How to Clean Metal Bar Stools & Remove Rust

Cleaning metal bar stools is a quick and easy process once you know what to do. Cleaning the rust off of metal bar stools is a different story, however. Rust removal requires the right materials and a delicate touch, especially if you want to keep your newly cleaned stools in use for a long time to come.

Below, we’ll teach you how to clean metal bar stools, as well as how to remove rust in a sustainable way.

But first, here are the things you’ll need:

What you'll need:

• Mild detergent
• A soft cloth (you'll need more than one)
• Warm water
• A bucket
• A feather duster or similar
• Foil
• White vinegar
• WD40/ baby oil

The cleaning method

 

1. Start by wiping your bar chairs from top to bottom, ensuring no dirt or dust is left behind. You can do this either with a duster or with a soft cloth, but make sure you remove any dust or marks that can be easily removed. Any marks or stains that can’t be wiped away easily will be dealt with in the next steps.
2. Once your stools are clear of any dust and debris, you can begin with the real cleaning process! Take a bucket of warm soapy water, ideally using a mild detergent to prevent damaging the surface.
3. Wet a cloth and remove any excess moisture by gently wringing it out. Use this cloth to clean your bar chairs, taking care to go over the entire stool. It’s a good idea to try and remove any food or drink spillages or stains as soon as they occur, but if you missed some, they will hopefully come off during this step. If not, it may be worth using a stain remover or a harsher detergent. If you come across any stains that won't come off using the above method, try using a stain remover. Always make sure to spot-test a small section of the stool before using the stain remover.
4. If the stain is on the seat and it’s made of a different material than metal, it may be worth researching a material-specific guide or checking the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Finally, take some WD40 or baby oil to really give your bar stool a beautiful brand-new shiny appearance. Use a soft, dry cloth to rub a small amount of the baby oil or WD40 into the surface of the metal stem. This will help protect the metal and help keep it looking good for longer.

 

Do your bar stools still not look good, even after cleaning? Then it might be time for a new set. We have a broad range of bar stools to choose from, so if you could do with a replacement, check them out!

Rust removal

Cleaning rust off your metal bar stools is a nightmare. Although it’s unlikely that any rust on your bar stools creates a structural issue that reduces the weight it can hold, it doesn’t look very good.

What’s worse, cleaning rust off your bar chairs the wrong way can damage them, potentially leading to more rust or permanent marks.

Below, we’ve covered three different rust removal methods.

Important: Before trying to remove any rust, make sure to spot-test a small section to see if the method doesn’t tarnish the metal. Bar chairs are made using different materials so it’s important to test the rust removal method before trying it on the rest of your stool.

Method 1

What you'll need:

• White vinegar
• Cloth
• Bucket

 

Start by soaking the metal base in white vinegar. If you can submerge the base into a bucket or washbasin filled with white vinegar then great. If not, use a rag dipped in white vinegar to apply the vinegar to the metal. Allow it to sit for a few hours, reapplying the vinegar as necessary.

After a few hours, scrub the rust off with a rag. If this doesn’t remove the rust, try scrubbing it with aluminium foil dipped in white vinegar. Tough rust can be difficult to remove so it may take multiple attempts to completely remove it. 

Method 2

What you'll need:

• Baking soda
• Water
• Old toothbrush

Create a paste with some baking soda and water. There are no exact measurements here, simply mix a thick paste that won't run. Cover the metal base with the baking soda paste and let it set. It can be worth placing the bar chairs on some old newspapers or something similar to prevent the paste from dripping on the floor. After it's set, use an old toothbrush to scrub off the mixture! 

This method tends to work well, but if there is still rust on the stools after trying it, you can repeat the process or try one of the other methods.

 

Method 3

What you'll need:

• Lime or lemon
• Salt
• Old rag or toothbrush

Take a lime or lemon, cut it in half then squeeze out a good portion of juice. Add salt to the juice to create a gritty mixture and apply it to the bar stool. Make sure to cover the surface before applying it to prevent any of the mixture from dripping onto your tiles as it can cause stains.

Allow this to sit for at least a few hours. Use an old toothbrush or rag to scrub the mixture off afterwards. If there is still rust left on the metal after following this process,   

 

 

 

If all else fails...

If you still cannot remove the rust from your bar stool base, you can buy replacement parts from us. 

Conclusion

Cleaning metal bar stools is an easy process, but removing any rust can be a bit more challenging. After reading this post, you should know exactly how to keep your bar stools rust-free and looking good.

If you have any questions after reading this post, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. If these methods don’t work, or you feel like it’s time to replace your bar stools, feel free to check out our bar stool collection right here on our website!