With rust, you have to act as quickly as possible, before it spreads. Here’s how to do it with a simple kitchen ingredient.
In a country where it cries regularly like France, everything, from barbecues to cars, rusts. Treating rust early on can save you a lot of hassle and money in the long run. When you notice a rust stain, it’s crucial to prevent it from spreading throughout your car.
Auto experts have shared a simple trick to remove rust, and you may already have the product you need at home. Indeed, all you need to do is use a bottle of Coke, ideally Diet Coke, and a sponge to treat the rust.
Why does this work?
Car enthusiasts say Diet Coke is the best version of this soft drink to use because you won’t have to worry about leaving sugary residue on your car. They also add that it’s easier to use when the drink has lost some of its effervescence, thus avoiding bubbles when cleaning.
Diet Coke is effective because it is a carbonate that directly attacks the metal oxides present in rust. Coca-Cola also contains small amounts of citric acid which can help remove stains, while phosphoric acid gives the drink rust-busting power strong enough to deal with small car rust stains.
What are the most vulnerable areas?
According to mechanics, the parts of a car most likely to rust are the chassis, wheel arches, exhaust system and suspension. The problem can be detected by the presence of bubbles under the paint, which indicates a loss of contact between the paint and the panel, caused by the penetration of water and air.
Auto experts suggest preventing rust by washing and drying your car regularly, especially if you live near the sea or have driven in adverse weather conditions that accelerate corrosion. It is also recommended to add a coat of wax to protect the paint and regularly use an oil-based product like WD40 to “remove moisture from hinges and other hard-to-reach areas”.
Some time ago, another use for Coke was suggested, to remove stubborn limescale deposits from toilets. On this occasion, Coca-Cola then said: “Rumours claim that, due to its acidic nature, Coca-Cola can be used to clean toilets, corroded car batteries, loosen rusty bolts, remove stains from rust from bumpers, remove grease from clothing, and clean residue from a windshield. Although it contains a small amount of edible acid, we do not recommend its use for these purposes. It is best to use cleaning products classic cleaning.” Everyone is free to test.
