The Kitchen Staple That Makes Removing Rust From Bolts A Walk In The Park

You don't have to toss out bolts just because they've developed a layer of rust. In many cases, that old, corroded hardware can be brought back to life with a little patience and the right approach. Rust might look like a sure pathway to the trash, but it's simply the result of iron reacting with moisture and oxygen, something that happens to the best-kept tools over time. The good news is that most rusty bolts are salvageable with a popular kitchen staple found in almost every kitchen: vinegar. There are plenty of brilliant hacks for using vinegar to remove rust around your home and garden, and it can also be used to remove rust from bolts to get them back into working condition.

Removing the rusty bolts from wherever they are stuck is necessary, because the bolts need to soak in a bucket or bowl for the rust to clear away. If needed, you could try removing them with an induction heater, a useful tool that's great for tackling rusty nuts and bolts. With the fasteners in hand, you may then be wondering how a simple kitchen staple like white vinegar removes rust. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which breaks down the rust so it's easier to remove after it has soaked. It's an effortless process that eliminates the need to use chemical rust removers that produce harsh fumes. These chemical removers can easily burn your eyes and skin and may even cause severe injury if inhaled, so not only is using vinegar to remove rust easy, but it's safer too.

Using vinegar to remove rust from nuts and bolts is known as a "set it and forget it" method — and for good reason. It really is an easy technique for removing rust that you can let sit while it does the work. It will also work on rusty screws too. Take all the bolts you want to remove the rust from, and place them in a bowl or bucket. Once the bolts are in the bucket, pour undiluted white vinegar or apple cider vinegar into the bucket until it thoroughly covers all the hardware. Let the bolts sit in the vinegar for about 24 hours for best results.

After the bolts have been soaking for 24 hours, take them out of the vinegar and use a wire brush to scrub any remaining rust from the bolts. Rinse the bolts with clean water, and dry each bolt with a towel. If the rust is really stubborn, you could try tweaking the vinegar method by adding a cup of salt to the vinegar to boost the rust-busting effects. Start checking the bolts after they sit in the vinegar and salt mix for 30 to 60 minutes to check the rust removal process. Once you have gone through all the steps, your bolts will look like new again. You can then keep them looking like new with a petroleum jelly hack that helps prevent rust, helping you save yourself some money by not having to purchase new bolts.