Does Coca-Cola remove rust and how to use it correctly?

Metal corrosion not only spoils the appearance of things, but also reduces their service life. In some cases, you can even deal with rust at home using improvised means.

One easy way is to use Coca-Cola. But this cleaning option has some features that are best known in advance.

We will tell you in the article whether this drink removes rust marks and how to use Coca-Cola in the fight against rust.

Features of the effect of the drink

If the metal is not protected by a coating, rust may form on it as a result of interaction with the external environment (oxygen and moisture). Over time, corrosion eats away at the material more and more, and it becomes brittle.

The effectiveness of Coca-Cola against rust marks is explained by the inclusion of orthophosphoric acid in its composition. This is a food additive approved for use in the food industry. According to the international classification, it is coded “E338”.

In addition to food products, phosphoric acid is also used in special products - rust converters.

In what cases will the cleaning method be effective?

The method of using drinks containing orthophosphoric acid gives good results with minor rust lesions.

• screws;
• nuts;
• screws, etc.

When won't it help?

Despite the inclusion of orthophosphoric acid in the composition, using cola may not always be highly effective.

Situations where it is recommended to use a commercial rust converter and a stiff brush are when there is significant corrosion.

It can also be difficult to treat large areas affected by rust.

Coca-Cola will not help in cases where it should be removed:

• greasy and oily contaminants;
• paints;
• ink, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages of the technique

The Coca-Cola cleaning method has many advantages:

1. The product is always on sale.
2. Cleaning small items is very easy.

The disadvantages include the following:

1. Weak effectiveness with extensive metal damage and a thick layer of rust.
2. If you need to clean a large number of items, you will need a lot of cola.
3. Cleaning bulky items with cola is inconvenient and time-consuming, or you will need a large volume of the drink, which may not be financially viable.
4. Not suitable for processing complex mechanisms.
5. Coca-Cola is not an all-purpose cleaner, so it won't work on many types of stains.

Use cases for Coca-Cola

The basis of the methods for cleaning objects from rust using popular soda is the organization of direct contact of the liquid with the object that needs to be cleaned.

How to clean small items?

Cleaning small items with Coca-Cola is very easy. For this you will need:

• a small container into which the item affected by rust can be completely dipped;
• sufficient amount of drink to fill the selected container.

Procedure:

1. Pour Coca-Cola into the prepared vessel.
2. Put rusty things in it.
3. Leave for a day or two.
4. Rinse metal objects with water.
5. Wipe them with a rag.

If the Coca-Cola does not completely cover the areas with rust, the parts protruding above the liquid will not be cleaned.

Cleaning large surfaces

For large surfaces, the metal dipping method is very difficult to implement. In this case, this recipe will help:

• water the rusted metal surface generously;
• watering must be repeated every 15 minutes;
• after 2 hours, wipe the surface with a damp cloth;
• wipe the metal dry.

A better result than watering with cola will be given by this method:

1. Moisten a rag with Coca-Cola.
2. Apply to the area with rust.
3. Leave for several hours, not allowing the fabric to dry out.
4. Wipe with a cloth or brush.
5. Rinse.
6. Wipe with a cloth.

What can replace this soda?

In the recipe for cleaning products from rust, Coca-Cola most often appears as one of the popular drinks that everyone hears thanks to a wide advertising campaign.

But this does not mean that using other sweet carbonated drinks will not work. for cleaning things from rust.

You can replace Coca-Cola with any soda that contains citric acid, even regular lemonade. The effect of such processing of things will also be, but a little weaker, since cola contains phosphoric acid.

Recommendations

In order for rust removal to go well using Coca-Cola, It is necessary to familiarize yourself with the advice of specialists:

1. If cleaning does not remove all the rust the first time, the action can be repeated.
2. Objects soaked in Coca-Cola should not be stirred, removed or exposed to other influences during cleaning.
3. Cola does not have disinfectant properties, so if, for example, mold is detected, it is worth using special targeted products.
4. You cannot use cola to clean complex devices with built-in electronic components and other elements that are prohibited from being exposed to liquids.
5. In addition to rust, cola is also effective in combating limescale, for example, on plumbing fixtures.

Conclusion

Using Coca-Cola to clean rust from surfaces will help you deal with the problem at home, without using special products. In this case, you must follow all the rules and do not use the technique on electronic devices.