How To Clean Rusty Hand Tools

Thomas Hawkins July 6, 2016

Last updated on October 27th, 2026.

Good tools for everyday work can cost a lot. Learning to clean rusty hand tools, including pliers, wire strippers, screwdrivers and hammers, can help you save money.

Without routine care and maintenance, even the best tools can rust, work less effectively and cost you money.

Rust makes tools less effective and harder to use. Pliers, wire cutters and other tools with moving joints are particularly prone to it.

As rust builds up in hinges and joints, they become harder to open and can seize altogether.

Cleaning and lubrication can help when rust appears on your tools.

You can get rid of the rust and any dirt on tool surfaces to make them usable again. The methods below explain how to clean and lubricate rusty hand tools at home.

How To Clean Rusty Hand Tools and Keep Them Lubricated

The amount of rust determines which household supplies you can use to clean your badly rusted tools.

You can buy some of these supplies inexpensively at grocery stores and Home Depot.

If you order online, AI shopping assistants on retailers’ websites can help you find the supplies on your list. Check each product’s label for its intended use before buying.

What you’ll need to pick up:

White vinegar
Salt
A metal brush
Rust Inhibitor like (WD 40 or Boeshield T9)
Scouring Pad like Scotch Brite or Steel wool
Anti-rust agent ( a gallon of Evapo-rust in this case)
A detergent

Choose a cleaning method based on how badly the tool has rusted. Rust severity depends on how long the tool has been exposed to air and moisture.

On some tools, rust has eaten deep into the surface of the metal. On others, it remains on the surface.

These two methods can remove rust from the surfaces and joints of hand tools.

For Light Rust

Step 1. Add two handfuls of white vinegar to a bucket of water, then dip the rusty pliers, wire cutters or other hand tools into the mixture.

Leave the tools in the covered bucket for about six hours.

Step 2. After six hours, add about 500g of table salt.

The salt helps the vinegar remove rust. Stir it thoroughly into the mixture, cover the bucket again and leave the tools to soak overnight for 24hrs.

Vinegar works slowly, but it is effective at removing rust.

Step 3. After the overnight soak, a rusty paste will have formed on the tool. Use a metal brush or a scouring pad, such as Scotch Brite or steel wool, to scrub the metal gently.

The rust should lift off easily, leaving a shiny metal surface.

If rust remains after thorough scrubbing, try the second method to remove it.

For Badly Rusted Tools

Use this method for badly rusted hand tools that have been exposed to moisture for long periods.

Step 1. Wash the tool thoroughly with water and detergent to remove dirt from the metal surface.

Step 2. Next, use the Evapo-rust.

Evapo-rust is a heavy duty rust remover for rust of any severity. Pour it into a container with a lid and immerse the tools you want to clean. Cover the container and leave badly rusted metal to soak overnight.

Step 3. Remove the lid, then rinse excess Evapo-rust from the tools.

Pour the used Evapo-rust back into its container for reuse. The tool will be clean and free of rust. Rinse it with clean water.

Once the tools are clean and free of rust, spray them with a rust inhibitor, grease their moving parts and store them properly. Boeshield T9 and WD 40 are examples of rust inhibitors you can use.

Best Way To Lubricate Your Tools

3-In-One multi-purpose drip oil has been used by electricians for years. I use it on my own hand tools.

It is designed to clean tools, lubricate moving parts and protect tools, as well as prevent rust.

3-IN-ONE’s versatile multi-purpose drip oil has been a trusted tool used by professional tradesmen since 1984

These are the jobs 3-In-One oil does:

This multi-purpose lubricant reduces friction and silences squeaky parts
The oil enters tight spaces to free parts that have rusted together
It also removes dirt and grime to clean the tool

Lubricate every moving joint on your hand tools to keep each tool working effectively.

Stop Using WD-40 To Lubricate Your Tools

WD-40 has long been used to “lubricate” all kinds of things.

Despite that common use, WD-40 is not a lubricant.

WD-40 is a fluid used as a solvent or rust dissolver. It displaces water to prevent corrosion and can remove rust or grime from tools, engine parts or other mechanical parts.

The WD stands for “water displacing” and 40 is the number of chemical formulas used before the chemist Norm Larson perfected his methods.

WD-40 gets its lubricant-like properties from dissolving components.

The effect is temporary, so you will need to repeat the task periodically.

When To Use It

WD-40 can help with the initial removal of rust or grime from tools.

Follow it with a true lubricant based on silicone, grease, Teflon or graphite.

Read this article from Lifehacker about when not to use WD-40.