How Rust Removal Benefits Your Home

How Rust Removal Benefits Your Home

Unsightly rust stains on your home’s exterior can become quite an eyesore. In addition to taking away the curb appeal of your home, rust can also begin to cause structural damage to the home. It is important to act early when you see signs of rust on the exterior of your home. Removing signs of rust early and often will help your home maintain its structural integrity as well as helping to maintain its curb appeal. 

What Causes Rust Stains On Your Home?

Rust stains on the exterior of your home can be caused by a number of things. Rust forms when there is a chemical reaction between oxygen, iron and water. It is possible for rust to occur on any iron or steel surface that is exposed to the elements. 

The process of rust forming is called corrosion. Once corrosion begins, it’s important to take care of the problem immediately to prevent damage and stains to your home’s exterior.  Often, rust stains develop from leaky pipes, a leaking HVAC unit or exposure to hard water.

Methods For Removing Rust

Removing mold or mildew growth on your home’s siding is often more easily dealt with than removing rust stains from your siding. Rust is a pesky culprit when it comes to an unpleasing visual aesthetic. There are several at-home remedies for rust removal. The process below can be time consuming, but if the stains are not too advanced, will aid in rust removal. We suggest trying the process below for at-home rust removal:

• Gather your needed supplies- you will need to mix a solution of baking soda, white vinegar and water in a bucket. You will need some kind of scrubbing brush, wash cloth or microfiber towel. Do not ever use abrasive materials on your home’s siding. You want to avoid things such as steel wool or wire brushes. 


• You should wear personal protective gear- Boots, glasses and gloves are needed for your safety and protection


• Mix the solution- Use 1 gallon of warm water and add ½ cup of white vinegar and ¼ cup of baking soda. It is important that you do not use any other type of vinegar, as it could stain your siding. 


• Apply the mixture to your siding- After you apply the mixture, let it sit on the siding for a few minutes to help loosen dirt and grime and rust. 


• Rinse- it’s recommended that you rinse with a soap and water solution for best results. Any dish soap should be fine. 

This method will likely work for mild rust stains. For tougher stains, it is always best to involve a professional exterior cleaning team. 

Leave The Job To Professionals

If the rust stains on the exterior of your home prove to be too tough or are located higher up on your home’s exterior, call a professional pressure washing team. The job might turn out to be more than you intended for a weekend, DIY job. In any of these cases, trained professionals are skilled and experienced at removing tough rust stains. Typically, state of the art equipment is used that would not be accessible to the general public for a home DIY project.