Safe and effective remedy: citric acid for rust and rules for its use
Red traces of rust will not be a problem if you approach the issue of removing them in a timely and competent manner.
There are a sufficient number of folk and professional remedies, among which one can highlight one that is most effective for removing rust and safe for human health - citric acid.
This is a tool accessible to everyone that allows you to quickly get rid of rust stains from almost any surface.
Content
Will lemon juice help against corrosion?
The product of the corrosion process, rust, gradually penetrates the metal structure, destroying it.
Not only can you remove red stains, but you can also temporarily stop the oxidation process by cleaning with citric acid. It interacts with the formed iron oxides and neutralizes oxidation reactions.
"Limonnka" is an effective means of removing rust stains from:
- metal,
- glass,
- ceramic surfaces,
- clothes.
Most often, an acidic solution is used in cleaning:
- car body,
- plumbing in the house,
- old coins.
The only point worth remembering when choosing citric acid to remove rust stains: an acidic solution is effective only if used in a timely manner (as soon as the stain appears).
Pros and cons of cleaning
Compared to other methods and means of rust removal, citric acid has a number of positive properties:
- Maximum availability of the product (citric acid is available in every kitchen; if necessary, you can simply buy it at the grocery store).
- After cleaning is completed, the acidic solution can be disposed of down the drain (thus providing additional cleaning of the pipes).
- Unlike professional chemical rust removers, the cost of a bag of citric acid is low and affordable to everyone.
- When in contact with a painted surface, the acidic solution does not violate its integrity.
- If desired, you can always stop the cleaning process (just move the product with rust from the acidic solution to soda water).
- During the heating process, they will not emit toxic fumes that are hazardous to human health and the environment.
Disadvantages of use citric acid:
- For very strong, old rust stains, it is ineffective (requires repeating the cleaning process).
- A high concentration acidic solution can cause loss of color and even the integrity of the treated surface.
- After cleaning with citric acid, the remaining product must be thoroughly removed with a clean sponge or cloth.
- If a product with rust stains has rubber inserts or seals, then citric acid can destroy them during the reading process.
Despite all the positive properties of citric acid, it is best to carry out work on removing rust stains while wearing protective glasses and gloves. The thing is that when scraped, small particles of rusty plaque scatter in all directions and can injure the mucous membranes and skin.
How to remove rusty deposits?
Working with citric acid is quite simple. To achieve maximum effect in removing rust stains, it is necessary to adhere to a certain algorithm of actions:
- pour citric acid powder into a container with warm water (80 grams of dry ingredient is enough for 100 ml of liquid);
- the product with rust is dipped into the prepared solution and left for two hours (after only five minutes you can see small bubbles on the surface, indicating the beginning of the necessary reaction);
- Afterwards, the already cleaned product is removed from the solution and washed thoroughly under clean running water; if necessary, rusty stains can be cleaned with a brush.
What else can you add to enhance the effect?
You can speed up the process of cleaning the surface from rusty deposits by adding hydrogen peroxide and salt to citric acid.
Algorithm of actions:
- In a clean container, mix citric acid (50 g), hydrogen peroxide (100 ml) and table salt (1 tbsp).
- The resulting mixture is applied to the rust stain and left for fifty to sixty minutes.
- Afterwards, wipe the product with a clean cloth, removing rusty deposits along with any remaining cleaning agent.
Using this product may slightly change the color of the metal surface to a darker one.
Removal Tips
Several recommendations will facilitate and speed up the process of cleaning various surfaces against rust with citric acid:
- Before treating a rust stain with an acidic solution, the surface must be degreased (for example, wiped with a sponge moistened with liquid detergent).
- A heated solution of citric acid (40 grams of dry powder per 250 ml) will help remove rust stains from fabric. It is enough to dip the stain in the heated solution for five minutes, then wash the product a second time.
- Do not exceed the recommended exposure time of the acidic solution (maximum forty-eight hours) on the rusty surface. Otherwise, the product will become covered with a white coating, which is almost impossible to get rid of.
Video on the topic of the article
How citric acid removes rust from surfaces - in the video:
Conclusion
Citric acid is a universal folk remedy, the proper use of which will help quickly clean various surfaces from rusty deposits. It is enough to first study the recommendations for using an acidic solution, the order of its application and there will be no trace of rust left.