4 Natural Ways to Remove Rust from Knives at Home

Handmade forged steel knives available at Damascus Knife Hub are naturally very rust-resistant. These will allow regular rust-free use for many years. However, even the best-forged stainless steel knives might develop some rust in time. Rust buildup can start from pieces and attachments on the blade that are not forged steel. This is no reason to just throw away your brilliant knives. You can remove rust from knives in a few easy steps with the right knowledge.

Some home remedies can be just what you need to get your knife rust-free again. However, some advertised chemicals should be avoided at all times as well. We have some of the easiest most basic ways to remove rust from knives at home. The best part is that you might not need to buy any additional tools or materials for the job. So, read through to find out more.

What Causes Kitchen Knives Rust Buildup?

There can be many reasons for rust buildup on knives. Majorly, when reactive steel comes in contact with certain acids, it can rust up. Certain citrus fruits and other acidic ingredients might contribute to your knives rusting. Additionally, when knives are not cleaned properly, rust or iron oxide can build. If there is food left on the bade of any knife, it can cause a chemical reaction that might result in rust. So, can you de-rust and restore your expensive knife to new condition? Of course, yes.

Natural Home Remedies to Remove Rust from Knives

1: Remove Rust from Knives with Baking Soda

Something as commonly found as baking soda can be the rust-removal remedy you need. It has a slightly abrasive texture and also a composition that helps remove and neutralize acidic materials in rust. This method has very basic steps as well:

1. Mix a small amount of water with a couple of tablespoons of baking soda. The resulting mixture should be more of a paste than a thick liquid.
2. Apply the baking soda paste to the blade of the knife where there is visible rust.
3. Get a soft cloth and massage the rust spots grabbing the blade from the dull side. Sometimes, using a small hard brush can work as well. We do not recommend using steel wool as it can cause deep scratches. Only use it when you have heavy rust.
4. You should have a rust-free knife blade. Wash it with dish soap and dry well before use.

2: Use Citric Acid to Remove Rust from Kitchen Knives

Another easy way to clean the rust from your kitchen knives is the use of citric acid. You don’t have to get citric acid from any store as well. Lemon has it in abundance. Often, combining lemon juice with baking soda makes a complete rust recovery for your knife. Although, citric acid from lemon juice can be used on its own as well.

1. Squeeze a few lemons (1 big lemon should be enough in most cases) in a small bowl.
2. If you are mixing baking soda, do it now and make a paste from lemon juice and baking soda.
3. Usually, sprinkling some baking soda on a half-cut lemon and rubbing the knife blade with the lemon also works fine.
4. Alternatively, get a clean cloth and rub the paste in gently grabbing the knife from the dull side.
5. The citric on its own or with the baking soda should eat away and dissolve the rust.
6. Run the knife in clean water and wash your rust-free blade before use.

3: Vegetables to Remove Rust from Knives at Home

Some vegetables are rich in acids that help cut through rust. Potatoes, as common and harmless as they might be, are rich in oxalic acid. Onions have a lot of sulphonic acids as well. both of these can be used to remove rust from knives at home.

• Simply, cut a potato or an onion in half and rub the rusted areas of the blade with a piece.
• This might require more rubbing time than baking soda or citric acid.
• Do it gently keeping yourself safe at all times. Wear protective gloves if required.

4: Vinegar Solution for Knives Rust Removal

White vinegar is a good source of acetic acid as well. It is a common household product available in most kitchens. Simply, submerge the kitchen knife for up to 10 minutes in white vinegar. Once you take the knife out, wipe it with a clean cloth. This is the most basic method and might require some repetitions in order to fully remove all rust from the blade. Sometimes, adding a few drops of lemon squeeze to your vinegar can help speed up the process and get better results.

Avoid These Chemical Treatments for Knife Rust Removal

Many ads might tell you some chemical treatments can be rust-removal tools for knives as well. Options like WD-40 and other mineral oil products are never the best when it comes to cleaning and removing rust from kitchen knives.

When looking to remove rust from knives, we recommend staying away from such chemicals. WD-40 can help other de-rust other metals. But, using it on knives you will be cutting foods with, is not a great idea.

Knife Maintenance Tips to Stop Rust from Building on Knives

So, what can you do to keep the rust away from your expensive knives? When you follow proper maintenance tips, you might never have to remove rust from knives at all. Stainless hand-forged steel can be very easily maintained to remain rust-free for very long. Make sure to clean your knives with warm water, dish soap and a soft sponge before storing them. Dry them properly with a paper towel immediately after using them.

Also, it is always a good idea to buy your knives from a quality manufacturer. Damascus Knife Hub offers some of the very best forged-steel handmade kitchen and hunting knives for sale in the USA. Our knives are made to last very long without rusting up. They will offer a sharp blade for use any time for a very long time as well. Please place your orders here on our website to get free doorstep delivery anywhere in the USA, any time of the year.