Having an investment property that you rent out to tenants can be a very lucrative business, but it can also require a lot of time, effort and money. 

Making sure your rental property is properly maintained and in good condition will help you maximize the monthly rent amount you can charge, as well as preventatively protect the home from avoidable further damage. Any homeowner knows that addressing a new found problem right away will help ensure there is little to no collateral damages.

One pesky area of maintenance to address is rust. Rust can be part of every home, but this is an issue that most people often don't care too much about. However, it can be a pain in the neck when it's time for you to get rid of it, or even worse if you do not tackle the problem at all. 

Don’t let this problem ruin your prospects for great tenants to reside in your  Branson apartment! Discussed below are some easy ways to get rid of rust found around your Branson rental property.

 Baking soda

Using baking soda to remove rust is one of the most common household methods to try. Baking soda is an easy-to-find cleaning product that most people are likely to have in their kitchen already. This cleaning solution works great on thinner metals and metals that have already started to develop rust. You'll find it easy to remove the rust by following these steps:

·         Make a paste by mixing water and baking soda and coat the entire metal with the paste to ensure the rusted part is fully coated with the mixture. Wait for 30 minutes.

·         Scrub the rust with a rough sponge and rinse well. After following all the steps, let it dry to prevent it from rusting again. Remember that if the object isn't thoroughly dried, rust can easily start when exposed metal experiences moisture.

Vinegar

White vinegar can be used for many various cleaning tasks, including getting rid of rust. To start removing rust using the vinegar method, submerge the rusted object in a bowl of white vinegar and leave it overnight. After soaking it overnight, you can now scrub away the rust. You may need a little effort to get the stubborn rust off.

If all the rust is not removed, repeat the process and soak it again longer this time. After you have removed all the rust, wash the objects with soap and water and dry them thoroughly. Vinegar is a great cleaning solution on almost all rust, from tools to rusty pipes. Next time you come across stubborn rust, you can get rid of it with ease.

Potato and dish soap

Potatoes are a type of magical vegetable that can even offer a little extra cleaning power. Potatoes don't just make you satisfied with their delicious taste, but they also contain oxalic acid, which can help get rid of rust. Here's how you can use potato as rust remover:

·         Cut the potato in half.

·         Put salt or baking soda on the potato.

·         Cover the rusted object with dish soap.

·         Use the potato to scrub the rust away.

·         Rinse and let it dry.

Lemon and salt

Aside from potatoes and dish soap, lemon and salt is another effective combination to get rid of rust. When you have a lemon or lime in your toolbox, you're one step closer to making your home rust-free. Here are the ways how to use these two cleaning agents.

·         Cover the rusted object with salt.

·         Scrub the item with a mixture of lemon and salt to remove the rust.

·         Once the rust is removed, quickly wash it off to prevent any damage.

Citric acid

Citric acid is another effective cleaning product that can easily remove stubborn rust from metal objects. You can find it in grocery stores along with the baking items. Here's how you can use it to remove rust off of any metal.

·         Use three tablespoons of citric acid and add it to hot water.

·         Soak the rusted object overnight.

·         After you soak it overnight, rinse it and let it dry.

Citric acid is not only great for removing rust; it can also remove paint and other forms of coatings.

Rust-removing products

You can find many other cleaning products on the market that are specifically made to remove rust; one good example is Evapo-rust. Here is how you can remove rust using this product.

·         Soak the rusted object in the product for 30 minutes.

·         Then scrub the rust.

·         Rinse it thoroughly after scrubbing.

This type of cleaning product is easy to use and works on most metals, and has proven to be very effective.

If you happen to get rust on tile, here is a very simple and easy way to accomplish getting rid of it.

·         Cover the affected area with soap and hot water.

·         Use a pumice stone to scrub the rust or stain.

·         Let it dry.

To remove a rust stain on your carpet:

·         Use a carpet-safe stain remover.

·         Use lemon, salt, and hot water and scrub the stain.

·         Let it dry.

The methods above describing how to remove rust from tile or carpet have been proven to remove said rust and stains.

Removing the crusty substance that forms on metal can be a big chore. If you're not one to enjoy cleaning rust in the first place, then learning how to prevent it is the next best thing to do. But regardless of which approach you take making sure to address any rust spots quickly will help prevent permanent damage to the item thus making it unattractive to future potential tenants.



If you would rather someone else put in the elbow grease to maintain and spiff up your Branson rental property, contact Thousand Hills Realty at (417) 337-8081. We are the leading property management company in the area and will be happy to assist you in all tasks related to managing your rental property.