- byHolly Brook
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- 14 Feb, 2019
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Using White Vinegar to get rid of rust.
One thing White Vinegar is exceptionally good at cleaning up, is rust.
For example, this fuel tank is from a Yamaha Chappy LB80 1981. On the outside you can see its rusting around the edges and at the opening. As you can see in the second picture, the inside of the fuel tank is completely orange with rust!
Exterior image above.
Interior image below.
We wanted to get it cleaned up ready for use. To get rid of the rust, we filled the tank to the brim with White Vinegar, covered the opening and then left it for a week. You don't need to leave it for that long, a few hours would probably be enough, it depends on how big the item you're removing the rust from and how bad it is. We knew the vinegar was having an effect almost instantly as some leaked out and it was already dirty.
After seven days, we poured out the vinegar and with a nylon bristle bottle brush, scrubbed at the inside to get rid of the rusty paste that was left on the surface.
Because White Vinegar is an acid, we used a solution of Bicarbonate of Soda and water to neutralise any residue left in the tank. (Bicarbonate of Soda is a Alkali.) 1 cup of Bicarb in a tank full of water was about right and we left it for around 10 minutes before pouring out.
The best thing to do next is to seal the inside of the tank to prevent the rust coming straight back. You could use a oil, wax or paint depending on what it is you're removing the rust from and what it's used for. As this is a fuel tank, we will find something that is safe and specific for the job.
