to chemical rust removers. And best of all, it's something you might already have in your kitchen cabinet.

As mentioned earlier, preventing metal from rusting compared to removing it is the easiest solution. That being said, the removal process using molasses isn't difficult. The only caveat is that it requires a ton of patience, but if done properly, the results are worth it. First, grab a tub or something you don't mind getting a little sticky to put your rust-covered item in. Any plastic container with a lid works to prevent spills and to mask any unpleasant smells that could result from the process. Next, identify how much rust you're dealing with. If you're only dealing with surface rust, try starting off your mixture with 5 parts of water to 1 part of molasses. For more widespread rust, try upping the concentration of molasses to a maximum of 1 part of water to 3 parts of molasses for stronger removal power.

Once you've figured out the best ratio to use, submerge your rusted goods into the solution. If time is of the essence, try using warm water instead of room temperature water, as it might speed up the process. Now, just leave it in the container for around two weeks, and let it do its magic. Don't panic if you spot some foam or strange smells — it's all part of the process. If you've made it through the waiting period, grab some gloves and rinse off your items with water. If there's still some scum left, wipe it off with a soft cloth. Finally, let out a well-deserved sigh of relief, and repeat the process as necessary.