How to Get Rust off a Knife

Rust can cause all sorts of problems, not just on knives but also on metal tools. When it comes to knives, it can make them harder to sharpen and can even cause them to become dull quicker. If left untreated, rust can also permanently damage the knife’s blade, making it harder to keep sharp. The best way to get the rust off a knife is to use oil, water, or white vinegar. You can use ketchup or any other condiment you have lying around the house. 

Once you figure out how to get rid of rust, you can get that metal looking new again. There are many methods for removing rust, and they mostly use items you already have in your kitchen. Here are 10 ways to remove rust, so your metal looks shiny again.

What is Rust?

Skip ahead if you’re only interested in learning how to remove rust from your blade. However, it is helpful to know the causes of rust.

Rust is a layer of iron oxide that forms when iron (containing oxygen) is exposed to water and air. It results from a chemical reaction between iron and oxygen in the presence of water or moisture. A common misconception is that rusting is caused by a lack of paint or coating on metal surfaces. This article discusses how rust forms, what causes it, and how to control it.

Why do knives rust?

Knives and other blades will rust if they come into contact with water and air. When water and air come into contact with a blade, a chemical reaction occurs that creates rust. The rusting process begins with a slight electrostatic charge on the blade, attracting more water and air molecules.

Newton’s Third Law states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. In this case, the rusting process releases a gas that pushes away from the blade.

10 Best Ways How to Remove Rust from Your Knife?

A rusty knife isn’t something anyone wants to use, which is why removing rust from a knife is a worthwhile endeavor. There are a variety of techniques and products out there for dealing with rust and restoring the blade to its former glory, but it’s always best to try and remove rust in the first place. Let’s follow our steps:

Clean Your Knife with Water

It is essential to make sure the blade is free of dirt and oils to remove rust from your knife. To do this, you can simply wipe the blade clean with some warm running water. Take your time with this process, but don’t be too gentle. If you do this, you could potentially damage the blade.

• Rinse away any dirt or stains with regular water.
• Make sure to wipe away all fingerprints to keep the blade from rusting.
• Wipe away any water in between the handle and blade, where it can create new rust spots.
• After you’re done cleaning it, dry the knife with a soft cloth.

Remove Rust With White Vinegar

As the age-old saying goes, “There’s no problem vinegar can’t clean.” Well, cleaning metal objects with vinegar is a clever technique that doesn’t require abrasives. First, submerge your rusted knife in a bowl of vinegar for an hour or two. Next, please remove it from the bowl and scrub the rust off with a ball of steel wool or wire brush. If some stubborn rust spots remain, repeat the process. After removing all the rust, clean the iron with dish soap and water. Dry it thoroughly.

Apply some salt and lemon juice

That is an easy way to clean rust off your knife without the use of harsh chemicals. Cut up a lemon (or two or three) and sprinkle it with salt, and rub the mixture on your knife to remove the rust. 

• Pour salt over the rust on the blade, then wipe the blade clean with a wet rag.
• Pour warm water over the lemon for about a minute. Once it has soaked up the water, use a clean cloth to dry it off.
• If lemon juice drips on your blade, make sure to wash it off in 2-3 minutes, or it will damage the metal.

Remove Rust With Baking Soda

Did you hear about the next big thing in home detoxing – baking soda? It’s excellent for light rust stains and thin metal. With a bit of water and baking soda, you can make a thick paste and use it over the metal, making sure to cover all of the knife rust. Leave it on for an hour or so before wiping it off with steel wool or a wire brush.

Stab a potato with a rusty knife

A raw potato can help remove rust from metal surfaces. It has a natural acid called oxalic acid, which will break down the rust molecules. Leaving a rusted blade inside a potato for a few hours will clean the blade. Therefore, cut the potato in half, slide in the knife, and leave it there for a few hours. Then, remove the knife from the potato, rinse away the potato juices, and dry the blade with a cloth. One thing to consider is never, ever eat a potato with rust on it.

Use Onion Method

Onions are a simple way to get rid of rust. Take a knife, cut it in half vertically, and then peel off the skin of the onion. Soak both the blade and the onion in water for a little while. You will notice that rust will start to come off on its own.

Mix white vinegar and dishwashing soap

If you want to get those annoying rust stains off your knife, dishwashing soap and white vinegar might be your best bet. Mix a little dish soap with some white vinegar or a cleaning-grade vinegar, and presto! The stains on your knife should disappear. 

Vinegar dish soap is the best way to get rid of stubborn rust stains. First, soak your blade for an hour in the vinegar dish soap solution. Then, rinse it off with running water and dry it with a clean towel.

Use citric acid:  How do you mix citric acid to remove rust?

Citric acid is a nearly magical solution for removing rust. You can find it in health food stores and some supermarkets’ baking aisles. If your rusty metal is giving you trouble, soak it in citric acid for up to 24 hours or scrub off the rust with a wire brush or an old toothbrush. Dry it out thoroughly after.

Use a non-toxic rust remover

Evapo-Rust The Original Super Safe Rust Remover is a gentler, non-acidic rust remover that is an excellent and safest option for you. It can remove rust more gently than traditional solvents if necessary and is a convenient solution.

• Pour some Evapo-Rust into a bucket and immerse the knife blade in it for 30 minutes or overnight if rough.
• After it has soaked, rinse off the excess product and dry the knife with a clean, dry cloth.

Use Dirt Method: How do you remove rust from a knife?

Some people say the best way to clean a rusty knife is by plunging it into rich soil about 24 times and wiping it clean.

Final Words

Rust is a very common and destructive metal disease that causes surfaces like metal and certain types of plastic to become rough and pitted. If left unchecked, rust can cause these surfaces to deteriorate and fall apart. Getting rid of rust with salt and vinegar is the best way. As we have explained above, there are many options to remove; you can use any of them.  If you have any questions, leave a comment below, we will let you know our answer within 48 hours.