Iron oxide is also known as rust. Rust looks like a reddish-brown oxide formed by the reaction of oxygen and iron in the catalytic presence of water or air moisture. Rust is concerned with the corrosion of refined iron, and it is a combination of oxides, hydrous iron, iron, and oxide-hydroxide. If you allow an iron mass to come in contact with water and oxygen, over time, it will get converted to rust. The surface of rust usually looks flaky and powdery, and it gives a somewhat cover for the underlying iron; it is not like a patina that forms on copper surfaces. The corrosion of elemental iron and its alloys like steel is called rusting. So many metals go through similar corrosion, but the resulting oxides are not rust. You can differentiate several types of rust visually or by spectroscopy.
Rust (iron oxide) in a kettle is not dangerous to your health. Rust is the resultant effect of corroding steel when iron particles are exposed to oxygen and moisture.
Can rust hurt you?
Rust cannot hurt you; it is not dangerous to human beings. You won’t suffer from any health condition by simply allowing rust to touch your skin. Although you can get tetanus from a wound that is caused by a rusty object, it is not rust that causes tetanus. Rather, tetanus is caused by the kind of bacteria that may be present on the object.
Rust, like we earlier stated, is a combination of oxygen atoms and iron. It is not harmful to the skin or the health of human beings. Even if you get rust stains on your skin, it won’t cause any health problems. You won’t contact tetanus just by having rust stay on the surface of your skin.
Tetanus is an infection that can only enter your body through punctures, cuts, or burns. It is caused by Clostridium tetani, a form of bacteria mostly seen in organic matter like manure and soil. So, you can get tetanus by simply stepping on a nail. You should know that the Clostridium bacteria grows faster in deep wounds, so you can get tetanus by stepping on a type of nail–be it rusty or not.
For metal objects like gardening tools, nails, or knives allowed to rust in a natural environment, they are an excellent breeding ground for tetanus-causing bacteria.
You can also find the tetanus-causing bacteria and rusty objects in some environments such as forests, fields, or abandoned sheds or houses.
Why is my kettle rusting?
Your kettle is rusting because of something called limescale which happens when water is heated up continuously. And since you frequently use your kettle to boil water, you will experience rusting often. Also, the mineral concentration in the water that you use will make your kettle rust.
But the good news is that rusting is not harmful, and it is something that you can prevent and get rid of if it eventually shows up.
How do you keep a kettle from rusting?
You can keep your kettle from rusting by washing it every day. When you are washing your kettle every day, use hot water and a bar of mild dishwashing soap, then you go ahead to rinse very well so you can hinder rust from forming. Do not use any abrasive scrubber or steel wool that can scratch the surface of your kettle if it is made with an enamel finish. Also, avoid allowing water to remain in your kettle for long hours after using it, and remove the lid after hearing your water so that it can evaporate. You can also cultivate the habit of drying your kettle with a piece of cloth immediately after using it to prevent mineral deposits and oxidation from forming.
How do you get rust out of a kettle?
Rust can be easily removed from any kettle that you use, whether it is stainless steel, cast iron, or electric. There are simple steps you can take to get rust out of a kettle. Check them out below.
How to get rust out of a cast-iron kettle
Your cast-iron kettle will not remain that way for a long time without rust forming in or on it. If you maintain your kettle properly, you won’t have to tackle getting rid of rust from it often. Your cast-iron kettle will easily get rusted if you allow water to always stay in it after using it. So, always wipe your kettle dry before you store it.
Below are steps you can follow that can help you get rust out of a cast-iron kettle.
Step One: Get a wire brush and use your hand to scrub off rust spots.
Step Two: Go ahead to soak the remaining rust spots in Coca-Cola until they completely go off. You can choose to leave the coke overnight ok the rust spots or wash after about ten minutes.
Step Three: Rinse the kettle with warm water carefully. And if you still find any rust stain, feel free to spray it with oven cleaner, then wrap the entire kettle in a heavy-duty plastic garbage bag, seal it with tape and allow it to stay that way overnight.
Step Four: Wash the kettle with warm water until it’s clean.
Step Five: Wipe dry your cast-iron kettle with an absorbent piece of cloth that is clean.
Step Six: Apply a thin coating of vegetable oil all over the outer part of your cast iron kettle; this prevents your cast iron kettle from rusting quickly.
How to clean an electric kettle
To clean a stainless steel electric kettle, you will need:
- Baking soda
- Dishwashing liquid
- Microfiber cloth
- Distilled white vinegar, lemon juice, or citric acid powder
- A non-abrasive sponge or bottle brush
Use vinegar to descale your kettle
Pour a mixture of water and distilled white vinegar into your kettle. Let it be half-full. Boil the solution. After boiling, turn off the kettle. Let the vinegar solution sit for at least twenty minutes before you discard it.
You can also use lemon juice to descale your kettle. When you are done, reassemble the different parts of your kettle.
Please, avoid immersing your electric kettle fully in water as you clean it. It will damage its heating element.
Wipe the outer part of your kettle with a non-abrasive sponge dipped in a solution of warm water and some amount of dishwashing liquid to get rid of splatters. If you find stains that are hard to remove, put your damp sponge in dry baking soda and scrub the stains. It will work very well.
If the outer part of your kettle is clean, wipe it with a microfiber cloth to avoid streaks.
If you want to keep the outer part of your kettle shiny, pour a small amount of vegetable or olive oil on a piece of cloth and rub it outside your stainless steel kettle.
As soon as you are done cleaning your kettle, put all the various components of the kettle together and pour some water in the kettle, let it be half full. Plug the kettle and allow the water boil entirely before you throw the water away. Rinse the kettle again to get rid of all the cleaning solutions completely.
Don’t allow water to sit in a kettle. Boil only the amount of water you will use at a particular moment. Remove all the water in your kettle after use.
Learn not to use tap water but distilled water.
How often should you clean your kettle?
The number of times you should clean your kettle is based on how often you use your kettle. You should ensure that you keep the outer part of your kettle dry at least twice a week. If you are using your kettle every day to boil water, you should clean it after each use to get rid of hard water minerals, or you can choose to clean it once a month. And when cleaning, take time to clean the water filter if your kettle has one. You can also choose to follow the frequency of cleaning written in the manual of the kettle by the manufacturer.
Does WD-40 Remove rust?
WD-40 is a multipurpose item that is made to loosen the bond between metal surfaces and rust by entering the porous layer of rust, loosening it by using its lubricating properties. It is a very effective way of removing rust and preserving objects from rust.
You can also spray the rusted areas with WD-40 and allow them to remain there for about ten minutes. After that, the rust would have been loosened, and you will be free to clean it using a wire brush.
Rust can be removed from your car, too, using WD-40, and the paint of your vehicle will not be affected in any way.
To get rid of surface rust on your car, spray it on the rusted surface and leave it for ten minutes so it can make removing the rust easy. As soon as the rust gets loosened, you can then scrub it with a light abrasive on the parts of the car without paint. To prevent rust from damaging some surfaces of your vehicle, mask the surface as you work on the rust. WD-40 protects against corrosion, and it provides temporary protection for surfaces that are prone to rust.
Does toothpaste remove rust?
The toothpaste you use in cleaning your teeth every day can also remove rust on the surface of any object. Toothpaste is an abrasive that is mild and contains soda that is very effective in removing dental plaque. You should try using this abrasive to remove rust stains on any item in your house. It’s very effective.
Apply toothpaste on a piece of cloth with the rust stains; allow it to stay there for a while before you rinse it off and wash. Do the same thing for silverware, bathtubs, or ceramic sinks.
To clean rusty objects with toothpaste, follow the steps below.
Step One: Clean the sink or rusty object using warm water and a cleaner without bleach before drying the surface with a towel.
Step Two: Squeeze out some quantity of toothpaste and mix it with baking soda until the paste becomes thick. Let the mixture be plenty enough, like the rust stain.
Step Three: Place the thick mixture on the rust stain and let it stay there for about ten minutes.
Step Four: Scrub thoroughly with a toothbrush or scrub pad until you see that the rust stains have loosened.
Step Five: Rinse the formerly rusty object with cold water and repeat steps three and four again if the initial results were not perfect.
Can Coke remove rust?
Yes, it can. The same Coca-Cola or coke you take and feel refreshed afterward can also be used to remove rust. Coca-Cola is a carbonated drink, and it is capable of dissolving with metal oxides and break up rust on different metals and alloys. Coca-cola has phosphoric acid in it that can get rid of rust, and it also has citric acid in it that an excellent stain remover. Coca-Cola works slowly, unlike other stain removers, but it is a great option and cost-effective.
Get a bottle or can of coke and ensure that it is a little bit flat before you use it, so it doesn’t begin fizzing. If you use a diet, coca-cola is not sticky, so you won’t have to spend much time cleaning the remnants of the sugar.
You will also need a sponge or aluminum foil, soap, clean rags, and water.
To get rid of the rust, you will follow the steps below:
Fold the aluminum foil into, say, four layers until it is strong.
Pour a reasonable quantity of coca-cola on the rust spots, allow it to remain there for about an hour before you scrub gently using the aluminum foil or sponge. Continue to scrub until the rust goes off. When it does, clean the area using soap and water to remove the debris.
If you have rust stains in your toilet, you can also use coke to remove them. How do you do it? Pour it around the rim and allow it to flow into the bowl. Please leave it to remain there for an hour before you scrub off the stains with a toilet brush. Then, flush it once you are done scrubbing. Your toilet will be clean and free of rust stains. You can also choose to pour the coke on the rim and leave it there overnight before scrubbing the next day.
Conclusion
Rust in a kettle is not harmful to your health, but it is something you can prevent from happening, and even if it happens, there are simple ways you can remove the rust.
You can use toothpaste and even the coca-cola you drink to remove rust from objects in your home. They are very effective cleaning agents. WD-40 is another rust remover you can use to remove rust.
It would be best if you cleaned your kettle often to prevent the build-up of rust. Rubbing the exterior part of your kettle after washing with vegetable oil helps to keep your kettle safe from rust for a long while.