Removing rust from stainless steel

[mjoekingz28]

I have rust stains in my sink. I know this is the weapons catergory, but SS is SS. heh


I've tried pledge and windex and am debating whether to purchase SS CLP type product.


I'd prefer not to use abrasives.

 

[Olas]

Fill the sink with coca cola

 

[hotwheels]

Try any cola of your choice. It has plenty rust-dissolving phosphoric acid in it. Citric acid in solution should also work.

hotwheels

 

[totegoat]

Used Bar Keepers Friend on the boat, should work on SS sinks.

 

[Andy636]

Are you a smoker? If yes, just use the ash (any other form of ash will do) on a cloth, with a drop of water to gentle scrub the area.

Works like a charm on SS pans as well.

 

[Robenstein]

Originally Posted By: totegoat
Used Bar Keepers Friend on the boat, should work on SS sinks.


That is abrasive. However, he can buy the active incredient, Oxalic Acid that is sometimes sold as wood bleach. It is also the active ingredient in CLP (calcium, lime, and rust)

A big jug of vinegar would also work as would coca cola if left to soak.

 

[simple_gifts]

Cameo for stainless; it has oxalic acid.

 

[datech]

I think the reason Stainless steel is used for sinks is so you can use an abrasive on it... there is no finish, it's solid steel all the way thru. A fine abrasive shouldn't hurt it.

 

[totegoat]

Just info:

"Use Bar Keepers Friend® to clean sinks made of porcelain, stainless steel or solid surfaces. Other cleansers containing bleach are not recommended for stainless steel. BKF® is also recommended for sinks in bronze, brass and copper."

 

[Carbon]

Super Iron Out powder. One way to use it is to make a paste, let it sit on the stain for a while.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: mjoekingz28
I have rust stains in my sink. I know this is the weapons catergory, but SS is SS.


If it's half way good stainless steel, it wouldn't "rust". If it is actually rust, then it's very low grade (almost not) stainless. Maybe it's not really rust, but just some nasty stains (?),

Really good stainless steel will not be magnetic, but lower grade stainless steel is magnetic. Even the lower grade stainless steels won't usually rust.

Try scrubbing the heck out of it with Ajax or Comet and a good still abrasive scrubbing pad.

 

[tom slick]

Stainless steel will "rust" for a couple of reasons no matter the "grade". More than likely the "rust" is not actually from the SS itself but something else that has oxidized on the surface.

A magnet is not a good way to tell "high grade" from "low grade" stainless steel. Many stainless steel alloys are very "high grade" and still magnetic. A magnetic only tells you that it is Austenitic which is 200 or 300 series SS. 200 series is non-magnetic but not very corrosion resistant.

 

[ZeeOSix]

http://www.sperkoengineering.com/html/Rust.pdf

http://www.bssa.org.uk/faq.php?id=8

 

[mjoekingz28]

Thanks all, its a Neptune sink. It looked really good when I went all out cleaning it when I moved in. But, a while back I got lazy and let the dishes pile up and sit a while.

I'll try some scotchbrite and comet, i just was worried about scratching it up.


Btw, i bought some 'green' ss wipes from Lowe's after I moved in and would go over it with them from time to time. I dont like buying them as they dry out, but Ive used Pledge and Windex as an alternative.