How to Remove Rust From Stainless Steel Grill

Stainless steel grills are notorious for their corrosion resistance, and the buildup of rust on your grill is neither an ideal nor a mouth-watering eventuality. Nevertheless, if left outside or only cleaned occasionally, it will discolor. Due to its dreary and discolored appearance, many people think it has rust.

It’s not like all barbeque grills have the same external design. The most common BBQ grills are made of rust-proof stainless steel. Despite this, they are still rust-prone as well as scratch-prone. Cleaning a stainless steel grill with a microfiber cloth is recommended, and stay away from abrasive materials like steel wool.

Your stainless steel grill will need to be cleaned of rust after being left out in the rain or other moisture for some time before you can use it again. Take a look at these methods for thoroughly cleaning your stainless steel grill and eliminating any remaining oxidation. Continue reading to learn how to remove rust from stainless steel in your kitchen and around your house.

10 Methods To Remove Rust from Stainless Steel Grill

1) Remove Rust with Dish Soap

Using dish soap will not damage the grill’s surface since it is mild and will not leave a scratch. Using a towel, gently brush away any excess rust before you start cleaning. Remove any remaining rust by brushing it away and then adding 1 gallon of warm water to a plastic bucket—mix water and two tablespoons of liquid dish soap to get a warm soapy mixture.

Clean the grill’s exterior with a damp cloth soaked in the solution to remove debris, filth, and oil. Continue rinsing and repeating this process until no more rust is visible. Once the grill has been cleaned, use a clean, moist cloth to wipe away any remaining residues. Wipe off the grill’s exterior with a terrycloth towel or microfiber cloth and allow it to dry completely.

2) Remove Rust with Commercial Rust Remover

Rust removers sold commercially are easy to get by and are effective. Most of them work well. However, some include unsafe chemicals that you do not want to be around in your cuisine. To clean rusty grill grates, go to your local store and get a commercial rust remover created just for that purpose.

3) Using a Wire Brush

A wire brush is the best tool for eliminating rust from grill grate surfaces. Remove the barbeque grate and lay it flat on your concrete yard or BBQ area. Make use of a stiff wire brush to remove any remaining rust. Be sure to clean the opposite side as well. Placing it on its side allows you to clean between the metal rungs. Lastly, please remove any remaining rust by wiping it away with an old cloth.

4) Remove Rust with Vinegar

Another mild cleanser that may use on the exterior of your barbeque grill is vinegar. Use a cloth or brush to remove any rust residue from the grill’s exterior. After removing all rust, spray it with a mixture of water and vinegar. For best results, let the solution soak for a few minutes to help release the rust, then wipe with a towel to remove it. To ensure no rust left, dampen the cloth, repeat the spraying and wiping process many times. Use a clean, moist cloth to wipe away any remaining residue one more time.

If at all feasible, immerse the whole rusted stainless steel in white vinegar for several minutes. If you can not immerse the stainless steel thing or the rusted part, use a spray bottle filled with vinegar to spray to the rusted stainless steel grill.

After applying the vinegar, let it five minutes to take effect. To remove rust, use a moist sponge to wipe the area clean. It is ideal to use distilled white vinegar, but any vinegar will work here. Another option is to use a gentle scouring pad and vinegar mixed with water to remove rust.

5) Remove Rust with Lemon Juice

Another way to clean the interior of a stainless steel grill is to use lemon juice mixed with a dishwashing solution. Lemon juice is acidic and reacts in much the same manner as vinegar, although it takes longer to work effectively. Blend the lemon juice and dishwashing liquid to get a thick, gooey paste, and then brush it over the grill. Wrap a plastic wrap over the grill to keep it from drying and set it aside for 24 hours. After that, take off the plastic wrap and scrub the surface with a brush. Once you have done that, make sure you rinse very well.

6) Remove Rust with Soda or Cola 

You might be surprised to learn that you can also use soda to clean your grill of rust and corrosion. Due to its high concentration of phosphatic acid, cola is the best option. A gallon of cola will do depending on how big your grill is. Fill the grill with cola and set it aside overnight. Take out the cola and clean away the rust with a brush the next day. Removing the rust and leftover debris is as simple as running water over it.

7) Remove Rust with Baking Soda

A vinegar-and-baking-soda paste is an additional choice. Prepare the paste by mixing 1 cup baking soda with 1 cup vinegar, carefully stirring until it becomes a paste. It is important not to add the vinegar too quickly; otherwise, the mixture may froth. After applying the paste with a scouring pad, let it rest for about 20 minutes. After that, scrape the grill with a scouring pad until all of the rust has been gone. This procedure should be repeated as many times as necessary until all of the rust has been removed. Once you are done, please give it a good rinse under running water.

8) Naval Jelly

If the rusted area on your grill is severe, try applying naval jelly to it. Due to the high phosphoric acid content, this product should only sit on the grill for 10 minutes. For precise timing requirements, refer to the product’s label. Also, pay attention to the safety instructions. After that, clean the grill with a brush before rinsing well. To neutralize the acid’s effects on the remaining metal, use a baking soda and water mixture. Set aside for 10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

9) Remove Rust Spots with Tartar Cream

You probably do not give cream of tartar much thought, yet it is a kitchen essential that works wonders when removing stains. This powdered acid dissolves rust spots like acetic acid and may be found in cream of tartar. If you have a rusted BBQ grill, this is an excellent alternative for cleaning it out. Consider using this scouring option if vinegar and baking soda are not effective in getting rid of the problem.

Pour the lemon juice over the cream of tartar and stir until well-combined. Using your sponge or dishcloth, apply the solution to the rust spots. Remove the stain by gently scrubbing the affected area until the stain is gone. Wipe the grill dry with a clean towel after rinsing with clear water.

10) Remove Stubborn Rust Spots with Oxalic Acid

Various metal cleansers use the chemical oxalic acid, which is found in nature but also commercially marketed. Oxalic acid can be purchased and used to restore hard-to-clean rusted grills and return them to their former glory. When interacting with oxalic acid, always wear protective clothing and ensure that you have sufficient ventilation since long-term contact may irritate the skin and eyes.

You should pour the oxalic acid into the container. After thoroughly misting the rust, let it rest for a minute before cleaning it away. Then scrub the stainless steel surface until all of the rust has been loosened. With clean water, gently rinse and dry the steel before applying any finishing product. If your grill grates are rusty, oxalic acid is your best bet for getting rid of it. You may also use the oxalic acid found in a half-mashed potato to clean the grates.

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How To Prevent Future Rust Buildups In Your Stainless Grill?

When not in use, keep your BBQ grill covered to prevent moisture from accumulating. Keeping the grill in a garage or under a roof during bad weather is beneficial to prevent it from being soaked. As soon as you see rust, take immediate action to prevent it from growing. A grill’s life will last longer if it is kept updated on its rust prevention measures.

It would be best if you covered your grill l grates with a tight-fitting cover to discourage rust from accumulating on them. It will keep the amount of moisture off your grill and away from your grill grates. Keep the grill clean by wiping down the grate after each use. Food particles left on the grill will rust faster than a clean one. 

After cleaning the grill grates, apply a small amount of vegetable oil on the grates. In addition to being water-repellent, vegetable oil also prevents corrosion of equipment. During the winter, monitor your grill grates regularly if there are signs of rust. Minor rust accumulations should be cleaned up immediately to avoid further corrosion and metal damage.

How To Cleaning Stubborn Spots In Your Stainless Grill?

You may be unable to remove stubborn rust spots from stainless steel, no matter how hard you try to remove them. The use of more strong cleaning chemicals will be necessary if you come across a particularly stubborn stain that your homemade cleaning solutions cannot remove.

When it comes to removing stains from a stainless steel grill and other things, several commercial cleaning chemicals are available. You will find the benefits of oxalic acid, which you can use to remove practically any rust from the stainless steel grill. You will also learn how to effective those stainless steel cleaners mentioned in this article for removing rust spots.

Which Cleaners Should I Avoid When Cleaning Stainless Steel?

Knowing which cleaning solutions should not be used on stainless steel is maybe more essential than knowing which ones work effectively. Using the incorrect cleaning chemical may have far-reaching consequences, such as leaving a stubborn stain in your thing. Scratches and damage to stainless steel appliances are all too easy to cause if the wrong cleaning chemicals are used on them.

It is best not to use anything metal abrasive, including steel wool or steel brushes. Since they leave scratches on stainless steel, these materials are more susceptible to rusting. Cleaners containing fluorine, iodine, or other chlorides should also be avoided. The use of chlorides is not recommended since they are abrasive and can leave murky, dull stains on your stainless steel, increasing the risk of corrosion and rust.

It is our sincere wish that you found our stainless steel rust removing tutorial helpful. However, removing rust stains from stainless steel equipment may be a time-consuming and challenging task.

Conclusion

If you allow it, rust can eat your grill from the ground up. Rust may destroy your barbecue venture. The good news is that the problem was easily solved with a little hard effort and a few common home supplies. You must note that after the rust has been eradicated, you must make efforts to ensure that it will not reappear in the future.