Remove Rust Stains on Clothes With Cleaners From Your Cupboard (2024)

Equipment / Tools

Materials

How to Remove Rust Stains From Clothes

1. Apply Salt and Lemon Juice

   You should have no problems with white or ecru-colored fabrics, but for darker-colored fabrics that may not becolorfast, test the lemon juice first on a seam or inconspicuous spot to see if fading or bleaching occurs.

   • Sprinkle salt on the rust stain.
   • Squeeze freshlemon juiceonto the salt.
   • Spread the garment in the sun to dry. The ultraviolet rays of the sun will help speed the reaction.

   

2. Apply a Stain-Removing Paste

   This is an alternative to the salt/lemon method.

   • Make a paste by combining 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar (it's acidic, similar to lemon juice and vinegar), 1 teaspoonbaking soda, and a few drops ofhydrogen peroxide.
   • Apply the paste to the stain and allow it to work for 30 minutes.
   • Rinse the fabric thoroughly.

   Tip

   Try distilled white vinegar to remove light rust stains, as well. The acid, combined with salt or baking soda, will react with the rust to make it more water-soluble.

   

3. Apply Rust Remover

   As another alternative, apply a commercial rust remover to white and colorfast fabrics. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully; many removers are highly toxic and can burn skin and damage appliance finishes. Apply the remover, let it sit for a few seconds, and rinse thoroughly.

   

4. Wash as Usual

   • Wash the garment as usual, with aheavy-duty laundry detergentand thewater temperaturerecommended on thecare label.
   • After washing, check carefully for any trace of the stain before placing the garment in a machine dryer. You may also air-dry the fabric.

   

How to Remove Rust Stains From Carpet and Upholstery

You can use similar methods for rust removal on carpet and upholstery as you would on clothing. You will need tools including a butter knife. white cloth, a vacuum, a bowl, and gloves. You will also supplies including liquid dishwashing soap, ammonia, baking soda, and lemon juice. Take these steps:

• Use a butter knife to scrape away and loosen any visible rust from the carpet or fabric fibers. Then, use a vacuum to remove the loose particles and lift the fibers.
• Mix 2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid and 1 tablespoon of household ammonia with 2 cups of warm water in a small bowl. Dip a clean white cloth into the solution and saturate the stained area.Do not oversaturate upholstery fabric because excess moisture in the cushion or padding causes problems.
• Let the solution sit for at least five minutes, then blot with another clean cloth. Replace with a clean cloth as the rust stain begins to transfer and dirty the first cloth. Blot with a cloth dipped in plain water to rinse away the soapy residue and let the carpet or upholstery dry.
• Alternatively, make a thick paste of 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply the paste to any remaining stain. Let the mixture sit for at least two hours or until it is dry.
• Vacuum the treated area to remove the baking soda and to lift carpet or fabric fibers.

Additional Tips for Removing Rust Stains

• Repeat removal steps if the stain remains after initial treatment, or you can try a different solvent or cleaner.
• If rust stains are a recurring problem on your clothes, carpet, or upholstery, you'll have to track down the source of the rust to prevent the stains from continuing. Rust stains from corroded metal furniture, locks, walls, or cars are easy to track down, but sometimes they appear on laundry with little explanation.
• If the rust problem comes from iron bacteria, there areways to treat the water. You should replace rusty pipes and water heaters as soon as possible, and you can repair chipped enamel in a washer or dryer with appliance repair paint.