Troubleshooting - How to - Clean Rust of Tent Pegs

Untreated metal does rust. Particularly outdoors and the nature of camping is outdoors! 

So if you have some untreated metal tent pegs that have rusted and you want to try and clean them up we have heard of the following suggestions: 

White Vinegar 

To remove rust you can try soak the affected area in the white vinegar for about 20 to 24 hours, then use your brush or pad to scrub away at the rust. Oftentimes this will come right off—sometimes you can even do it with a paper towel—but other times you may need to apply a little elbow grease and scrub the rust away. 

Silicone Spray

This is often used on zippers but you may try on tent pegs. We have not tried this method ourselves. 

Steel Wool & Cooking Oil

Requires a bit of elbow grease but will get the job done. 

How long does metal take to rust? 

After roughly a week in the ground, steel pegs without a zinc coating can often start to show pitting corrosion on the shaft. That said, their level of performance in the moment is just as adequate.

What causes rust? 

The lifespan of a rusted 6mm thick raw steel plate outdoors can vary significantly depending on several factors such as the environment, climate, exposure to moisture, and the presence of corrosive elements like salt or chemicals. However, in general, a 6mm thick raw steel plate that is left outdoors and exposed to the elements without any protective coating or treatment will likely start to rust relatively quickly.

Steel is susceptible to corrosion when exposed to moisture and oxygen, leading to the formation of rust. The rate at which rust forms on steel can depend on the specific conditions it is exposed to. In a harsh environment with high humidity, saltwater exposure, or industrial pollutants, the rusting process can accelerate.