Rust Facts

Sometimes rust in a home is dangerous, and sometimes it's just an unsightly nuisance. The question is how can you tell the difference--and what can you do to get rid of it?

Generally speaking, rust is only dangerous if you find it in something structural--like the nails holding a floor joist in place or the footing of a iron railing. When in doubt, call in a licensed contractor to take a look.

But luckily, rust is most often only skin deep, and there are all kinds of tricks for getting rid of it--depending on where you find it.

• For wrought iron, you can rub it with kerosene and scour the rust off with fine grade steel wool.
• Rusty bathroom fixtures can be treated with an oxalic acid stain remover that can be purchased at any hardware store.
• And for rust-stained concrete or cement, you can use a commercial stain remover with sodium citrate. Just make sure the rust isn't a sign the steel reinforcement inside the concrete is corroding.

So relax. For the most part, rust is just a natural part of the aging process, and the good news is it's often easily fixed with a handy-man facelift.

Guests
Robert Gallahorn
Building inspector
909 Godber St.
Charleston, SC 29412
Phone: 843-762-7979
Also in this Episode

House Detective : Episode HDT-205
•	Water Stains
•	Rust Facts