hey i got some dirty iron not rusty just dirty
how do i clean it
preferably with household materials
and i dont mean the iron you use on clothes

Turn the iron to hot, get a piece of newspaper and the salt shaker. Pour some salt on the newspaper and run iron all around the top of the salt. after this, you can run it over a clean dry rag, just be careful not to burn yourself.

Well crap. didn't see that last part. NVM then. :facepalm:

Wipe it with a damp cloth, be sure it's unplugged or you may electrocute yourself.

You've tried soap and water?

If you want it shiny you'll probably need to grind.

If it's rusty use 1 part vinegar, 1 part lemon juice. Don't waste your money on Naval Jelly. If it's just dirty, use kerosene or similar solvent and steel wool, or Scotchbrite.

Now this is my kind of thread. :thumbsup:

Yes. 1Samildanach is right. Soap/detrergent should be tried first...dry it off and then use kerosene or some kind of oil so it doesn't rust.

Heat it to 2500 degrees Celsius and pour it into liquid nitrogen.

That will clean your clock.

so just soap and water and if it doesnt clean vinegar?

Two key elements are missing from your question:

1. What sort of surface does the iron have (smooth or rough)?
2. What are you trying to remove?

1. Smooth
2. looks like dirt, and paint

Try that. It might help if you describe what it is you're want to clean, cast iron? Soap does wonders. It has been my experience that soap will do to dirt what solvent cannot. Soap cannot cut grease like solvents can unless you use Dawn dish washing liquid, which IS THE BEST. Any way, if you use water, it will rust, so you need to somehow wipe it down with something that will prevent rust, or paint it. Johnson's Paste Wax can be buffed on to preserve bare iron/steel.

its a piece of iron from a construction site, like it was an old one and i went metal detecting xD cause its free land

Metal detecting? Now we're on the same page. I would try Dawn dishwashing liquid first. It will cut dirt and grease. Remember what I said about rust. Now if you want to clean found pennies, most guys use hot hydorgen peroxide....boil it and take it off the stove and dump the pennies in for a while then use a toothbrush. Getting a little off, but I love metal detecting too.

its a six inch peice of iron it looks like something off a rail road its not rusted
i dont know where you got pennies,

Parks of course....I'm surprised the iron has no rust. Must be covered well with paint. DAWN.

it is haha like packed

Soak it for a while. Then use a wire brush or something.

okay thanks