Nuts and bolts don't have to be discarded if they've become rusty, greasy or encrusted with mineral deposits. They can be cleaned quite easily using a variety of methods, from natural household remedies to commercial degreasers and auto parts cleaners. Extremely dirty nuts and bolts may need to be soaked excessively or given several applications of any given cleaner for the best results.
Step 1
Fill a small plastic container with undiluted white vinegar. Add the nuts and bolts to the container and allow them to soak for 30 minutes to one hour. If the stains are still present after this time, allow the nuts and bolts to soak for an additional few hours. This will remove rust and/or mineral deposits.
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Step 2
Fill a small plastic container with a cola-flavored soft drink. Add the nuts and bolts to the container and allow them to soak overnight. The acidic nature of the soft drink will remove stains, rust and mineral deposits from the nuts and bolts.
Step 3
Remove grease from nuts and bolts by placing them into a shallow dish and spraying them liberally with a commercial degreaser. Allow them to sit for up to an hour and then fill the dish with water. Let the nuts and bolts sit in the clean water for several minutes to rinse, and then dry thoroughly with clean towels.
Step 4
For very tough grease stains, place the nuts and bolts in a shallow pan and spray with a commercial spray-on brake cleaner, found at your local hardware or automotive parts store. Put on a pair of rubber gloves and scrub the nuts and bolts with a brass brush. Submerge the cleaned parts in a pan of water to rinse, and then dry with clean towels.
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