The Heathered Nest

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How To Remove Rust. AKA-We Must, We Must Decrease Our Rust.

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A little while back, I wrote a post about the rehabilitation of a sweet, elderly little chrome chair I found curbside. Since then, I’ve gotten some questions about that DIY project, specifically regarding how to remove rust.

* Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.*

This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.

Here’s the ol’ girl right here, “Margaret”. And when I found her, Margaret wasn’t doing or looking so hot.

 

This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.

 

MY OTHER PROJECTS

Pretty decrepit. She was a whole lotta age, and hardly any beauty.

This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.
Wood rot…
This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.
And the worst part was the rust.
This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.
It was everywhere…
This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.
Did you read the Judy Blume book, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. A Classic. The epitome of an awkward, coming of age story, am I right?

 

This chair makeover was a little like that book. Awkward, because I didn’t quite know what I was doing. I fumbled my way through much of this process, just praying that it would all turn out ok for Margaret.

 

In Margaret the chair’s case, we aren’t really talking about a coming of age story, but more of a reversal of age story. And at this particular *phase* in my own life (which I will NOT call middle age, but rather “above average”) I am a big fan of age deniers. There are all kinds of “deniers” in this world…and this is one kind of denial I aim to embrace wholeheartedly. Anyone else wanna join me and Margaret in our club? We’ll call it the ADA. Age Deniers Anonymous.

 

So, in the spirit of Judy Blume, and our protagonist, Margaret, I’m going to share with you how to remove rust, and polish up old, banged up chrome. Altogether now…

 

“WE MUST, WE MUST, WE MUST DECREASE OUR RUST”…

<

That still sounds awkward, even with the wording-change-up. Thank God puberty is behind me.

 

This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.

 

Supplies for Removing Rust:

 

How To Remove Rust:

1. Grab a small wad of clean aluminum foil. Dip it in some clean water.

 
This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.

2. Rub the wet aluminum foil all over the rusted chrome.

This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.

3. THERE IS NO #3!  YOU’RE DONE!

Can one of my ADA members up here in da club pop a bottle full of bub? Because this is a flipping miracle, I’ll tell you. Seriously, that’s all you do. Below is a shot of the same section of chair, after the tin foil/water treatment.

This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.
I scrubbed a tiny, itsy bitsy amount…not hard, just went over each section a couple times with the tin foil/water treatment. This procedure for removing rust alone removed 85% of it. Now, truth be told, this little chair will never again be completely rust-free, but considering where we started, I’d call this a serious victory!
This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.
Just to help out a little more, after the tin foil/water, I rubbed the frame down with chrome polish. Same kind that people use on their cars (we don’t use it too often for that purpose, which is why this bottle looks like it’s from 1985). I can’t say this step really improved the chrome’s condition more than the water/tin foil alone, but I think it *may* help protect the finish a bit moving forward. So it’s an optional step, but probably a good one. I have heard others swear by using Coca-Cola on their chrome to restore it. I haven’t tried it, but would love to know if someone else has and how that worked out for them.

For now, I’ll show you how things turned out for our friend, Margaret.

This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.

She’s a beaut. I’ll tell ya, it makes me feel like breaking into song. Possibly a little Sinatra… “You make me feel so young…”

Popular DIY tutorial on DIY upholstery with cowhide leather! DEFINITELY going to try this! from heatherednest.com

Or perhaps a rousing rendition of “Forever Young” by my man Rod Stewart?

This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.

 

Maybe a little MKTO “Out of my league, old school chic, like a movie star, from the silver screen…baby you’re so classic”… Regardless of the tune, bottom line is Margaret may be an oldie, but she’s definitely a goodie. And since age is “just a number”, I’m gonna say hers is a PERFECT 10.

This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.

 

But since we’re not mentioning age here in the ADA club, we’ll just leave it like this…

This is AMAZING!! Never thought to try this. And it's basically FREE!! WOW. Gotta save this rust removal DIY technique.

You’re only as old as you feel, and if this chica is “acting her age”, she’s got a long, spunky, fun-filled life in front of her.  No more elderly or awkward here. She’s even been a centerfold in Reloved magazine.

And now being the believer that I am, that perhaps I’ll go and try that other “must, must” thing again…you ladies know what I’m talking about (wink, wink).

 

 

 

 

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Comments

  6. I would've been so intimidated by that rust I would've walked away from the chair! Maybe next time I'll take a second look and have a new way to use tin foil! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  10. I have used the tin foil method for years – but always apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to help prevent future rusting. I read this on the bottom label of a vintage chrome chair from the fifties! 🙂

    Reply

    • What an AWESOME tip!! And I can appreciate how that would help. Will certainly try and pass along this little bit of gold. Thanks so much for the knowledge!

      Reply

  11. Margaret looks amazing. I'm old enough that I grew up with formica topped chrome legged table and chairs so it was often my job to wad the tinfoil. I have never heard of coke so would love to hear from someone that has used it along with pics. Great jo!

    Reply

  13. The chair looks fabulous! You are a miracle worker. You’ve inspired me to grab some tin foil and begin restoring one of my (many) curbside finds! Thanks for the great tip!!!

    Reply

  15. Thanks for the tip!! I’ve used Coke before with steel wool and it worked well but I’m thinking I might try Coke with tin foil now. Also going to try the petroleum jelly afterwards. Loved what you did to that chair. Looks so expensive. ??

    Reply

  16. Love the chair, what a beauty she is now!! Would have liked to see the tutorial on how you refashioned the chair seat and backrest too!

    Reply

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