Though can openers are essential kitchen tools, most of us use them rarely, which is why we find them dirty and rusty after a long time. People often don’t want to clean rust as they think it is a difficult task to do. But believe me, it is not so.
If you follow the correct methods and procedures, you can easily remove rust from can opener and use it just like the new one. So, don’t be stressed over your rusty can opener, as this article will help you out, and you will know all the required methods to clean a can opener correctly by removing the rust.
Why You Find Can Openers Rusty?
If we use can openers frequently, there is a high chance that we might not find them rusty. But, even so, the rust can appear after long-term use. Before going into the rust removing procedures, we need to know why a can opener goes through the process of being rusty.
● The main reason behind the rust is moisture. Mostly, can openers are made of stainless steel or tin. These metals are highly attracted to moisture, and as a result, oxidation occurs, and rust appears. Oxygen, salt, and acid are also vital factors behind forming rust.
● If we don’t dry a can opener properly after use, water might be there on the surface, resulting in rust and dirt.
● Even after complete drying, you might see rust on the surface of the can opener. This is because of the storage issues. If you store it in a drawer or
shelf where it comes in contact with moisture, rust spots might develop.
Removing Rust from a Can Opener
Why throw away the old and rusty can opener when you clean and remove that rust yourself? Yeah, it is super easy to make your old can opener rust-free with some effortless methods. Here we will discuss step-by-step procedures of removing rust from a can opener so that you can easily follow them and get your job done.
Things You Will Need
- A pot or bowl that can hold the can opener
- White vinegar/apple cider vinegar
- Deep cleaning brush
- Water
- Cleaning wipes/cloth
- Mineral oil/any suitable lubricant
- Hairdryer (optional)
Step 1 – Soaking the Can Opener
Take a small bowl or pot in which you can soak the can opener completely. Pour some white/apple cider vinegar into that bowl and soak the can opener for several hours. Vinegar is an acidic liquid that is super essential for household cleaning. It works pretty well to dissolve rust from metal surfaces.
The timing of soaking might vary as the rust can be hard and severe sometimes. In that case, it will need more time to loosen up the rust.
Step 2 – Scrubbing off the Rust
When the rust loosens up, it is ready to be removed from the surface. For this task, we need to use a hard brush with thick bristles suitable for deep cleaning. Brush the whole surface thoroughly so that rust from every corner of the can opener can be cleared off.
Step 3 – Rinsing off the Vinegar
The rust must have been cleared by some time after brushing the metal surface. Now, rinse off the vinegar properly with water. Keep the can opener under running water until you are confirmed that vinegar has washed away completely.
Step 4 – Drying
Wipe the can opener with cleaning wipes or a soft cloth after rinsing. Natural drying is always a better option to ensure complete drying. But you can also use a hairdryer in this case. Make sure that it dries properly as rust can form again if there remains any water.
Step 5 – Lubricating
Finally, you have to lubricate the can opener, but this step is totally optional because it might work pretty well even without any lubricant. It is considered to lubricate the moving parts as the greasiness of lubricant ensures convenient usability. If you use lubricants, mineral oil might be a better option because it is safe for use on household tools.
Preventing Rust
Proper maintenance can prevent your can opener from being rusty. It is better to take care of this must-have tool in your kitchen so that you can use it for a long time. So, how can you maintain a can opener? Here are some tips for you to follow.
1. Proper Cleaning
Time-to-time cleaning is a “must to do” task if you want to keep it free of rust for a long time. After every use, check if any chunk of food or other things got stuck in the blades or not. If so, get rid of them with a hard brush that has thick bristles. It will remove debris from every corner of the can opener.
In case of greasy food, soak it in soapy water or vinegar. Then rinse well by keeping under running water. If you don’t clean it regularly, the blades will be bland, and the stuck food particles will turn into sticky debris after a few uses.
2. Complete Drying
You must ensure that the can opener is completely dry before storing. Because rust can form easily if there remains even a bit of dampness on the metal surface. After cleaning, wipe with a towel and keep it for air-drying. Store it in a place where moisture can’t come into contact with the can opener.
3. Using Lubricant
It is seen that moving parts of can openers work comparatively well after using any lubricant solution. You can consider wax paper, mineral oil, and WD-40 as lubricants because they are proven to maintain safety and hygiene for kitchen tools like can openers.
Final Words
Hope, following the steps above, you will be able to remove rust from can opener, and there won’t be any need of buying a new one anytime soon.