Oven cleaner is overkill. Try vinegar and steel wool.

Just scrub it with vinegar and steel wool.

Rust on cast iron is mostly surface-level. White vinegar (the cheap stuff) breaks it down fast. Soak a rag in vinegar and lay it on the rusty spots for 15–20 minutes, or scrub directly with a steel wool pad dipped in vinegar. The acid does the work, the steel wool scrapes what’s left.

After the rust is gone, rinse it well, dry it immediately, and oil it. That last part matters—bare cast iron will rust again within hours if you don’t seal it. Use a high-smoke-point oil (canola, grapeseed, or flaxseed) and wipe on a thin coat before storing.

No need for special grill cleaners, oven sprays, or power tools. Vinegar and a few minutes of scrubbing is the fastest, cheapest, and most honest fix.

Future you will be glad you didn’t toss that grate.