Whats the best way to clean a rusty, cast-iron fireplace grate?
I’ve been told that the easiest way to remove rust is with a product called Naval Jelly. Trouble is, no one at any of the building supply or hardware stores has heard of it. A: Cleaning your grate involves the same steps that work with any kind of rusty metal, though in your case there’s something else to think about. If you’ll actually be using the grate regularly for fires it will be covered in ash and soot, so there’s no point in doing much more than knocking off the loose rust with a wire brush. But if you really want the grate to look good (while also using it occasionally), then I have a three-step procedure to suggest. Naval Jelly is the brand name of a rust removal chemical used often in the automotive industry. Products like these aren’t carried in home improvement stores, but you will find them in the automotive department at Canadian Tire. That said, chemical removal of the rust is only the beginning. The next step involves mechanical cleaning of the metal, and a rotary brus
