How to Clean Rust Off of Antique Metal Trunks

Set the antique trunk on a drop cloth or old blanket in a well-ventilated area. Give yourself plenty of room to walk around it with ease.

Remove surface dirt from the trunk with a microfiber cloth. Pay special attention to grooves and indentations so that you know where to focus your rust-removal efforts.

Put on a pair of gloves and eye goggles. Even tiny fragments of rust can get into your eyes and potentially cause long-term damage.

Identify the better rust removal tool -- steel wool or a wire brush -- by beginning with the steel wool. Like sandpaper, steel wool is available in different grades. Begin with a super fine steel wool (grade 0000) and keep very fine (grade 00) and medium (grade 1) nearby; use them in this order. Rub the rust in a circular motion with steel wool, remembering that steel and tin, which are harder, may require a wire brush, while brass, which is softer, might be quickly restored with steel wool. Still, a heavy buildup of rust on brass might require the wire brush. Choose the least aggressive removal method first, graduate as needed and take your time.

Wipe the rust occasionally with a rag so that you can closely inspect your work. It could take hours to remove the rust in this methodical manner, but with steadiness and determination, your efforts eventually will be rewarded -- and with no damage to your antique metal trunk. When all the rust is gone, buff the trunk with a clean microfiber cloth until the trunk shines.