How can I remove rust from my garden furniture?

DON'T order that new garden furniture just yet.

If you discover your set is covered in rust there is something you can do to get it back into good order.

How to protect outdoor furniture

It's always better to prevent your garden furniture from rusting than having to remove it later.

So when you get new garden furniture make sure to cover it when not in use.

Morning dew and rain will cause your furniture to develop rust.

If you notice that your furniture is wet, make sure to dry it up immediately, because rust develops really quickly on wet metal furniture.

Make sure to always keep your furniture clean.

Twice a year at least, try to find some time to properly clean your garden furniture with warm water and detergent, and remember, dry it up immediately.

There is also rust-resistance paste wax which you can buy from a store.

It'll come with its own instructions, but you normally just have to rub it into your furniture and it'll make sure that it looks clean and shiny.

How to remove rust from your garden furniture

If you want to save your furniture after getting rusted, then here we will tell you about several products that you can use.

These are all things that you'll probably find in your household, unless you want to go on and buy a rust remover which will include chemicals that will surely get rid of any rust.

If you want to stick to a budget, you can use some of these tips.

Vinegar

Vinegar is mentioned in many cleaning hacks - and it can be used to remove rust too.

Pour some vinegar in a spray bottle and add a pinch of salt for more acidity.

Spray it in the rusty area and leave it for 15 minutes and then just scrub it off with a wired brush or steel wool.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is another miracle worker, and we probably gave you more tips on how to clean with it rather than what to bake with it.

Make a paste out of baking soda and water and apply it to the rust on your furniture.

Let it sit for 20 minutes and then just scrape it off with a steel wool or a wired brush.

Coca-Cola

The soft drink is not only used for drinking but it can also be used for cleaning surprisingly.

Apply Coca-Cola directly on the rust stain and scrub it away with either a sponge or microfibre cloth.

This is quite a messy method because you'll have a mixture of brown Coca-Cola and brown rust patches coming off, so wear your worst clothes if you think of using this product.

Potatoes

This might sound like a weird thing to use to remove rust stains, but it works because potatoes are high in oxalic acid.

Cut the potato in half and sprinkle some salt over it and scrub it over the rusty areas.

The potato will have a chemical reaction with the rust while the salt scrubs it away.

The rust should have been removed now, just wipe the furniture with a clean cloth to remove any mess made from the potato and salt.

Scrape and Paint

You can also try scraping the rust flakes away with steel wool or a wired brush.

In each process that we showed you here, you'll always have to scrape the rust off and you will be left with black patches then, so you'll have to paint over your furniture.

Why does garden furniture rust?

Garden furniture rusts because of the elements it is exposed to.

Most of it is made out of steel or iron and such metal material will go through a process called oxidisation when it is exposed to elements such as rain, morning dew and sometimes even the heat from the sun.

You need to make sure to keep an eye out for your garden furniture, because if the rust becomes too much, you might not be able to save it.

Some furniture will be powder-coated, but be aware that this does not stop it from getting rusted. It just lengthens the process and gives it more protection.

To avoid the problem of rusting, you should try looking at garden furniture made from aluminium or teak or rattan.