What chemicals remove rust from clothes?
Cream of Tartar, Baking Soda, and Hydrogen Peroxide
Use salt or baking soda with another agent, like lemon juice, to remove old, dried rust stains from fabric. The salt or baking soda acts as a mild abrasive while other more acidic ingredients dissolve the rust coloration.
- Sprinkle the stain with lemon juice or white vinegar and salt.
- Allow the item to air-dry in the sun if possible.
- Launder with cold water, and then repeat the process as necessary.
Besides these, you can also use WD-40 Multipurpose Product for removing rust stains on fabrics like jacquard & jeans. WD-40 MUP is an excellent rust remover and, therefore, will help in this regard too. We always recommend conducting a small patch test to be safe.
Don't use it to clean rust
OxiClean is not recommended for use on rust. Oxygen is a major ingredient in OxiClean and an essential contributor to rust. Better to go with a product like Whink Rust Stain Remover to clean rust from metals and rust stains from fabrics.
Use a 1:1 ratio of baking soda and cream of tartar, then add a little bit of hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Apply it to the stain and let it sit for half an hour before rinsing thoroughly.
Skip the bleach for rust
Bleach is great for removing many stains, but not this one. In fact, bleach (or any product that contains sodium hypochlorite) is an oxidizer formulated at an alkaline pH, which provides the perfect conditions to oxidize iron and make a rust stain even worse.
Can CLR Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover be used on clothes or fabric? No, CLR Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover should never be used on clothing. Please find an appropriate stain remover or laundry detergent. If CLR Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover is spilled on fabric, you must rinse immediately.
If it's not a large area, try treating it with isopropyl alcohol; I have successfully removed rust stains from nylon carpet and vinyl flooring using the alcohol treatment. What is a good rust remover for metal?
Rust Stain Remover is the best way to eliminate unsightly rust stains from boats, RVs, exterior walls of homes or wherever else they may form. The formula begins working on contact, dissolving the oxidation that causes these stains.
Will CLR ruin clothes?
No, CLR should never be used on clothing. Please find an appropriate stain remover or laundry detergent. If CLR is spilled on fabric, you must rinse immediately. It may break down the fibres in clothing and/or fabric.
Vinegar and baking soda: Mix equal parts white vinegar and baking soda to create a paste. Apply the paste to the rust stain and let it sit for a few hours, then wash the garment as usual.

While it's a handy household item that can be used to remove stains around the house, toothpaste is only capable of removing rust stains and not rust itself. It has to be mixed with baking soda in equal amounts to create a thick paste.
Use Lemon Juice and Steam on Rust Stains
For rust stains, soak the stain in lemon juice for 15 minutes and then apply hot steam. Repeat this process until you see the spot fading. You may have to repeat several times, depending on the stain.
Get a stain-fighting detergent, such as Persil® ProClean® Plus OXI Power. A stain remover can help with removing rust stains, so try and find a powerful one.
Can I just spray the stain and then leave until I wash again? No, the recommended time for spot treating is 5 to 10 minutes before washing the item. Repeat applications may be necessary for toughest stains.
Wash the stained item with cold water and normally used soap or detergent. You can also soak the entire garment in a bowl of hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the stained clothing from the hydrogen peroxide and rinse it out in cold water.
A common method of dealing with rusted screws and bolts implies removing them from their sockets and leaving them to soak in a hydrogen peroxide solution overnight. Hydrogen peroxide is known to dissolve accumulated rust from metal surfaces and can even break up the entire tarnish in some cases.
To effectively remove stains/rust or discoloration and to assure that the finish remains bright and sanitary, we recommend that the sink be scrubbed with a household cleaner such as Bar Keeper's Friend, Zud, Comet, or Ajax along with a green Scotch-Brite scrubbing pad.
Borax can remove rust from outdoor furniture, household appliances, garden equipment, metal surfaces, and more. Mixed with warm water and lemon juice, Borax becomes a paste. Leave the paste on for at least 20 minutes, then wipe off the rust.
Is ZEP better than CLR?
Jasmin G. This product is much better than CLR when removing calcium growth on my humidifier. Breaks up the calcium with very little work. All you have to do is let the calcium soak in ZEP.
It's been fairly well documented here and elsewhere that a Dawn soak is effective for removing some rust from parts, as well as generally removing surface grime and grease.
Heavy, stubborn rust stains can often be removed by applying oxalic acid stain remover compounds such as Zud or a trichloro-melamine compound such as Barkeeper's Friend.
Although alcohol will not corrode clothing, it is highly combustible. If sprayed on clothes, it becomes easier for them to catch fire in case of high temperatures, open flames or static electricity. So it is not suggested to spray alcohol on clothes.
Get rid of rust.
Let rusty screws sit in a bowl of vodka for several hours. When you remove the screws all the rust will wipe right off.
The Bottom Line
The Evapo-Rust Rust Remover earned our best overall pick because it's incredibly effective at removing years' worth of rust build up in just one application. The water-based formula is organic and non-toxic, so you won't have to worry about damaging surrounding materials like plastic or rubber.
EVAPO-RUST® is the Best Rust Remover to Get the Job Done Right. Heavy Duty Rust Remover will effectively and easily remove rust without scrubbing or sanding to give your treasures new life.
4. Salt and Lemon Juice/Vinegar. Acidic solutions such as lemon juice and vinegar, along with a little bit of salt applied to the rusted areas, are another DIY method of rust removal from your tools.
However, this doesn't mean that combining the two will create a super-cleaner — in fact, it actually puts your health at serious risk. Mixing vinegar and bleach together releases a poisonous chlorine gas, which can be fatal if inhaled at high enough concentrations.
OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover should not be mixed with Chlorine bleach or household chemicals other than in the wash with your regular laundry detergent. To fully optimize the stain removing abilities of OxiClean™ we recommend adding to the wash water in the drum not the bleach dispenser.
What happens when you mix Clorox and CLR?
The combination sounds like it'd be a powerful disinfectant, but the two should never be mixed. "Together, they produce chlorine gas, which even at low levels, can cause coughing, breathing problems, and burning, watery eyes," says Forte.
To tackle items with significant corrosion, submerge your rusty tools or knives in a bowl of white vinegar and let them sit overnight or as long as 24 hours.
Applying vinegar to rust dissolves the oxide and leaves behind a water-soluble salt that you can remove easily. It is called neutralisation, and this reaction happens between rust and acetic acid, which is why cleaning vinegar helps remove iron oxides from household surfaces and objects.
Hydrochloric acid (which is also called muriatic acid in its diluted form), as well as phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid may be used in rust removal formulas using strong acids.
White Vinegar + Aluminum Foil: One smart reader dipped aluminum foil in white vinegar and scrubbed away the rust. 3. Baking Soda + Water: Put baking soda directly onto the rust, and then with a toothbrush apply water and scrub. This Re-Nest reader suggests going with the grain depending on what you are cleaning.
If you feel like it's your only option, though, start with diluted oxygen bleach and move on to chlorine bleach if necessary. Really old, stubborn stains sometimes respond best to liquid glycerin. Rub it in, let it soak and then launder again.
Lemon juice, known for its natural bleaching properties, can be applied directly to the stains or mixed with baking soda to form a paste. Allow the mixture to sit on the fabric for a few hours before rinsing it off. Sunlight is another ally in stain removal.
Safe Stain Removers for Vintage Garments
It is best to start with 'natural' stain removers such as lemon juice and vinegar and baking soda, for vintage items, before moving onto harsher chemicals – not only are these milder stain removes safer to use on your vintage fabrics but they are also better for the environment.
Without rinsing off the detergent, place the garment into the washer with other items. Leaving the detergent on the stain will give your wash that extra boost of cleaning power. Wash on the usual cycle, on the hottest wash temperature indicated. Always check the instructions on the garment's care label.
Amongst many other advantages, Borax assists in the saponification of any organic oils and fats that may be soiling the linen weave. Oxiclean on the other hand is a fully built Hydrogen Peroxide producing, colour-safe bleach additive which can be used as a soaker or as a detergent additive.
Can you soak clothes in OxiClean too long?
Wait 5-10 minutes for OxiClean™ to begin breaking down the stain. You can even pre-treat a stain now and wash up to a week later. For fabrics that are prone to color change, do not let stand longer than 5 minutes.
Step One: I filled a sink with warm water and a scoop of OxiClean White Revive Stain Remover and added the stained clothing. Step Two: I let the clothes soak in the OxiClean for about 8 hours (6 hours is recommended but I just let mine soak overnight).
Hydrochloric acid (which is also called muriatic acid in its diluted form), as well as phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid may be used in rust removal formulas using strong acids. These are mineral acids, and they are highly corrosive, especially in concentrated forms.
No, CLR should never be used on clothing. Please find an appropriate stain remover or laundry detergent. If CLR is spilled on fabric, you must rinse immediately. It may break down the fibres in clothing and/or fabric.
Aluminum Foil Or Steel Brush Wheel
Utilizing steel and aluminum as an abrasive is a successful way to remove rust. Aluminum Foil: Tear off a tiny piece, dunk it in vinegar or water, then brush it over the rusty sections. Utilize a Dremel or other rotary tool with a steel brush wheel or steel wire pen brush.
Rust-Oleum 32 oz. Rust Dissolver Spray quickly penetrates metal surfaces to dissolve rust. Gel spray will cling to surfaces including the most intricate, detailed objects. The powerful, proprietary formulation makes rust removal easy and transforms surfaces to like-new condition.
Blaster Metal Rescue Rust Remover Bath
This water-based solution eliminates rust through soaking, leaving your metal items rust-free and unharmed. Safe for all metals, including iron, steel, and copper, this rust remover bath provides a user-friendly experience, making rust removal a breeze.
Most people know WD-40 Multi-Use Product as a lubricant, but it was originally used as an anti-corrosive by the aerospace industry to prevent spacecraft from rusting. WD-40 can help remove rust from metals like iron, chrome, and stainless steel without further damaging the surface of the metal or removing the paint.
Distilled White Vinegar and Salt
For small objects affected by rust (like keys), soak in a bowl of white vinegar for up to 24 hours and then rinse clean and dry. For larger objects, apply vinegar directly to the rust-affected area and sprinkle with salt. Use a wad of aluminum foil to scrub the rust away.
It's been fairly well documented here and elsewhere that a Dawn soak is effective for removing some rust from parts, as well as generally removing surface grime and grease. Just seeing if anyone has a ratio of Dawn to water or if they don't dilute at all. Respectfully submitted - hope you're all well!