How to get rust stains out of white clothes

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Wondering how to remove rust stains from fabric? If you know you may come in contact with rust, the best course of action is to wear old clothes. However, accidents happen and you may need to figure out how to get rid of unsightly rust stains.

Whether you’re dealing with rust on a favorite pair of pants or a kitchen towel mistaken for a rag, there are effective methods for removing the stains so your item will be good as new.

Steps for How to Get Rust Stains Out of Clothes and Fabric

There’s no need to panic if you happen to get rust on clothes, towels or other fabric. While you will want to avoid using chlorine bleach, which can make the stain permanent, there are other methods that will actually remove the offending rust stain.

Follow these steps to remove the stain with ease:

  • 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.
  • For more stubborn rust stains, purchase a commercial rust remover from a hardware store or home improvement store and follow the directions on the product label.

The quicker you can treat the rust-stained fabric, the more likely you are to have successful results. Avoid rubbing the fabric harshly, which can cause the stain to intensify or damage the fibers of the fabric. If you don’t achieve stain-free fabric the first time, repeat the method until you get the result you desire.

Do not put the clothing or fabric into the dryer until the stain is completely gone; heat from the dryer will set the stain, making it more difficult to remove.

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Is your water looking rusty? These tips from Mr. Rooter® Plumbing can help you find the source of rust-colored water. Mr. Rooter is also part of the Neighborly® family of trusted home service brands.

March 18, 2020
By Molly Maid

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How to get rust stains out of white clothes

Don't throw away a favorite piece of clothing just because you notice a rust stain on the item. While rust isn't likely to wash out of fabric without a little extra effort, there are several simple ways to remove most rust stains from apparel. Discover how to get rust out of clothes with pantry staple ingredients that you probably already have in your home!

Supplies

Gather the following ingredients.

  • 1/4 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Note: This quantity is appropriate to cover a relatively small rust mark. If you the item you wish to clean has a large area of rust, increase each item in proportion as needed. This will help ensure that you have enough paste to cover the mark.

Instructions

Follow these instructions:

  1. Mix the baking soda and cream of tartar in a small bowl.
  2. Add the hydrogen peroxide.
  3. Stir to form a paste.
  4. If the consistency isn't paste-like, add more dry ingredients (equal parts cream of tartar and baking soda) or hydrogen peroxide until it is the correct thickness.
  5. Using your fingers or a spatula, spread the paste over the rusted area on the piece of clothing.
  6. Allow to sit for 30 minutes.
  7. Rinse the paste off the fabric.
  8. Wash as usual.

How to Remove Rust Stains With Toilet Bowl Cleaner (White Clothes)

You can also try a bit of toilet bowl cleaner to remove the rust stains on white clothes. However, remember to wear your gloves when using this method.

Supplies

Before getting started, you'll want to grab:

  • Toilet bowl cleaner
  • Toothbrush
  • Powdered detergent

Instructions

Now that you've got your ingredients ready, it's time to get cleaning. Remember, you only want to use this method on white clothes.

  1. Apply a drop of toilet bowl cleaner over the stain or stains.
  2. Allow it to sit for a minute.
  3. Dip a wet toothbrush in the detergent.
  4. Scrub the stain.
  5. Rinse and enjoy.

Add Lemon Juice to the Washing Machine (All Colors)

Adding lemon juice to the washing machine can be a great way to get rust stains out of clothing. According to Mulberrys Garment Care, this technique is not only safe to use with colored clothing; it can even brighten the color.

Supplies

Gather these supplies:

  • 1 cup of lemon juice (can be bottled or fresh)
  • Your favorite laundry detergent (in the quantity required for a load of laundry)

Instructions

Follow these instructions:

  1. Prepare a load of laundry as usual.
  2. Add the laundry detergent as usual.
  3. Pour in a cup of lemon juice.
  4. Wash clothing as usual.

Scrub With a Lemon Juice and Salt Paste (All Colors)

Another option using lemon involves making a paste of lemon juice and salt.

How to get rust stains out of white clothes

Supplies

Gather these ingredients:

  • Salt (regular table salt is fine)
  • Lemon juice (can be bottled or fresh)

Note: Use these items in equal quantities, depending on the size of the area that needs to be covered. For relatively small stains, start with 1/4 cup of each. Increase quantity proportionally as needed.

Instructions

Follow these instructions:

  1. Pour salt and lemon juice into a bowl.
  2. Mix to form a paste.
  3. If the consistency isn't paste-like, add more lemon juice or salt until it the mixture reaches the desired consistency.
  4. Using your fingers or a brush, spread the paste over the rusted area on the piece of clothing.
  5. Rub the paste into the stain.
  6. Allow the paste to sit on the garment for around an hour. (Note: This option may work even better if you allow the item to sit outside in the sun while the lemon juice and salt mixture is on the garment.)
  7. Rinse off the paste.
  8. Wash the item of clothing as usual.

Supplies

Before you get that rust stain gone, you need a few things from your pantry.

  • White vinegar
  • Liquid laundry detergent
  • White towel
  • Toothbrush

Instructions

Grab your white vinegar and detergent. You are ready to crush that stain.

  1. Add an ample amount of straight white vinegar to the rust stain.
  2. Allow it to sit on the garment for 10-15 minutes.
  3. Blot with a white towel.
  4. Lay it out in the sun until the white vinegar dries completely.
  5. Dip a toothbrush into the detergent.
  6. Scrub the area.
  7. Rinse and wash as normal

Mastering the Art of Removing Rust From Clothing

If you try one of these methods and it doesn't work the first time, don't despair. Depending on how severely the apparel item is stained or how long the rust mark has been there, it may take a few tries with different methods for removing old stains from clothes to get the best results. If these super-cheap natural remedies won't work, you may even want to purchase a commercial rust cleaning product appropriate for use with clothing. Just don't use bleach because it will set the rust in permanently and could cause its own bleach stains. And since clothes aren't the only items that can be affected by rust stains, you might like some tips on removing rust from concrete too.

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Does rust permanently stain clothes?

Rust stains are among the most challenging spots to remove from fabric, as they sometimes cannot be eliminated by regular laundering, and using chlorine bleach will make them permanent. Fortunately, most commercial rust removers are effective and safe for colorfast fabrics.

How do you remove dried rust stains?

How to Remove Rust Stains.
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..

Does white vinegar remove rust stains?

Distilled White Vinegar and Salt The acid in vinegar helps dissolve discoloration from rust, and the salt acts as an abrasive to help scrub the stain off. 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.

Can baking soda remove rust from clothes?

Cream of Tartar, Baking Soda, and Hydrogen Peroxide But combine it with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide and you have a powerful homemade rust stain remover. The combined stain-removing power of natural bleaching agents and the acids in the cream of tartar will break down the rust and dissolve the stain.