To begin, choose a firm potato that’s relatively fresh. Now, use a fine sandpaper to clean your outdoor metal furniture and remove as much rust as possible. You can even use a baking soda-and-water solution to break down the oxidation on the metal items. Next, slice a potato in half and then use one of the halves to rub along the rust-affected areas. Apply light pressure to break the rust’s hold on the metal furnishing. Once you see the rusty layer coming off, use a clean cloth to polish off the surface and help your outdoor furniture look spick and span.
For added strength, apply some salt to the sliced spud. The salt will absorb the potato’s liquid, forcing oxalic acid to bubble up to the surface. A natural abrasive, salt is also particularly helpful in its own right in removing stubborn rust from metal fixtures. Combined, salt and potato make for an effective and budget-friendly rust-removing duo. After adding salt to half of the root vegetable, rub the half along the oxidized patches of your outdoor furniture as before and let it sit for a minute or two before scrubbing the furniture clean with a cloth.
Note, if dealing with particularly nasty rust, you might need to replace your fresh potato tool a number of times (so it’s a good idea to have a bag of potatoes at the ready, just in case), as well as sprinkle on more salt. In case you aren’t too keen on using salt on your outdoor furniture, though, you can substitute salt with mild dish soap.