Cast iron skillets are great cooking tools, but poor maintenance can result in a rusty pan. Luckily, a solution just requires white vinegar and clean water.

The acetic acid in vinegar reacts with the rust and makes it flake off the surface of the iron so that you can wash it away with water.

Fill a disposable aluminum pan with enough vinegar to submerge the skillet halfway, then add an equal amount of water to cover it completely.

Stir the liquid with a wooden spoon to mix it thoroughly, and let the skillet soak for about an hour. Don't leave it in too long, as the acetic acid will begin to eat the iron.

After soaking, use a stiff scrub brush or plastic scouring pad and a little mild dish soap to help loosen up the residual rust flakes, if needed.

Rinse the cast iron skillet in water to remove all the vinegar and completely dry it. This will remove lingering rust residue and stop the reaction between the vinegar and metal.

You can season it to help prevent future rusting by rubbing a paper towel with a thin coating of vegetable oil on the pan and baking it in an oven at 450 degrees for an hour.