How to Remove Rust From Screws: A Step-by-Step Guide

Rusty screws present a potential hazard, so most people end up throwing them away and getting new ones. However, if you remove the rust, the screws will be entirely usable again, and it’s easier to do so than you think.

Here is how to remove rust from old screws in 8 easy steps:

1. Unscrew rusted screws
2. Get an acidic solution
3. Put the screws and solution inside a container
4. Let the screws soak
5. Take the screws out of the bath
6. Scrape the screws with a sponge or small brush
7. Dry the screws
8. Prevent the screws from rusting again

So, let’s walk through these steps together and remove the rust from your screws. I’ll teach you what you can use to remove rust, how to do it, and how to prevent the rust from coming back.

1. Unscrew Rusted Screws

Removing the rust isn’t that difficult, as there are many possible solutions. However, before getting rid of the rust, you first need to remove the rusted screws from wherever they are screwed in, which is rarely an easy task.

There are a couple of things to look out for to determine the approach you need to take to remove the rusted screw:

• How deep the screw is in – if the screw is only a couple of threads in, it would be far easier to remove than if it’s screwed in a solid material like wood or metal.
• The type of tool and screws – screws come in many forms and sizes, and if you’re going to use a tool for removal, you need to make sure that it will work for those specific screws.

With that said, here are some methods to try when trying to remove rusted screws:

Apply Lubrication to Screw and Try to Remove It With a Tool

Rust makes the screw stuck in its place, but by adding a lubricant such as a grease or another oil-based product, you will loosen it up and hopefully be able to unscrew it.

Apply the grease one inch away from the bolt head to avoid getting it stuck in the bolt drive. If it doesn’t work the first time, you can try again, but clean up all the old grease before you do so.

Apply Heat to Rusted Screws

If you have a torch or a similar heat source available, you can use it to heat the rusted screws. This method is a bit hardcore, and you need to be careful not to injure yourself or damage the material where the screw is.

When fire reacts with metal, it causes it to expand, which may cause the rust around it to crack, giving you enough wiggle room to unscrew the screw. Still, before you do anything:

1. Wipe off the screw with a bag to remove oil or anything flammable that may be on it.
2. Prepare the torch or anything that produces flame (even a regular lighter is fine) along with some water.
3. Start heating the screw until it starts smoking, then immediately remove the heat source and pour water on the screw.

Sometimes, you can remove the screw after one try, but it will usually take a few cycles because the main thing that causes the rusted area to crack is the constant cycle between hot and cold.

2. Get an Acidic Solution

Acidic solutions will eat through rust, helping loosen corrosion from your screws.

Although quite a few solutions will work, vinegar is the most popular option since most people already have it in their cabinets.

Vinegar contains acids that are very effective in removing rust from metal. When choosing the vinegar you use for removing the rust, make sure that it is undiluted. You can check this on the label.

Many vinegar products contain a high percentage of water, which weakens their acidic contents and will make them less effective in removing the rust. For this reason, white vinegar is a great option to choose as the acid it contains is very strong.

Still, vinegar is far from the only method you can use for removing rust from screws, even though it is probably the most convenient one. Here are some solutions you can try:

• Phosphoric acid – this acid is powerful, so you should use it with gloves, but it will be very effective and will remove rust quicker than vinegar. You can soak the screws in the acid entirely or pour a little bit on a brush and rub the screws with it.
• Hydrochloric acid – this acid is even more potent, as it can also damage the metal. You can dilute it with water to avoid damaging your screws and use protective equipment to prevent damage to your skin.
• Baking soda – Baking soda combined with water can also dissolve rust, albeit it will take a few hours of sitting. It is a great homemade alternative to vinegar.
• Salt and lemon – Lemon can also act as an acidic solution to remove rust. Combined with salt, which acts as an abrasive and reacts with the lemon, the two can get rid of rust within a few hours. You would have to do a little more brushing after the fact with this option, but it should be worth it.

3. Put the Screws and Solution Inside a Container

Once you have your acidic solution, find a small container or a bottle and put the screws inside it. You might ruin the receptacle and stain it with rust, so only use something you don’t mind tossing out.

Then, pour the acidic liquid or powder into the container, covering the screws entirely, and maybe a little more. If possible, cover the container or cap the bottle, and shake it up every so often to dislodge the rust.

4. Let the Screws Soak

Give some time for the acidic elements to react with the rust.

Depending on the chemical you use, it may take longer for the rust to become dislodged.

Hydrochloric acids and phosphoric acid work within minutes. If you leave your screws in these acids for too long, they could eat through the metal, damaging your screws’ threads. So, be quick when you are using these solutions.

However, vinegar, lemon juice, or baking soda usually takes a little over 10 hours to dissolve rust completely. So, it would be best to soak the screws for a whole day when using these materials.

5. Take the Screws Out of the Bath

When the solution you have soaked your screws in has become darker and rust-colored, it’s time to take your screws out of the bath.

When working with hydrochloric or phosphoric acids, be very careful. You will need to wear gloves, long sleeves, and closed-toed shoes to protect yourself from acid burns. Collect the remaining solution and dispose of it in a waste containment center to avoid burning other organisms or your drains.

However, if it’s just vinegar, lemon, or baking soda, you can use your hands and discard the solution in the garbage.

6. Scrape the Screws With a Sponge or Small Brush

Although the solution has most likely gotten rid of all the rust, you should also scrape the screws. It’s best to give them a thorough scrub with a sponge or brush like an old toothbrush, wire brush, or old dish brush.

You should do so under running water. Rubbing off the crusty rust spots will eliminate any remaining rust and clean off the solution, helping protect your screws from any further damage.

6. Dry the Screws

The next and final step is to dry the screws.

You don’t need to let them air-dry and lose a few more hours of your precious time. Instead, you can simply rub them with a cleaning rag until they are completely dry.

If you have a lot of screws to go through, switch to new rags once the old ones get damp. Otherwise, it won’t take long for new rust to appear, and you will have the same problem all over again.

7. Prevent the Screws From Rusting Again

If you want to avoid encountering a problem with rusted screws, there are a few preventive measures you can take. Firstly, though, it is essential to understand why rust appears.

Rust appears when you expose the iron from the screws to moist air. The water and oxygen in the atmosphere react with the metal and form hydrated oxide– rust.

Knowing this, you can now take some preventive steps to stop this from happening:

• Store your belongings indoors – Since screws get rusty because of exposure to air and moisture, you should store all the belongings you can indoors. Find a place for them that has little humidity. You can also use a dehumidifier, especially effective in a garage.
• Keep things dry – Regularly wipe down any areas with screws to avoid moisture from building up and causing rust to appear.
• Regularly oil up the screws – You can significantly slow down the rusting process by regularly applying lubricant to the screws.

WD-40 would be an ideal lubricant for your screws as it drives out moisture and acts as a corrosion inhibitor.

Key Takeaways

Rust can appear on screws due to exposure to air and moisture, making them very difficult to remove or use. Thankfully, you can try some of these methods to remove the rust:

• Place the rusted screws in a container filled with an acidic solution.
• Scrub off the rust and dry your screws thoroughly.
• Avoid storing screws in damp areas and oil them frequently to ward off corrosion.