Phosphoric acid from Home Depot removed all the rust off my roof, however afterwards you have to neutralize it with baking soda and water and then wash it off with soap and water, otherwise it will etch the metal and leave a nice white coat/film on the part, not ideal for an internal part, I would wash the heck out of it after then dry it off and spray it with WD-40
could you use a wire wheel to take the rust off, would that damage the rods?