How Do You Remove Corrosion From A Garden Hose?

Owning a garden hose in your house is necessary if you have a big lawn. The garden hose enables the watering of flowerbeds, keeping a Lawn lush, and for Landscaping needs. Like any other garden tool, a hose could suffer from kinking, cracking, and corrosion.

Corrosion is a natural process that causes an irreversible degrading of the garden hose. So, how do you remove corrosion from a garden hose? This post provides several ways to remove corrosion from your garden hose.

What Are The Causes Of Corrosion In Your Garden Hose?

While old garden hose is usually more at risk of corrosion, even new hose can show corrosion at any time. Below you will find several factors that cause corrosion.

  • Low pH

pH measures water acidity and ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 represents the neutral pH. It’s best if you are concerned about the pH of your water. If your water pH is 8 or below, the barrier within your hose can dissolve, leaving your garden hose exposed to corrosion.

  • High oxygen levels

Oxygen can deteriorate metal through internal oxidation. Your garden hose is at risk of corrosion if your water has higher-than-normal oxygen levels. In the end, your water’s high oxygen levels can cause corrosion in your hose.

  • Water turbulence

High water velocity in your garden hose can lead to turbulence. Sharp turns, elbows, and obstacles can also cause turbulence within your garden hose. All this commotion will lead to corrosion down the road.

  • Sediment

Sand, sediment, or other grit in the water via hydraulic wear can cause corrosion inside the garden hose. This is the reason why a water filtration system is so beneficial.

  • Hard water

If you live in an area with “hard water” that is heavy in minerals such as calcium. High levels of calcium can cause t buildup and excess corrosion inside the garden hose.

  • Exposure to bacteria

Some types of bacteria, such as sulfate and iron bacteria present in your hose and water, can make it more likely that your garden hose will corrode over time with long-term exposure. 

Different Ways To Remove Corrosion From A Garden Hose

Using White Vinegar 

Try using white vinegar to remove corrosion. The acetic acid in this common household product is acidic enough to dissolve corrosion from your garden hose.

  • Step 1: Take one side of the affected hose and dip it in medium size washbasin. Treat the second end later.
  • Step 2: Empty the undiluted white vinegar into the container and confirm that the solution submerges the corroded part of the Garden Hose completely.
  • Step 3: Check the magnitude of the oxidation and use it to determine the length of time to immerse the hose’s corroded part. Let the garden hose stay in the white vinegar solution for a maximum of three hours.
  • Step 4: Confirm the hose state by taking them out of the vinegar solution and cleaning the corrosion with sturdy cotton wool. If the oxidation persists, return the garden hose end into the vinegar solution for an hour more. Continue to dip the garden hose end into the vinegar solution until the corroded portion clears.
  • Step 5: Wash the vinegar off the couplings with pure water and wipe the hose links with a clean cotton cloth.
  • Step 6: Get oil gel and apply it on all parts of the exterior and interior parts of the connecting hose end, especially the threading to seal it from more corrosion.

Using Lemon or Lime

  • Step 1: Start by covering the corroded parts of the garden hose with some salt.
  • Step 2: Cover the whole couplings using salt, then crush the lime or the lemon fluid on the salt.
  • Step 3: Combine the lime or lemon fluid on the corroded part and let it stay for three hours.
  • Step 4: Get hardened wool to scrub the area you are clearing of corrosion.
  • Step 5: If you are uncertain if using hardened wool may destroy the hose, use lime or lemon skin, which is known to be useful for cleansing to clear corrosion.

Using Baking Soda 

The materials you need for carrying out this method include baking Soda and a toothbrush. Follow the steps below to remove corrosion from the garden hose.

  • Step 1: Begin by adding baking Soda into a washbowl and add some water to create a formula.
  • Step 2: Create a recipe that is concentrated but not flaky.
  • Step 3: Spread the concentrated formula on the corroded parts of the hose, and let it stay for a couple of hours before you brush off the solution using a toothbrush.

Mix Hydrogen Peroxide With The Cream Of Tartar

Cream of tartar is known to have corrosion eradicating properties. Create a formula with hydrogen peroxide and cream of tartar. Ensure the mixture has a uniform thickness. 

To remove corrosion from your garden hose, take a coarse sponge to spread the mixture to the corroded parts. Clean the formula off after some minutes. 

Mix vinegar, baking soda, and salt 

Vinegar, baking soda, and salt all make excellent cleaning agents, but together, they form an extremely effective corrosion remover. This method is ideal for cleaning your garden house while this process may take a little longer than the others.

  • Step 1: Grab a deep plastic container to submerge the hose.
  • Step 2: Fill the container up with some white vinegar until it is fully submerged.
  • Step 3: Once your garden hose is sitting in the vinegar container, it’s time to add the salt and baking soda. This solution will chew corrosion even faster.
  • Step 4: Let the garden hose sit inside the solution for at least 12 hours, but the longer you leave it, the more effective it will have.
  • Step 5: Remove the garden hose from the plastic container and scrub it. At this point, the corrosion should be removed.

Steps To Remove Corrosion From Garden Hose Coupling Nuts And Metal Connectors

Corrosion attacks the coupling nuts and metal connectors of your garden hose. Follow the steps below to remove corrosion from your garden hose coupling nuts and metal connectors.

Using Sandpaper

You can remove corrosion from a garden hose coupling nuts and metal connectors using Sandpaper. This process involves scraping the corrosion with paint sandpaper or steel wool.

Start by scraping the corroded garden hose iron and coupling nuts with rough steel wool. After that, change to lighter Sandpaper to prevent any more destruction of the garden hose. 

Using Potato with Baking Soda

Potatoes have an acid called Oxalic acid capable of removing corrosion. This method could give you the best results when used on the hose coupling nuts and metal connectors.

  • Step 1: Cut a potato in two and spread Baking Soda on the inner parts freely.
  • Step 2: Brush the garden pipe’s connector with the mixture of the Baking Soda and the potato.
  • Step 3: Allow the mixture to stay for some hours then wipe the garden hose with steel wool.

How To Change A Garden House Coupling Nuts And Metal Connectors

If the garden hose is stuck, remove the connectors and replace them. Follow the steps below to change the couplings nuts and metal connectors.

  • Get a pair of pliers and unscrew the corroded connector from the source of water. Turn the fitting nut to the left or anti-clockwise to loosen it.
  • If that fails, turn the coupling nut to the right or clockwise then back to the left. That should unscrew it. 
  • Also, detach the sprayer from the other end of the garden hose using the same method.
  • Get tools like a hacksaw, wrench, and an interchangeable screwdriver ready.
  • If the efforts to unscrew the coupling nuts fail, use a hacksaw to cut off the part of the garden hose just under the spot where the couplings had rusted. (Cut the garden hose smoothly to avoid any leakage.) 
  • Note the size of the hose and visit a hardware store to get replacement coupling for both ends of the garden hose. 
  • Next, slide the hose clamp on the garden hose end and apply pressure on the hose hook to lock it in. Once done, any attempts to remove it will damage the interior of the hose.
  • Tighten the garden hose clamp using a screwdriver.
  • Finally, repeat the process for the other end of the garden hose.

Conclusion

After reading this tutorial, we believe you now know how to remove corrosion from a garden hose should anyone asked you. First, you learned the different methods of eliminating corrosion off your garden hose, followed by knowing the different means to remove corrosion from garden hose coupling nuts and metal connectors. And finally, how to replace corroded or damaged connectors, when all efforts to loosen them fail.

If you know other ways of removing corrosion from a garden hose, we do love to hear from you in our comment section.

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