There’s something in the kitchen that could help you more than you think: sparkling water, or club soda. The same we drink, yes. It can also be the trick to loosen rusty screws without complications. If you haven’t notice it; if you leave outdoor furniture, tools or metallic structures abandoned for a while, is quite possible that once you come back to find them, you will see they covered in rust.
Rust usually forms slowly when metal is exposed to rain or a very humid environment. Oxygen reacts with the metal and a reddish-brown layer appears, making the use of the metallic object so much more difficult.
Why do screws rust and stick together?
The oxidation shows up when the metal is exposed to humidity and oxygen for a long time. This humidity, that can easily come from the rain, the dew, or just a very general humid environment. Over the months, that chemical reaction creates a rust layer, that starts with a stain, and then goes around eating up the metal object.
With screws or bolts, rust gets between the threads and acts as if it were glue. Which is why, when you try to loosen an old screw for a garden chair, for example, it usually doesn’t move much. And if you try too hard, you might end up deforming the screw head or even breaking it.
Many people think the solution is to buy a very strong rust remover. And the truth is that although these products do exist and can be used in extreme cases, they’re not always what you need. When the oxidation is not that bad or deep, you can first try with something like club soda.
How club soda helps loosen rusty screws
Club soda is not only sparkling water; it also has minerals like potassium sulfate and potassium bicarbonate, which give it a slightly alkaline character. This makes it capable of helping dissolve the light oxidation and soften the rust. It’s not aggressive though—otherwise we wouldn’t drink it—but it is more effective than just water.
If the rusty screw is placed on a piece of furniture, a door, or a tool, the method is simple:
- Pour a good amount of club soda directly over the rusty screw, making sure that the liquid gets well around the thread.
- Let it rest for at least 24 hours—yes, breath and be patient. During that time, the minerals of the soda club will start to act on rust and oxidation.
- Check the screw the next day. If you still see rusty areas, you can use a thick sponge or a “green fiber” to rub the area with energy. And because the oxidation will be already softer, it will get off easier.
- Rinse with clean water to remove traces of rust and the club soda.
After that, try again turning the screw… it should do it without too much effort.
If the screws are just laying around on a tool box or something similar, the trick is that easy too:
- Fill a small bowl with club soda.
- Put the rusty screws inside and leave them to soak overnight.
- The next morning, the rust will be way softer. You will only have to rub a little, rinse and let them dry.
A kitchen trick for a DIY problem
The trick is good—and very easy—but it’s not magic, thus, if the oxidated piece have been exposed for too much time, if it’s barely holding itself, of if you already tried the club soda and it didn’t work; then maybe it’s time to go to the shop and look for the professional rust remover—or say goodbye to the metallic object.