SA find, now how do I clean it! :)

[SJSFarm]

I found a Victorio Producto strainer at the Salvation Army. It has rust on the strainer and I'm not sure how to clean it up.
For some reason I can't seem to be able to post more than one pic

[SJSFarm]

Here is the other

Thanks!

[jassytoo]

There's that stuff called CLR. That will remove rust. I think that's the same stuff they advertise for cleaning coffee pots, so it should be safe for your strainer.

[Yvonne's hubby]

CLR should work, be sure to wear heavy rubber gloves. My preference for this kind of job would be "Bartenders
Friend". Its a powder, comes in a can kinda like comet or ajax and is user friendly (no need for rubber gloves), and it does an excellent job on most any metal.

If you have any trouble let me know... I would be tickled to buy it from you!

[SilverVista]

The strainer on my Victorio rusts between uses every year because the coating on it is thin and cheap, and gets eaten away inside those hundreds of holes about the first time it's out of the box. When I put it away after applesauce and tomato sauce in the fall, I clean it well and wipe with a little mineral oil and store in a plastic bag, then scrub well again before using it the next year. It just seems to be the nature of the beast.

[DYngbld]

Soak it in dishwasher soap and water for a couple of hours it will be as shiny as new, and you likely have some in the cupboard already. No need to buy anything fancy.

(works great on coffee pot, tea pitchers, anything stainless steal)

[Steve in PA]

I just saw on that restoration show on TV to use vinegar or lemon juice for rust stains on metal. Just let is soak for a few hours. They even demonstrated.

I can't remember the name of the show. It's the one from Vegas that's a spinoff of pawn stars.

[||Downhome||]

a wire brush does wonders on rust, for that a brass wire brush should suffice, with a bit of CLR as cleaning fluid. The lemon juice or vinegar will also work but not as fast.

[7thswan]

I've cleaned many old motorcycle parts, many chromed, The best way I've found is WD-40 with the finest steel wool. Then wash it with soap to remove the oil.

[PNWest]

I don't believe you should rub, scrub or brush it hard. If your screen is like mine it is not stainless steel, but poorly galvanized metal. Use a medium stiff bristled brush and clean it good, spray or wipe with oil.

The reason it rusts, the tomato acid works on the metal. My screen 'looks' like Stainless, but it is not. YMMV, if it isn't, proceed with caution.

[o&itw]

These kinds of products are usually plated with tin. Sometimes they don't "re-tin" after the punch the holes, so the edges rust and stain the rest. The rust on the dge of the holes wont progress very fast, but if you clean it with and abrasive or too long in and acid like CLR you will be taking the finish off the flat part. If you lose that finish the thing will deteriorate much quicker. I would wipe it off with some CLR or vinegar to get off any of the rust that might discolor or cause your food to taste of iron. Rinse it well and you will be good to go. The rust is not bad for you, and only causes a problem if it stains your food or is enough to cause it to taste funny.

Yah, it doesn't shine nice, but taking off that thin plating will seriously reduce it's life. Like an above poster said, wash it and coat it with mineral oil or something similar when you are done.

[bowdonkey]

You lucky cob! Awesome find.

[doozie]

I would soak and get a new toothbrush to get into all those holes easily.