What Are The Effective Methods To Remove Rust From Your Knife

Keep your favorite knife in the best working condition and safe finishing. Be smart to protect it from further damage. Whether you have found an old knife in your toolbox or fortuitously left your favorite knife outside in a humid environment, the chances are great that you have confronted a nasty layer of rust. As an old common perception, rust is a sign of a knife’s quality. A rusted knife is turned useless, dangerous, and downright unattractive. So, it would be awesome to learn some effective methods to remove the foul case of corrosion. Let’s tackle the nature of rust to ensure a sharp and safe blade.

Method No. 1: Treatment with Baking Soda

The Materials required are:
Baking soda, water, toothbrush, sponge or steel wool, and cloth.

Clean your knife

Thoroughly clean your knife’s blade by removing the dirt from the surface. Avoid water that makes your knife rust. Rather, use a cleaning solution and wipe it down with a dry cloth.

Make baking soda paste

Next, make a baking soda paste. Get a fair quantity of baking soda into a bowl, add some water and stir it up to create a paste.

Scrub with toothbrush

Apply this thick paste on a toothbrush and move it across it. Scrub it off with the help of a toothbrush.

Use an abrasive sponge or steel wool

To treat extremely rusty blades, you need forceful abrasion to remove the rust. For this purpose, steel wool is recommended. Another good alternative is an abrasive sponge. Avoid scrubbing the blade surface too hard as it can ruin the finish.

Wipe off the blade clean and dry

Finally, clean the blade with a cloth piece to remove the excessive baking powder. After that, apply a good quality mineral oil to lubricate it properly. It will prevent the blade from rusting in the future.

Method No. 2: Vinegar Bath

The materials required are:
Cup, white vinegar, sponge, and cloth.

Pour some vinegar into a cup

Use white vinegar to remove rust from a knife’s blade as it contains acetic acid that will attack the rust and wipe it off thoroughly.

Soak the rusty knife

Soak the blade completely into the cup containing vinegar. If you do not want to immerse the knife, get a piece of paper towel, soak it in vinegar and wrap it around the blade. Leave it at least for five minutes.

Wipe down the knife’s blade

After soaking in vinegar, wipe down the blade. Apply mineral oil for extra protection from rusting.

Method No. 3: WD-40

The materials required are:

WD-40, fine sandpaper, and cloth.

This method is recommended only for larger knives like machetes or those not used in preparing food. As WD-40 can be dangerous if ingested. However, it is quick and effective removal of rust from a knife’s blade.

Spray WD-40 on the blade

Spray the rusty parts of a knife’s blade with a generous spritz of WD-40.

Use sandpaper and gently scrub the blade

Employ fine sandpaper to rub the blade gently. Make sure not to touch the edges.

Wipe it down

Wipe down the blade with a piece of cloth. If the rust is heavier, use the previous two methods. But avoid if you are doing any food prep with that knife. Keep your favorite knife in the best working condition and safe finishing. Be smart to protect it from further damage.

Wrapping Up

Rusting may impair any knife to perform its real jobs. By employing the above methods, you can bring some serious solutions to get rid of that disagreeable layer of rust. Consider the purpose of a knife first, then use the preferred method to clean and protect it.