Changed my mind about using vinegar to clean my garden tools

Always soaked my rusty trowel and shears in a vinegar bath for a full day. My neighbor in Oak Creek said the acid weakens the metal over time. Now I just scrub with a paste of baking soda and water, takes maybe 15 minutes. Anyone have a better rust fix for old iron tools?

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3 Comments

oliver_ward145mo ago

Try soaking them in a cola overnight, the phosphoric acid eats rust without being as harsh as vinegar. Rinse and oil them after, it works on my old shovel heads. Just make sure you use the cheap, flat kind, not diet.

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spencer_sanchez675mo ago

The part about needing the flat cola is wild to me. I always thought the acid was the same no matter what kind you buy. Guess I learned something new today.

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finley_flores284mo ago

My buddy tried the cola trick and left his pruners in it for two days instead of one, came back and the handle was all sticky and the metal had this weird film lol. He said never again.

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