How to Rust Golf Clubs

Rusty golf clubs aren’t bad. Many seasoned players prefer to let their steel wedges start rusting for aesthetic or game-improving purposes. If you want that, here’s how to rust golf clubs in the shortest time possible.

These are the steps you’ll need to go through to rust your golf club:

1. Get hydrogen peroxide,
2. Add white vinegar for a clean solution,
3. Use table salt to accelerate the rusting process,
4. Spray the wedge with the solution,
5. Let your golf club sit out in the open.

I’ll cover all the steps in detail, including all the component measurements and the best method for rusting a wedge.

What You’re Going to Need

• 16 ounces of hydrogen peroxide,
• Two ounces of white vinegar,
• 1/2 tablespoon of salt,
• Spraying bottle.

Step 1 – Get Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical solution typically found in bleaches. You can also find small concentrations of it in home-use disinfectants, which we often use to clean up scratches and wounds. That mix has around 3% hydrogen peroxide in it, which is safe for home use.

Since any solution with over 9-10% hydrogen peroxide is considered dangerous for human use, the one with 3% will be the best you can get. You can buy it at any store; just check the label first so you don’t get too strong of a formula.

Because you need 16 ounces (nearly 500 milliliters) of this chemical liquid, a pack of bleach will do the work. Regular, home-use bleaches also contain around 3% hydrogen peroxide.

When you get your solution, get a spray bottle and pour 16 ounces of hydrogen peroxide into it.

Step 2 – Add White Vinegar for a Clean Solution

The most diverse liquid in your home is white vinegar. It’s safe to consume, as most of us put it in salads, but it’s also an excellent cleaning solution and, in our case today, a great rusting solution.

The chemical properties of white vinegar are 4-7% acetic acid and 93-96% water. The acid, combined with salt and hydrogen peroxide, will help the rusting process speed up.

Add two ounces (60 milliliters) of white vinegar to the spray bottle where you poured hydrogen peroxide.

Step 3 – Use Table Salt to Accelerate the Rusting Process

Did you know that beach homes corrode faster than any other? That’s because the vicinity of salt water and salty air corrodes the metal, making it rust more quickly. Salt is an electrolyte that makes metal lose electrons; if you want to make a steel golf wedge rusty fast, this component is the perfect last touch.

Because this solution isn’t by the buckets, you don’t need too much salt – just 1/2 tablespoon of it. The spray bottle you’ve added hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar to is now ready for the final touch, salt.

Step 4 – Spray the Wedge With the Solution

Once you’ve poured all the ingredients into the spray bottle, close it and give it a good shake. The solution will bind much faster when you do this, but before you spray the club, let the solution sit for a moment.

Before you do anything, place your wedge somewhere out in the open. You can do this in your garage or backyard. Place or prop up the club so it is looking upwards. Avoid rusting the grip because it leaves stains on your clothes and hands.

Prepare a towel your partner is willing to let you ruin or an old, used rag. Leave it aside for now.

Spray the wedge with the solution generously. Give it a good dozen sprays before letting it dry and rust. The change will be almost instant, as you can watch the wedge start rusting in front of your eyes like magic.

Why I Picked This Solution as the Best Way for Rusting Golf Clubs?

If you search for other rusting solutions, you’ll likely find more methods that have helped people. Some say Coca-Cola is good for rusting wedges, although I find Coke to be better at removing rusting than causing it.

Others will recommend using Naval Jelly, which, in itself, is a non-rusting solution. If you use it on a raw wedge and leave it overnight, the change will be surprising, as it will inevitably look rusty.

You can also cause your wedges to rust by soaking them in salt water or covering them with a damp cloth that’s been soaked in salty water. This happens over some time, though, not immediately.

I picked this mixture of hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar, and salt because rusting happens in as little as thirty seconds. I also chose it for its simplicity – It’s made from ingredients most of us have at home and use almost daily.

Step 5 – Let Your Golf Club Sit Out In the Open

Finally, let the club sit out in the open to see the rusting appear in no time. Remember this, though – if you leave the rusted wedge in the sun for too long, it may get overly rusty. This is also bad because traces of rust stay on clothing and other surfaces very easily.

Once you see the desired level of rusting on the club, gently tap it with the towel or rag you’ve prepared before. You’re ready to play and practice your handicap with some awesome-looking equipment.

Final Thoughts

For a while, this method was considered to offer more spin or provide a softer feel when hitting the ball, but experienced golfers say this simply isn’t true. Most of them choose to let their clubs become rusty, though, because of the light reflection that brand-new ones have.

Players claim the shiny, chromed wedges reflect the sun while playing, which doesn’t give them a complete overview of the wedge-to-ball situation. Rusting makes every steel club less shiny and easier to maneuver on the greens.