I have an old metal glider that is covered in rust, can anybody recommend a good rust remover?

Dawn Fricke
by Dawn Fricke
I've looked at the products that Home Depot and Lowe's carry and I'm not sure what would be best.
  13 answers
  • Rust removers really do not work all that great. They are often messy and take some work to use. If the glider is in good shape you may want to invest in renting a small sand blaster and compressor to use to remove the paint and rust. This will clean the metal and prep it really well to accept a new coat of primer and paint. You can also purchase a cup wire brush that is put into a drill and use that to remove the rusty areas. Just be sure if you do it that way that you wear eye protection and sturdy gloves as the wires come out of these tools really easy and fly all over the place.
  • Dawn Fricke Dawn Fricke on Apr 04, 2013
    Yeah, I was afraid of that. Thanks!!
  • SheerIdeas SheerIdeas on Apr 04, 2013
    http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Rust-from-Metal is some options that are more natural and the baking soda option w/vinegar paste solution works really well for me - I usually let it sit for awhile then wipe it off. for items that can soak...you can also use Coca-Cola!
  • Mistie Mistie on Apr 04, 2013
    Rust removers don't really work. They may help a bit however i redid a bistro set last year and I had to use lots of elbow grease and sand paper.
  • Suzy Myers Suzy Myers on Apr 05, 2013
    Very fine steel wool is what I use with lots of elbow grease.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Apr 05, 2013
    If you can locate a place that does sand blasting, they might be willing to do this for you as well as make some recommendations as to what primer to use to help keep down rust.
  • Suzette Trimmer Suzette Trimmer on Jan 10, 2015
    What about soaking the old rusted tools in thick motor oil. I am not at all sure regarding this measure however; I remember my grandmother leaving many of her essential gardening tools that suffered extreme rusting from summer exposure in flats or old paint cans full of black oil. They sat there most winters. Early spring she would set about cleaning them off and when she did I noticed how much of what just floated off was the rust. Anyone if there is any truth behind what I think I remember? Thank you one & all.
  • Dawn Fricke Dawn Fricke on Jan 10, 2015
    It's very difficult to locate sandblasters nowadays. I appreciate all of the comments!!
  • 1338690 1338690 on Oct 12, 2015
    At the grocery store where the spices are located you can find Citric Acid for home canning tomatoes. A teaspoon of this in a 1/2 gallon of water would be a good place to start. I usually soak things that are way corroded in a stronger solution. You will be amazed what this will clean up! I really like the fact that it is doesn't smell and I don't need to wear gloves for protection.
  • Leigh Leigh on Oct 12, 2015
    I would take a stiff wire brush or angle grinder and buff off as much rust as I could. Then, dunno if it would work but why not Pepsi and steel wool like how they get rust off of bumpers. Think "automotive". :)
  • Sandra Goldman Heilig Sandra Goldman Heilig on Nov 01, 2015
    just saw a post to crumble up Reynolds wrap and run under cold water then scrub the chrome with that
  • Suzanne Suzanne on Nov 03, 2015
    Use a wadded up wet piece of foil. I know this sounds odd bu it sure made a 1960's retro table and chairs shiny again. Get scrubbing.
  • Suzette Trimmer Suzette Trimmer on Nov 04, 2015
    Great question Thank you for putting this out there for I too have many rusted objects but hesitated to do anything because everything I have read thus far too harmful. I remember my grandmother soaking rusted items in cans of oil, does anyone know why or what the oil did or the benefits?