As homeowners across the UK get ready to pack away their garden furniture for the winter, a unique cleaning tip has surfaced that saves people both time and money when it comes to tackling rust.
Our garden chairs, tables and barbecues often fall victim to damp weather, resulting in unsightly rust patches over time. However, thanks to a smart trick shared by Mrs Hinch’s dedicated cleaning community, there’s now a straightforward, chemical-free method to banish rust—and it only costs a few quid.
The revelation was shared on a Facebook group devoted to cleaning tips, inspired by social media cleaning star Sophie Hinchliffe, more commonly known as Mrs Hinch. The solution? A mix of everyday kitchen items—tomato sauce and crumpled-up tin foil.
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While there are plenty of chemical rust-removal products available, this ketchup-and-foil method has now become a go-to for many cleaning enthusiasts, Delighted householders are using it on everything from rusty towel rails and pots to garden furniture and BBQs.
One cleaning fan took to one of many Mrs Hinch-inspired groups asking for advice on how to remove rust from the base of her metal stools. Used in an outdoor bar area they were prone to rust.
After seeking advice, she was flooded with suggestions, with one fellow cleaning fan suggesting, “Tomato sauce and scrunched-up tin foil. Used it on mine. Removed the rust and didn’t scratch the metal.”
Another said: “Foil scrunched up and tomato ketchup. Mine are quite a few years old and were very rusty.”
Delighted with the results, the original poster later provided an update, surprised by how well the method worked. They said: “Today I tried ketchup and tin foil, and it worked.
“I have to admit I was sceptical, but you were all right, and I was wrong. And, as somebody asked, it didn’t scratch the chrome.”
The tin foil and ketchup method was hailed as a ‘game changer’ by another member of the group, who said: “I use this on my bathroom towel rail which was gross, vinegar didn’t make any difference this is much better.”
How does tomato sauce remove rust?
The secret lies in the acetic acid in tomato sauce, which reacts with copper oxide to break down rust. The crumpled tin foil has a more practical purpose, adding gentle friction to remove the rust without damaging surfaces.
Simply apply enough sauce to cover the rust stains with a paintbrush and leave it to sit for about 20 minutes to see the much-loved condiment start to work its magic.
Then, use the scrunched-up tin foil to gently scrub the surface, covering the area with circular motions. Once you are done, wipe clean with a soft soapy cloth and dry thoroughly.
As cleaning enthusiasts continue to share their hacks online, this budget-friendly method is gaining popularity as an eco-friendly alternative to harsh chemical cleaners.