Two Kitchen Essentials That'll Help Bring Your Hand Tools Back To Life

Is there anything more frustrating than reaching for your trusty wrench or garden shears only to find them stiff with a thick coat of grime and rust? We don't think so either. The problem is that this buildup isn't just an eyesore; it's ruining your equipment. It can make your tools harder to use and even less efficient, and they become increasingly susceptible to flat-out permanent damage. But before you head over to your local hardware store for some expensive chemical cleaner or a replacement tool, take a detour to your pantry. The solution to revivifying your well-used hand tools is likely sitting in your kitchen: salt and white vinegar. This classic powerhouse duo is back at it again (you may know them from such popular tasks as removing soap scum in the bathroom and restoring the shine to antique door handles) as a cheap, safe, and pleasantly effective way to dissolve rust or sticky residue and restore your tools to their former glory. 

The magic of this combination lies largely in the acid-and-abrasive action these kitchen essentials offer. Experienced homemakers and DIYers often lean on various vinegar hacks to remove rust around the home and garden, because its key component, acetic acid, is a mild (yet potent) substance that chemically reacts with and dissolves the iron oxide layers. It also helps break down sap, grease, and sticky adhesives. But vinegar alone can sometimes take longer than you'd care to wait, and that's where the unsung hero, salt, comes in. When added to the vinegar, the salt particles act as gentle abrasives that'll lift and scour the dissolved gunk or rust away as you scrub. When soaking your tools in a vinegar bath, salt speeds up the cleaning process and gets you a cleaner metal finish than the acetic acid alone.

The best way to deploy your salt-and-vinegar tactics depends entirely on the state of your tools. For those truly in a bad way, like pruning shears left out all winter, we recommend a full submersion; it's one of many genius hacks for removing rust from tools. For this approach, mix 1 tablespoon of salt per cup of white vinegar, and let the tools soak overnight or for up to three days. Here, the acetic acid will pierce through and soften the corrosion, making it super easy to scrub away the next day with a stiff wire brush, steel wool, or abrasive scouring pad.

The longer your tools soak in this mixture, the greater an effect the mixture will have on getting rid of tool rust. But what if the buildup isn't so bad or you only need to clean off a couple areas? Try letting your tools sit for a shorter period of time (around 15 to 30 minutes) before scrubbing. Or, form a paste with the vinegar and salt, and let it sit on the affected areas for a few hours. Use the coarse salt to help abrade the rust as you scrub it off.

Whatever method you choose, you'll need to give your tools a thorough rinse with clean water after and immediately dry them off to prevent flash rust. And to give your tools some protection against rusting, go ahead and wipe the metal with a light coat of mineral oil or WD-40. With salt and vinegar, two simple and affordable kitchen staples, you now have a non-toxic secret weapon for effective tool maintenance.