We tell you how Coca-Cola, potatoes and a battery effectively clean a rusty barbecue grill

Rusting of a barbecue grill is a natural process, which is quite difficult to avoid. This happens even with timely cleaning and proper storage of the product. It is not necessary to throw away a useful item if it is covered with rust. There are various ways to help get rid of it. In fact, there are quite a lot of both traditional and very non-standard approaches to cleaning; we have chosen the most popular, affordable and effective.

How to clean correctly?

Before you take on any cleaning method, you need to understand some rules that will help you make the process more efficient, less labor-intensive and less harmful to the item you want to clean.

• It is better to wash the product immediately after use, this will help protect it from rust.
• The dried item should be stored in a dry place.
• Remove carbon deposits immediately, do not wait for large accumulations of carbon deposits.
• Before using the grill, it is recommended to oil it.
• After the grate has been used, it should also be washed, wiped dry, and treated with oil before storing it. Oil prevents air from reaching the metal and causing an oxidation reaction.
• The storage place should not only be dry, but also dust-free. It is best to place your inventory in a bag before it is put away anywhere.

Basic cleaning methods

The problem is primarily caused by congealed fat, so you need to get rid of it effectively. It is best to warm up the vessel for this purpose and then wash it with a damp cloth and detergents that can remove grease and dirt. Only after this will you be able to get to the rust, from which it will not be easy to clean the surface.

1. You can turn to means invented back in the USSR. If you have your grandfather's old garage, there will probably be a prototype of the modern WD-40 - Unisma - there, but if you don't have it, try buying the specified liquid at an auto store. Its silicone-based analogues will not work; you need this blue spray can. Special solvents and additives are added to the lubricant, due to which it effectively copes with rust, helps to unscrew bolts stuck due to it, and also removes unwanted deposits from metal surfaces.
   

   It is important to remember that after using this product, the grille will need to be washed well, dried and stored in a dry room; you can use a bag.

   

2. Coca-Cola is not only a tasty drink, but also a means that can destroy rust that has not yet eaten through the grate. Cola easily removes plaque; just spread it on the surface and wait about an hour. However, you should not expect any immediate or powerful effect from this product. You will need the original bottle, ideally you can pour the liquid into a large saucepan and lower the grate into it, leaving it for a few hours, then scrub everything off with an iron sponge.
   
3. Potatoes, sorrel - these plants contain oxalic acid, which can cope with your problem, for example, if the rust on a knife blade is not deeply ingrained. With the grille things are a little more complicated, but you can handle it. To do this, you need to cut the potatoes in half, sprinkle salt on it, and then rub it on the problem areas so that the juice comes out of the tubers. Take a sheet of foil, roll it into a ball and wipe it over the grate. A metal dish sponge will also work. However, the people who carried out this experiment noted that foil was more effective, apparently due to the fact that it was made of aluminum.
   
4. Using a car battery. Car enthusiasts can try this option. If you don’t have an old battery that can still somehow hold a charge, you shouldn’t spoil a working battery from your car. An electrolyte will be required, so the battery is also suitable only for one that can be disassembled safely for yourself and others. By lowering a metal part into a bowl of electrolyte, after a while you will be able to notice that the acid has eaten away the rust, but this method can also damage the grille. It is quite thin, and too aggressive means can damage its integrity.
   
5. Vinegar is an easy, accessible, and inexpensive way to get rid of rust on your picnic utensils. To do this, you will need undiluted 9% vinegar, which will need to be poured into a container; the latter should fit the grill grate. The vinegar should cover it completely. It is recommended to cover this container with something, since the substance is quite caustic and has a pungent odor. A large saucepan with a lid is ideal; in extreme cases, place a plastic bag over the container. It is recommended to work with gloves. The result will become noticeable after about an hour of leaving the rust in vinegar. As it develops, you can help by scrubbing off the rust with a rough sponge.After this, wash the grill grate under running water using dishwashing detergent.
   

Most methods are suitable for use at home, you can try them all or the most affordable one. Combine methods to get the most striking result, especially if there are old traces of corrosion on the surface.