Expert: John Franceschini - 4/12/2010

Question
I have 4 sinks w/wood cabinets below (1 kitchen-rest bathroom).  All have some form of chemical cleaners stored in the cabinets. The cabinet door hinges, copper pipes and brass fittings under only 1 of the sinks - in the powder room (no bathtub or shower in this room) - are rusting very badly - the powdery rust is falling off the hinges when you open the cabinet.  I thought there may be a leak, but it's also the cabinet where I store all the tissue paper boxes, and nothing is damp. Someone had suggested that it may be a chemical from one of cleaners that stored under there that's causing the rusting.  All the metal in the other cabinets is bright and shiny.  I've even tried placing a rust absorbing product under this sink, but it hasn't helped.

Answer
Hi

Thanks for your query.

The rust will either be caused by previously existing dampness or possibly an ammonia based chemical-is one of the cleaners cloudy ammonia?- Is there an ammonia smell in the cupboard?

If not that sort of corrosion will only be caused by a strong acid such as Hydrochloric (also known as builders acid). Remove all chemicals and clean the rust off as effectively as you can with a scouring pad and detergent. Then watch whether it comes back.

Regards



John