How to Clean Rust Off Sweet Iron Horse Bits

There are many types of horse bits to choose from including stainless steel, nickel, copper, rubber, plastic and iron. Iron bits rust naturally (some call it "seasoning"). The sweet taste of the rust encourages the horse to accept the bit. The name "sweet iron" comes from this characteristic. If you want to remove the rust from a sweet iron bit, you can do so by following a few simple steps.

Things You'll Need

Iron bit
Vinegar, lemon juice or baking soda and water
Dry cloth

Instructions

- 1
  
  Lemon juice will help remove rust.
  
  Soak the bit. An acidic soak in lemon juice or vinegar (either white or apple cider) helps soften the rust to make it easier to remove. Alternately, you can apply a paste of baking soda and water.
- 2
  
  Steel wool removes rust.
  
  Lightly rub the bit with a steel wool pad. After soaking the bit, a gentle scrub with steel wool will remove most of the rust. Be sure to rinse the bit well after scrubbing.
- 3
  
  Keep a dry cloth close by.
  
  Dry the bit. Moisture will cause the bit to rust, so after you remove as much rust as you can, wipe it down with a dry cloth. Pay close attention to the hinges.
- 4
  
  Using the bit will prevent rust.
  
  Use the bit. One of the best ways to keep excessive rust from forming is to use the bit frequently. When left to sit, rust will continue to build up.
- 5
  Clean the bit regularly. While a normal amount of horse saliva will not damage the bit or make rust harder to remove, you should clean it on regular basis, especially if the horse ate while the bit was in his mouth.