Dish racks, especially if they are made from metal, can easily end up rusting and declining in quality if you do not take measures to prevent them from rusting, particularly since they come into contact with plenty of moisture from the wet dishes.
To ensure that your dish rack does not rust over time, you will need to take a few preventative steps that you can read about in detail below.
Regular Cleaning
You should make it a point to regularly clean your dish rack, even if you only use it for your clean utensils but especially if you also use it to hold your dirty dishes before cleaning them.
Since your cooking and cleaning activities in the kitchen can also spray some particles on the rack, you should ensure that you clean and dry the rack frequently.
Make sure you are as thorough as possible with this process. If your dish rack has any removable parts, detach them and clean them separately along with the main unit. You can either do this by hand or by placing the parts in a dishwasher, if compatible.
In case there are tough spots, make sure you deal with them properly as well by using brushes and scrubs. After cleaning the rack, you will have to dry it up thoroughly since moisture can hasten the process of rusting.
Soft Cloths
Whenever you dry out your dish rack after washing and cleaning it fully, make sure you use soft cloths to dry the rack so that you do not end up chipping away the external layers of the rack.
Using rough cloths with lots of bristles can make it easier for the metal to start corroding.
Even if you do not wash the dish rack on a daily or frequent basis, you should at least wipe it down with a soft cloth every couple of days so that you can get rid of the water that collects and stays on parts of the rack.
Make sure you pass this cloth through all the corners and junctions so that you do not leave any moisture behind. This will also help you preserve the dish rack for a longer time.
Baking Soda
Mixing some baking soda in warm water can be another good way of cleaning your dish rack and preventing rust from forming on it.
You can do this by detaching all the parts of your rack and rubbing each of them with the baking soda solution. You can also simply soak these parts in the solution in the sink by plugging the drain.
Once this is done, you can dry up the rack fully either with a cloth or through air drying. This is also a useful method to get rid of already formed rust.
Vinegar
Vinegar can be another good way of thoroughly cleaning your dish rack so that you can reduce the chances of the dish rack corroding too much.
To use this method, you should combine white vinegar with some water and soak the parts of the dish rack in it. Leave it like that for some time and then dry out the components thoroughly before you put it to use.
While this might not directly prevent rust from forming, it can certainly prevent the formation of bacteria, molds and mildew that can otherwise make corrosion easier.
Using vinegar on rusted parts can also help you get rid of the rust by breaking it down.
Commercial Cleaners
Commercial cleaners can be another solution for you in case you want to clean up your dish racks as thoroughly as possible. These cleaners can help provide effective yet simple cleaning so that the dish rack remains incapable of forming rust.
Make sure you look specifically for cleaners that specify their anti-rust properties on the label. You should also look at the usage instructions properly so that you can follow the process as accurately as possible.
You should also try to cover all components of the dish rack, including the corners and gaps so that you do not leave any part exposed.
Handling Sharp Objects
Another simple but essential thing to keep in mind when it comes to preventing your dish rack from rusting is to handle all the sharp objects in your kitchen with care so that they do not end up scraping off the protective layers of the rack.
Even when you place your knives and forks inside the dish rack, keep a separate holder for them in the rack while also keeping them facing up and away from the base of the rack.
You must also be careful with other glassware, otherwise its ends could end up scraping against the rack. Move your rack around slowly and carefully as well.
Vinyl Coating
Having a dish rack with a vinyl coating can add a protective layer on top of your metal dish rack. Many dish racks tend to come with this coating, so make sure you only opt for one that clearly states the presence of this coating.
This will essentially prevent the moisture or air from coming into direct contact with the metal below the coating, thereby reducing the likelihood of rusting.
In case your dish rack has a vinyl coating, then you should be careful while bringing sharp objects near it so that they do not scrape the coating off. Try avoiding the rack from falling or toppling over too much as well.
Tape Wrapping
Tape wrapping may not be able to help you prevent the rust from forming entirely, although you can certainly try wrapping electrical or mechanical tape around the bars of the dish rack so that you can add one more protective layer.
This can particularly help if your rack has chipped coating or the absence of vinyl coating. Further, if your rack already has a few rusted spots, then wrapping those parts up with this kind of tape can also prevent the spread of corrosion from one part of the rack to another.
Other Dish Rack Materials
To prevent your dish rack from rusting entirely, then a good way to do this is to opt for racks that are not made from metals at all. In this sense, instead of opting for metal dish racks, you can go for wooden or bamboo options that can offer you the same sturdiness without the risk of corrosion.
Plastic is another good option in this regard. If you want to stick to metal, however, then make sure that the parts are detachable so that the cleaning process can be more thorough and convenient.
Stainless steel is relatively safer to use, but even that is not completely free from the risk of rusting.
What Leads to Rust on a Dish Rack?
You have now seen some ways in which you can prevent your dish rack, but what is it that leads to the formation of rust on a dish rack in the first place?
If metal or iron comes into contact with oxygen as well as water, then this can lead to the formation of rust. This is why when you leave your metal dish rack wet or slightly moist, the oxygen present in the air will definitely form a reaction with the metal and water to lead to corrosion.
It is also possible that your dish rack has become considerably worn over time, which can make it easier for the rust to form. The water that you use might also have certain minerals such as iron that could end up leading to rust on your dish rack. In this case, make sure you clean up your rack regularly and properly.
It is, therefore, important to do what it takes to prevent your dish rack from coming into contact with both moisture and oxygen.
What If My Dish Rack Has Already Rusted?
While we have discussed some methods to prevent rusting, what should you do if your dish rack has already rusted? Find out below.
- Use solutions with baking soda or vinegar to soak up your rusted dish rack. You can then use a brush and clean water to rub off the rust and solution.
- Opt for commercial solutions to help you get rid of the rust.
- Oxalic acid can be another good option that can help you remove the rust easily after sprinkling or pouring it on the rusted parts.
- Lemon juice can also help you out with this as long as you use it with either vinegar or baking soda. Make sure you let it rest for a while before scrubbing and washing it out.
- If the rust has spread too far, then it might be time for you to get rid of the dish rack and buy a new and better one.
Parting Remarks
To sum up, there are several steps that you can take to prevent your dish rack from rusting such as regular cleaning, keeping the rack dry, using chemicals and solutions, buying racks with good quality and coatings, wrapping tape and being careful while using sharp objects.
In case you notice the rust too late, then you might need to buy another dish rack.
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