When it comes to dish racks, more people prefer steel ones over plastic racks. Because plastic looks tacky and it can mess up the modern aesthetics of your kitchen. Steel racks, on the other hand, look classy and modern.
But the problem is, steel racks are more susceptible to rusting. And once they rust, it won’t be a good sight in the kitchen. And you’ll have rust powder all over your plates and utensils.
Worry no more. You don’t have to settle for the plastic rack. We are going to teach you how to remove rust from steel dish racks.
Why do dish racks rust
Dish racks undergo a lot of wear and tear. Especially if you have been cleaning them in the dishwasher. It can deteriorate fast if you don’t know how to properly clean it.
And here are several reasons why your dish rack easily rusts.
- Your heat cycle in the dishwasher is too high. This damages the vinyl covering and exposes the metal part of the dish rack to water.
- Overloading the dish rack can also cause small nicks and dents. If you tossed in a lot of plates more than what the rack can handle, these small nicks can be the start of rusting.
- Placing sharp-edged cutleries such as knives can scratch your dish rack. And when not fixed, water will enter these small scratches. Thus, rusting is inevitable.
- Putting improperly washed cutleries in your dish rack will encourage rusting.
- The water pipes in your dishwasher can also be the cause of rust. These can be made from copper, brass, or metal. And when these metals react with one another, it can lead to rusting.
How to prevent your dish racks from rusting
An organized and well-kept kitchen speaks volumes of you as a homemaker. A clean dish rack can affect the aesthetics of your kitchen.
To prevent it from rusting, here are simple ways on how.
1. Gently load your dishes into the dish rack
Just tossing plates and cutleries in the dish rack can scratch the vinyl covering of the dish racks. Vinyl covering exists to protect the racks. It will prevent water from getting into contact with the metal part of the rack. So once there’s a small slit on the vinyl covering. water can enter and it will start rusting.
2. Clean your dish racks regularly
Make it a habit to clean your dish racks 2-3 times a week. Everyone is guilty of allowing their dish racks to sit uncleaned for more than a week.
This can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Molds, and mildew. In addition, if you clean your dishes racks regularly, you will notice early signs of rusting. Because once rust has eaten a huge part of your dish rack, you may not be able to save it anymore.
3. Always discard the remaining water in the dish tray
If there is remaining water in the dish tray, discard it immediately. And clean the tray before returning it to the dish rack. This will also prevent your dish racks from harboring molds and mildew.
4. Replacing towels often
If you’re using towels under your dish rack, it’s bound to be soaking wet soon. So you have to replace the towels often. Rusting will start once the metal part of the rack is left to sit on water or a wet towel.
5. Clean the dish rack before using
Before storing your plates in the dish rack, clean it first. It will benefit you in two ways. One, you’ll be sure that the ac is clean and germ-free. And two, it will prevent rusting.
6. Purchase quality dish racks
Dish racks that are made of high-quality steel construction will be less susceptible to rusting. While buying a cheap dish rack is tempting, you’ll be spending more money when you need to buy a new one again.
7. Keep your knives and sharp cutlery away from the dish rack
When cleaning the dish rack in the washer, keep it away from knives or any sharp-edged cutleries. Or better yet, just hand wash the dish rack. It’s quite easy to do so.
8. Treat early signs of rusting
If you have noticed that a small spot is starting to rust, deal with it asap. Otherwise, you may have to deal with many rust spots as the dents get larger. Removing rusts from dish acks is quite simple, provided you fix it early on. Keep scrolling to find out how.
How to remove rusts from your dish rack
What is your dish rack is starting to rust? Don’t worry you can still do something about it. You can even use your cupboard staples in cleaning rust stains.
1. Use baking soda
Fill the sink with baking soda and submerge your dish rack in it. Let It sit for 15 -20 minutes. Baking soda acts as a mild abrasive that can slough off the rust stains from the dish rack.
Then wash it thoroughly and air dry.
2. Use oxalic acid
You can buy ready to use oxalic acid in supermarkets and it’s available in liquid or powder form. Though the powder form is more suitable for removing rust stains.
Sprinkle powdered oxalic acid over the rust stains and scrub gently. Like baking soda, oxalic acid acts as a mild abrasive that can remove rust stains.
3. Using lemon juice
This citrus fruit is so versatile that you can also use it to remove rust stains from your dish rack. Mix fresh lemon juice with baking soda to make a paste. Allow this concoction to settle on the rack for 20-30 minutes Then gently scrub away the rust stains and wash thoroughly.
4. Using vinegar
Fill the sink with water and add a cup of vinegar. Allow the dish rack to sit in the solution for 15 minutes. Then gently scrub off the stains and rinse.
Alternatingly, you may use pure vinegar directly on the stain rust and scrub.
Final say
Stainless steel or metal dish racks are classy and more modern. But they are also susceptible to rust. That’s why you have to be able to know how to use and clean them properly so that they can last longer in the kitchen.
And you have to treat small stain spots right away. When left unattended, rust can eat up the entire dish rack. And when that happens, there’s no other way but to throw it into the bin.
