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How to remove rust from your bike or scooty? Use these simple homely hacks

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Published on August 25, 2021. EST READ TIME: 3.5 minutes



No matter how advanced or snazzy your bike or scooty is, remember that nature is all-powerful. Which is why, when your two-wheeler gets exposed to the moisture in the air during monsoons, rusting rears its ugly head. Rusting is essentially a natural process of oxidation that occurs when metals come in contact with air and moisture and react. However, the good news is that rusting, particularly in chrome parts, is something that you can salvage to a large extent. Also, do a bike insurance check to see if you have flood cover. Now, read on about some easy ways in which you can fight and prevent rust in your vehicle, with the help of everyday household items.

1. You can remove rust by scrubbing with a steel wool. Your kitchen will have the steel wool that is usually used to scrub clean utensils that have accumulated soot. If it is good for scrubbing off the soot, it is also good for rubbing off rust from different parts of your bike. All you need to do is to put in some elbow grease. Steel wool is particularly good for cleaning the rust from smaller parts.
2. Scrubbing with a wire brush can also be helpful. A wire brush is generally used for scrubbing off grime and mould, especially from hard floor surfaces in extremely moist areas like bathrooms and toilets. So, you can easily use a wire brush to scrub off rust from the larger bike parts. However, this hack is not recommended for chrome parts, as you might end up scratching them.
3. It is also possible to remove rust by scrubbing with sandpaper. Sandpaper is the professional tool for scrubbing off dust, dirt and rust. It is ideal if you are looking for precision and finesse. Use sandpaper to remove rust from parts with low tolerance for measurement variations, especially in tight fit parts like engine and transmission, where small variations can send things for a toss.
4. You can use potatoes for rust removal, as they contain oxalic acid, which is a good way to loosen any rust deposits. All you need to do is take a medium sized potato and cut it in half. Now rub some salt on the potato and then rub that potato on the rusted part.
5. You can use lemon juice to remove rust from your bike or scooty too. This is recommended especially if rust has just started to appear. You need to take out the rusting part from the vehicle and first rub some juice on it. Then take the part and let it soak in the juice for about two hours. Remove it and gently rub to get rid of the rust.
6. Tamarind paste is also useful for rust removal. Take some tamarind paste and mix it in water. Now boil this mixture and let it cool. Then gently place the rusted part in the solution and rub it properly. After you see the rust start to loosen, let the part sit in the solution for a few hours. Finally, take out the part from the solution and clean it.
7. Baking soda can also be used to remove rust from bike or scooty parts. The reason why baking soda works is because it is mildly corrosive. Make a paste of baking soda with water and apply it all over the rusted part. After an hour or so, use a scrubber to clean off the rust.
8. If you can find some citric acid, it will be great for removing rust from unpainted bike or scooty parts. Take off the rusted part from your vehicle and clean it with cloth first. Then pour some citric acid in water and stir it. When bubbles start rising, submerge the part in the mixture. Leave for 2-4 hours and then dry and scrub the part. Don’t do this on painted parts though, particularly the ones with chrome paint.

Always keep in mind that there may be cases where you are better off letting a professional take care of the rust clean-up process. And as mentioned earlier, a bike insurance check about water damage and flood cover in your policy will give you a good idea about how much effort you should put in on your own and when you should let professionals step in.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus.

 

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