How to Remove Surface Rust From Cars

Cars get rust for several reasons, usually by coming into contact with water or moisture. Surface rust can turn into serious rust problems that lead to rust holes, which eat through the metal of the car and can cause damage to the operation of the car. Removing surface rust on a car must be a part of regular maintenance.

Things You'll Need

  • Wire brush
  • Lemon juice
  • Borax
  • Naval jelly
  • Paper towel
  • Scrape off rust. Use a wire brush to scrape away any surface rust on the car.

  • Scrub off the remaining rust using a paste made of 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts borax. Use a paper towel to apply the paste to the surface rust on the car. Wait 30 minutes and scrub off the rust with a scrubbing pad. Clean the area with dampened paper towels and then dry with a paper towel.

  • Apply naval jelly using a paper towel. . Let the naval jelly work on the rust for 10 minutes. Wipe away the rust with a damp paper towel. Naval jelly is very effective in removing rust because it contains phosphoric acid. It can be purchased from a hardware store

  • Touch-up the areas. Use touch-up paint that matches the color of your car or apply "clear nail polish to the areas" that you have just cleaned, according to the website Corrosion-Doctors. By covering up the chipped off paint you are once again rust-proofing those areas of the car.