How to Remove Rust From Stainless Steel Knives

Removing rust from stainless steel knives can be a pain. But, it doesn’t have to be. If you know what to do, you can remove rust from stainless steel knives with ease. That is why, in this quick guide, you are going to learn how to do just that!

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So, Why Do Stainless Steel Knives Become Rusty?

Even though stainless steel knives are some of the strongest knives that you can buy, they can still become rusty.

The reason stainless steel knives become rusty is because, more often than not, they’ve been exposed to water for a prolonged period of time. Being exposed to water allows the iron within the stainless steel to bond with the oxygen atoms contained within water droplets. The bond between those two components creates a layer of something known as “iron oxide”, which is just a fancier name for “rust”.

To keep your stainless steel knives from becoming rusty, it’s important to dry them right after you wash them. But, along with that, it’s a good idea to keep them away from water, to begin with, since rust will always be a potential consequence.

What Is The Best Way To Remove Rust From Stainless Steel Knives?

You can remove rust from a stainless steel knife in a couple of different ways. The following sections of the guide will walk you through the best ways to remove rust from your stainless steel knives, while also describing the advantages and disadvantages of each rust removal method.

Soak Your Stainless Steel Knives In Lemon Juice

The acid found in lemons is capable of loosening iron oxide. Soaking a stainless steel knife in this acid allows you to then wipe off the loose iron oxide, clearing the rust off of the knife.

To soak your stainless steel knives in lemon juice, you just need to fill up a glass with fresh lemon juice and place the knife in the lemon juice for five-to-ten-minutes. Right after that, you can use a cloth to wipe off the juice and, more importantly, the rust.

Mix A Little Bit Of Baking Soda With Some Water

Just about everyone has some baking soda on hand and, because of this, the method you are about to learn will likely be the easiest and most convenient method you can use.

Take a little bit of baking soda and mix it into a large glass of water. Mix those two ingredients together until you have a nice, thick paste. Take that paste, and smear it across the rusty spaces of your stainless steel knives. Right after that, use a small towel or cloth to rub the paste in, allowing the rust to be absorbed into the paste.

Soak Your Stainless Steel Knives In Vinegar

Many people have vinegar on hand so, if you don’t have baking soda, this method will be very useful.

Take some vinegar and pour it into a glass. Then, take your knives and place them in this glass. Leave them in the glass overnight – around twelve-hours, give or take – and then pull them out and wipe them down when you are finished.

Since this method takes so long, it isn’t always ideal. But, if you don’t have anything else on hand, it’s quite useful.

Conclusion

In the end, removing rust from stainless steel knives is easy, as long as you know what to do and how to do it!

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