Rusty Cutlery

[mumscuppa]

I wondered if anyone could suggest anything to do with a tray of rusty cutlery I have come across , they are quite old . I don't want to just throw them away .Thanks.

[Cloverjo]

Are they actually rusty, or just tarnished?
If tarnished, soak them in a glass dish lined with foil with a solution of white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. Leave for ten minutes, then rub gently with a soft cloth.

[mumscuppa]

Yes , they are actually rusty !

[Cloverjo]

Ooh, then I don't know. I think you can get a rust remover, or similar, for bathroom fittings. Try scrubbing them with something like that.

[EDDIE51]

You can never totally remove rust as the rust is formed from the iron the items are made of, so part of the metal is 'eaten away ' by the rust .
Unless they are rare and valuable I would just bin them.

[tonyav]

Do as EDDIE say's if I were you, once rust has taken hold they've had it.

[EDDIE51]

'Rust removers' are poisonous I would not use them on cutlery ! Ok on a hinge or a car body but not on cutlery !

[Cloverjo]

Ok, sorry.

[Tyrion44]

I have heard that a soak in cola removes rust but have never tried it myself.

[EDDIE51]

You could try cola if they are only starting to rust it may work. Any cola will do a supermarket own brand is as good for this as the top names .All you are going to lose is the cost of the cola.

[murraymints]

or use them if planting ericaceous plants toss them in to feed roots !

[mushroom25]

sorry off-topic, but upon the mention of rusty spoons i couldn't help but think of this....

[Prudie]

I'd rub them with some steel wool and see what happens

[joolsbabe]

Charity shop may take them, they can get money for the metal

[EDDIE51]

^ The scrap metal price for steel is at an all time low of £70 per tonne so 7p a Kg , a set of cutlery has a scrap value of about 3 pence.

[MissLead]

WD40?

[AlexGlenn]

There are some methods which can be useful in removing rust from cutlery.
Apply lime juice and salt to the affected area of the cutlery; let it sit for a couple of hours and then take an old toothbrush and gently brush the area. After rinsing with water check the results.
Use vinegar to remove rust stains, put cutlery in the vinegar and let it sit for at least five minutes and then use a sponge to scrub away the rust.

[alavahalf]

Or go to the pound shop and get a whole new set ... I cant believe what I'm reading ... it really is the blind leading the blind ... who on the planet likes the taste of WD40 ?

Get rid of them and put them where they belong .. in the bin or at your recycling centre !

[tamborine]

Give them to decorators to open tin lids & stir paint.

[Khandro]

They are probably high quality steel, (pre- stainless) are the handles good? (maybe bone?) if you want to bring them back to life, you could use some very fine waterproof silicon carbide paper, P320C grade - commonly known as 'Wet and Dry sandpaper' maybe from Halfords or good DIY shop. Work along the blade (don't scratch accross it) using WD40 as a lubricant, if that isn't effective enough start with a coarser paper, maybe P240C grade.

[Khandro]

PS take no notice of anyone's 'advice' given above, they are your knives and if you want to use them it's your choice. They will always have to be washed and dried carefully, as in the days of yore, but they will take an edge better and remain sharper longer.