Rust is a red metallic stain created when iron collides with oxygen mixed with a hint of water. When iron and its other alloys deteriorate from chemical reaction, they form iron oxides. This chemical process is very common because iron combines with oxygen very readily and easily. The worst part is that getting rid of rust isn’t as easy.

Remove Rust From Clothing

It is difficult to escape rust stains when you're working with metallic objects. When this happens, doing your laundry becomes an even more demanding chore than it already is. To make this task less burdensome, follow these basic rules to eliminate the auburn dirt from your clothes with ease.

• Always check the attached instructions on how to care for the fabric if removing stains for the first time.
• Pad the back of the tarnished area with paper towels.
• Soak the rust stain with fresh or bottled lemon juice.
• Dry off the lemon juice by hanging the clothes under direct sunlight.
• Rinse clothes normally.

If your efforts remain futile despite giving it your best shot, don’t despair. Here are other alternatives to keep your clothes rust-free.

• Boil the fabric in water mixed with cream of tartar then launder the garment again afterwards.
• For cotton and linen textiles, use liquid dishwashing or laundry detergent and rinse with water immediately after.
• If you want a subtle, yet potent solution, apply citric (citrus fruits, Lysol) or acetic (vinegar) acid on the blotched area of your outfit.
• For clothes made from delicate fiber like rayon, silk and wool, it is best to bring them to a commercial laundromat, instead of purging the stains yourself.
• Saturate the stain in a household cleaning agent, such as bleach, rustproofing powder or any product that contains oxalic acid, but be careful in putting too much because it might ruin your clothes altogether.

Remove Rust From Carpets

Carpets are interior floor decorations woven for comfort and style. Without these fancy furnishings, your home would look empty and barren. If you surround carpets with metallic accessories and furniture, they accrue rust and iron filings. In case that happens, here's what you should do.

• Scrape off as much rust as possible using a dull edge blade.
• Spray the rusty spot with lemon juice.
• Let the juices flow for five to 10 minutes to penetrate the tarnished spot.
• Press a paper towel on the crimson spot without rubbing it.
• To completely remove the rust, gently scrub a dishwashing detergent solution on the carpet using a toothbrush or small scrub brush for double-layer action.
• Dry the carpet first before vacuuming.

Remove Rust From Stainless Steel

Despite what its name implies, stainless steel isn’t impervious to rust. It is actually one of the most common victims of the iron-oxygen tag team. The good news is that stainless steal does not corrode as easy as its ordinary version. Even when it gathers iron oxides, it is possible to return this metal alloy into stainless form.

• Aluminum Trick. The first method is fairly simple. All you need is a small patch of aluminum foil and rub it against the rusty surface of the object. Dip the crumpled piece in vinegar or Coca-cola if you want to get rid of the rust quicker.
• KCN. This chemical formula stands for Potassium Cyanide. Before applying this method, be informed that cyanide can be as dangerous to your health as it is against rust. Proceed by making a paste composed of a pinch of cyanide, an ounce of calcium carbonate and water. Douse this on a steel brush and pound away the red oxides.
• Electrolysis. If you were listening during science class, you will remember that electric current can separate chemically bonded compounds, such as iron oxides. Put the rusty metal into a bucket of washing soda and water. Clip the electrode to the positive end of the battery cable and dip it into the bucket. The electrode serves as the electrical conductor and may be any piece of metal, but stainless steel works the best.For the second part of this activity, connect the negative end of the battery cable to the rusty area of the stainless steel. When you see bubbles and froth forming in the water after turning on the battery charger, it means the electrolysis is working. It may take up to several hours to cleanse the stainless steel. Notice that the more iron filings are separated, the redder the water becomes. Dry the object quickly after removal using a hair dryer. Remember that you are dealing with electricity, so practice extreme care when executing each step of this method.
• Zinc Solution. This technique works well on a smaller scale. By converting iron oxides into a simple iron molecule, the bond that creates rust disappears. This is done by attacking the hydrated iron with a charged molecule with a stronger bonding force than Fe, which in this case is Zinc. When Zinc is electrically charged to become molecular Zinc, it will replace the iron molecule to eliminate the rust factor. Although iron doesn’t dissolve in alkaline solutions, zinc does.Combine lye and water at a ratio where it will boil at about 270 degrees Fahrenheit or about 130 degrees Celsius. Add zinc oxide or just plain zinc and watch it dissolve into the NaOh solution. Now that it is positively charged, the zinc molecules will overpower the iron molecules on the stainless steel and bond with the oxygen molecules. As a result, the rust gets stripped off, while the iron itself is left untouched. Who said studying chemistry has no practical uses?

Metal and steel aren’t the only things that get rusty. Even talent and skill get rusty if left unused, but that's for another topic. For now, focus on the physical objects that need rust treatment. Removing iron oxides require patience and perseverance. If you aren’t careful, you might become another one who bites the rust.

Everyone has probably heard of Midas and his touch of gold. Whenever his greedy paws make contact with any physical object, that object instantly turns into gold. In the real world, Midas has a counterpart that turns metal objects slightly golden upon contact. The big difference is that the slightly golden items greatly depreciate in value as opposed to the worth of real gold. Curious? You can just call the non-fictional Midas, oxygen and its much avoided golden touch as rust.

Despite of its golden hue, rust provides a lot of problems. Rust weakens metal structures and items, which is why large metal fixtures like buildings and bridges collapse when a large volume of rust has formed on their bases. Rust also destroys the functions of metal items as it deforms and makes metal brittle. Even rusty utensils cannot be used because rust is poisonous. As you can see, the development of rust must be avoided or stopped as soon as possible.

Given the destructive properties of rust, chemists and metal developers have created a series of items and measures to effectively deal with rust:

• rustproofing items
• rust prevention methods
• rest removers

Rustproofing Items

According to most doctors, the best cure for any disease is prevention. The same trend goes with metal and rust. You can prevent the formation of rust on your metal items if you purchase the rustproofing items available in the market. Rustproofing items come in the form of rustproofing solutions and specially formulated paint.

• Rustproofing Solutions – A rustproofing solution is commonly used on metal items that are not coated with paint. Made with phosphates and other chemicals, the rustproofing solution offers decades of rust protection to pipes, bridge bases and building foundations. Even painted items are sometimes coated with a rustproofing solution before the application of rustproofing paint since rustproofing solutions are very potent. Just apply rustproofing solution at least once a year and your metal items will practically grow old with you.
• Rustproofing Paints – Before, rustproofing is just an added feature to top-of-the-line paint models. Now, most paints are formulated to prevent rust. Rustproofing paints are chemically enhanced to prevent the appearance of rust molecules on metal. Some paints are even formulated to increase the sturdiness of a metal surface.

Rust Prevention Methods

The effects of rust are serious since most cities are totally dependent on metal. Rustproofing items are effective but there are cases when rust still manages to appear due to poor maintenance and the late application of rustproofing items. To completely prevent rust from appearing, some companies have their metal items through rust prevention processes.

• Galvanize – Galvanization is the process of coating metal with a zinc layer. To make the zinc layer impenetrable by rust, zinc is applied at a temperature of nearly 500 degrees Celsius. The zinc layer and the metal are chemically bonded due to the high temperature involved in the application. In most cases, the chemical bond is too compact for rust molecules to fit. You can make sure that rust will never appear on your galvanized item by reinforcing the metal with a rustproofing solution or paint.
• Industrial Phosphoric Acid Application – Aside from galvanization, rustproofing companies can also rustproof metal using phosphoric acid. The industrial application of phosphoric acid focuses on rustproofing hard-to-reach areas. The metal to be rustproofed is placed in a tray as strategically placed compressor guns make sure that the metal is completely covered with phosphoric acid. If you plan to use this rust prevention method, you can ask the rustproofing company to apply bitumen-based phosphoric acid. Aside from having the same rust-preventing chemicals, bitumen does not harden nor becomes brittle. These special features totally shut-out the possibility of rust formation as long as the bitumen layer is still present.

Rust Removers

Rust removers are specially formulated with chemicals that easily cut through layers of rust. Rust removers often come as penetrating solutions or rust-killing lubricants and can be used for other household applications such as loosening metal items, removing grease, and eliminating the noise of squeaky hinges. Made with harmful chemicals, you should wear a pair of safety gloves whenever you use a rust remover.

• Penetrating Solution – The penetrating solution is the most effective form of rust removing material available. It is made with rust-corroding chemicals like liquefied Petroleum and Stoddard solvents, which can displace gas upon continuous contact. Since the penetrating solution is a powerful corrosive solution, it is often sprayed instead of splashed over a rusty surface. Applying too much penetrating solution can damage and weaken the metal as well so you have to be precise with the amount of the penetrating solution to be used.
• Rust-Stripping Lubricants – Anti-rust lubricants are quite useful. These solutions may not be as potent as penetrating solutions but they are good household and automotive items. Aside from cutting through layers of rust, a rust-stripping lubricant can be used for all sorts of loosening applications. You can use the lubricant for jammed car parts or home items. If you do not have a good number of rusty items, this lubricant upgrade is a better purchase than the penetrating solution.

How to Extract a Rusty Surface

Spraying a penetrating solution alone will not help you remove thick layers of rust. You have to follow a very simple procedure to effectively use a rust remover.

Materials Used:

• rust remover (penetrating solution or rust-stripping lubricant)
• safety gloves
• rug
• sandpaper

Gather Materials

All the materials needed for removing rust are readily available in most households. If you do not have any of the materials, a short visit to a hardware center will do the trick.

Rust Remover Application

Get your rust remover and spray a good amount of the solution on a rusty surface. Wear your safety gloves, then use a rug to scrub off the layer of rust. Repeat the process of spraying and scrubbing until the rusty layer has been removed.

Sandpaper for Thick Layers of Rust

For extra thick layers of rust, the removal process is almost the same. You simply have to rub the rusty surface with sandpaper right after spraying the rust remover. After using the sandpaper, you can scrub the rusty area with a rug. Repeat the entire process until you have removed all the rust from your metal items.

Say Goodbye to Metal Cancer

Rust is a common enemy of individuals and industries. This metal ailment works just like cancer as it eats out surfaces, until it has infected entire metal structures. Good thing, rust can also be treated just like most cancers. Extract it with the right equipment and procedure and your metal items will make a full recovery in no time.