Removing Rust Using Vinegar

When I first made the toilet paper holder for my bathroom I forgot to seal it so it started to rust.  I took it down when the bathroom was painted recently and figured as long as I had it off the wall, I’d clean up the rust and give it a clear coat. I pulled out my drill and a wire brush and started that way, then realized it would take less work and come out nicer if I used another trick to clean it.

This is a super easy trick for cleaning rust off smaller items. Long story short, just throw them in vinegar. 

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• Find a container big enough to fully submerge the part(s) in vinegar. (Cheap white vinegar is all you need. I buy it by the gallon.)

• Let the parts sit completely covered in vinegar for a few hours to a couple days, depending on how bad the rust is. (You’ll see bubbles form on the rust as it starts to work.)

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• Using a toothbrush (or a wire brush for more difficult rust) scrub off the rust. 

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• Soak in a solution of water and baking soda to neutralize the acid.
  (1 cup of baking soda to 1 gallon of water.)
• Rinse and dry thoroughly. (I like to set mine parts out in the warm sun or use a hair dryer to ensure they’re fully dried.)

• To prevent parts from rusting again in the future, paint or clear coat them.  For items like tools, a coating of mineral oil (or in a pinch, motor oil) will prevent them from rusting. 

Skateboard Deck Toilet Paper Dispenser

​This toilet paper dispenser was originally attached to the wall, but I decided to attach it to a chunk of an old skateboard deck and attach that to the wall. (Okay… to the door actually.) I like this design because the deck acts as a shelf for a spare roll of toilet paper, or whatever else you need close to the toilet. I was originally planning to clear coat the dispenser, but I didn’t have any in the garage so I just painted everything black to match the deck. I’m not going to do the step by step on this, but here’s a few pictures if you feel like figuring it out yourself.  I’m also going to add these to the store once I figure out the cost of materials.