Soak in white vinegar then scrub

Submerge rusty items in undiluted white vinegar for several hours, then scrub the dissolved rust away. Acetic acid converts iron oxide into water-soluble iron acetate that wipes off easily.

Steps

1. Place the item in a plastic or glass container (not metal)
2. Cover completely with undiluted distilled white vinegar
3. Soak 4-8 hours for moderate rust, up to 24 hours for heavy rust
4. Scrub with a stiff brush, steel wool, or crumpled aluminum foil
5. Rinse thoroughly with clean water
6. Dry immediately with a cloth or compressed air
7. Apply a light coat of protective oil (mineral oil, 3-in-1 oil, or camellia oil)

Tips

• For large items, soak rags in vinegar and wrap the rusted areas, re-wetting periodically
• Adding 1 tbsp salt per cup of vinegar accelerates the reaction on heavy rust
• Do not soak for multiple days unchecked -- prolonged exposure can etch the base metal
• Exposed metal can flash-rust within minutes, so dry immediately after rinsing