Clean a Rusted Stainless Steel Grill
Unlike some cooking surfaces, stainless steel thrives by frequent cleanings and cannot be worn out by excessive washing or scrubbing. Stainless steel does not rust in the conventional sense of the word---with a flaky reddish oxide---and any rust matching this description can be attributed to iron particles rusting either on top of the grill surface or embedded into the grill itself. The solution is simple enough: get rid of the iron and get rid of your rust.
Instructions
1
Clean the grill with a mixture of soapy water and vinegar, using a scrub pad to clean.
2
Examine the grill for signs of reddish rust. Scrub the area with a hard bristle brush (non-metal) to remove any surface particles.
3
Remove remaining embedded particles by scrubbing with a solution that contains 10 percent nitric acid mixed with 2 percent hydrofluoric acid and water. Mixture should be slightly heated or at room temperature when applied and rubber gloves and goggles should be worn for safety. A commercial "pickling paste" may also be used to remove embedded iron.
4
Repeatedly wash area well with an abundance of fresh, clean water to remove all traces of the solution. Wash again with soapy water and vinegar. Dry well and spray with cooking oil.
5
Clean rust spots on the outer casing of the grill with a steel brush. Apply a rust converter and touch up the area with a heat-resistant paint.
