How to Remove Rust on a Bicycle

Nothing detracts from the look of your bike like rust. By being vigilant, you can prevent permanent damage to your chrome beauty by removing rust periodically. If you leave rust on your bike for too long, it will eat all the way through the metal, causing irreversible damage. Don't delay in restoring your bike to its original glory.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Wool Method

Things You’ll Need:

Wool Method:
Brass or bronze wool (steel wool will work, too, but it tends to scratch more)
Metal polish
A clean rag or t-shirt
Aluminum Foil Method:
Aluminum foil
A clean rag
Lime Juice Method:
Steel wool
Lime juice (or another type of citric acid)
Paper towel

Step 1

Put some metal polish on the brass or bronze wool.

Step 2

Rub the wool over the rusted spot, moving it back and forth until the rust starts scraping off. Do not move the wool in a circular motion, as this will scratch your bike. Instead, move the wool back and forth or up and down. Make small, conservative movements. Be careful not to rub the spot after the rust is gone, as this will also scratch your bike.

Repeat this process on all rust spots until they are gone.

Step 3

Finish by using a rag or an old t-shirt to polish your bike until it looks nice and shiny.

Aluminum Foil Method

Step 1

Grab a medium-sized piece of foil (about the size of a piece of printer paper). Create a loose ball with the foil, leaving room for air pockets.

Step 2

Rub the foil over the rust. Rub lightly at first, applying more pressure until the rust starts to come off. Be careful not to rub too hard or you might get scratches on the chrome.

Repeat until the rust is gone.

Step 3

Wipe down your bike with a wet rag and let it dry.

Lime Juice Method

Step 1

Squeeze lime juice onto the steel wool. Rub the wool onto the rust until it disappears. Do not use a circular pattern when rubbing, but rather use an up and down or a left and right pattern.

Step 2

Rinse the lime juice with water. You don't want to leave the citric acid on your bike, because this will corrode the metal.

Step 3

Thoroughly dry with a paper towel, checking to make sure you've got all of the water and citric acid off of your bike. Leaving either one behind can harm your bike.

Article Written By Kelsey Childress

Kelsey Childress runs a freelance creative business called Awen Creative that specializes in SEO Web content, social media marketing and blogging. She has been writing for online and in-print publications for over six years, and has a bachelor's degree in English literature and creative writing from Kansas State University.

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