We all know that pocket knives are cool, but you know what's not cool? Rust! That brown and orange iron oxide that ruins the look of your beloved sharp friends. It can strike any metal, even the finest of steel. But don't worry! We will teach you how to keep your knives clean from rust.

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Prevention is Better than Cure

Prevention is the real MVP when it comes to knife maintenance. But do we take action? Nooo, we wait until rust has taken over and then scramble to fix it. It's like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. A simple solution is to apply a thin layer of oil, which acts like a barrier between steel and oxygen, preventing the rust monster from even showing up.

If it's too late for prevention, don't panic! There are several ways to remove rust, but choose wisely. Some methods can leave behind scars on that beautiful blade of yours.

How to Remove Rust from a Knife?

These methods will say adios to rust, while maintaining your blade in the same beautiful shape. Avoid scrubbing your blade with metal brushes, or anything that might leave unwanted marks. Specially if you got rust on a pocket knife with a satin or mirror finish. 

1. The white vinegar method.

Fill up a cup with white vinegar, and let your knife sit there for a while (only the rusty part of the knife needs to be submerged in the vinegar). The vinegar will break down the rust in your knife, and after that you should be able to just wipe  it away. White vinegar is an acidic product, which is why it can dissolve rust easily. 

2. The potato method.

Stab your pocket knife into the potato, and leave it there for a while depending on the amount of rust collected. Just like the vinegar, the potato will break down the rust and your pocket knife will be back in shape again. What is interesting about this method, is that many knife enthusiasts stab their knives into a potato to give the blade a patina look. Which means a potato has a double effect when it comes to rust. 

3. The baking soda method.

Lay your knife in the table, and add water to the rusty areas of the blade. Add baking soda (be sure to be generous), and let it sit for around 5 minutes. Make sure that the combination of water and baking soda make a paste and wipe it out with a humid cloth or wet paper towel. 

4. The brillo pad method.

This method is very simple. All you have to do is softly scrub the rusted area of the knife while you apply water to it. Unlike the other three methods, the rust doesn't have a reaction in this case. You are technically just scratching it off. It doesn't take much to get it clean, but be careful! The brillo pad could leave marks and scratches in your blade. Make sure to use a very thin brillo pad to lower the risk of damaging your blade, and of course, take it easy. 

 

Notes: Every time you are able to get the rust out of your pocket knives, you should add that thin layer of oil to the blade. Remember to prevent :). Also, if you have to do some scrubbing (maybe the rust has been in there for a while), remember that more soft strokes is better than fewer highly pressured ones. 

Learn more about pocket knife maintenance here.