Khaberni - It may not be easy to remove rust stains on clothes, and the situation worsens if the rusty stains mar an expensive piece of clothing! However, by following any of the methods detailed below, with their steps, you might solve this problem. The following guide offers housewives how to use effective household cleaners to remove rust stains and achieve the best results when washing.
Removing rust stains with lemon juice in 7 steps involves the most effective ways to remove stains from clothes. When it comes to rust, using lemon juice, knowing that the latter's effect is not limited to rust stains only, but can also remove other stains from fabric, especially linen and white clothes. However, if you wish to use the method on "delicate" fabrics such as silk, chiffon, wool, or rayon, it is important to first test the juice on an inconspicuous part of the fabric. Here’s how to remove rust stains with lemon in steps:
Cut a lemon in half.
Gently rub the stain using half a lemon.
For tougher stains, you may need to soak each stain with the juice and rub it with your fingers.
For old and deep stains, it is advisable to sprinkle a little table salt on the stain before using lemon juice. You can also mix the table salt with lemon juice to form a paste.
Allow the fabric to absorb the lemon juice (or the salt and lemon mixture) for 15 to 30 minutes, under direct sunlight, as the sunlight helps the juice penetrate the fabric and work better on the stain.
After the rust stain dissolves, rinse the mixture from the fabric and wash it as usual.
If you are not satisfied with the result or some rust remains, repeat the process.
Removing rust stains with baking soda and laundry detergent. Baking soda is a strong and versatile cleaner in terms of house cleaning as well as washing clothes and removing dirt and stains, including old and tough rust stains. The method of removing rust stains with a mixture of baking soda and laundry detergent involves:
Rinse every rusty stain on the clothes with running cold water.
Apply two (or three tablespoons) of baking soda on the wet rust stain until you see a paste forming, mixing thoroughly.
Let the paste sit on the rust stain for at least 30 minutes.
Apply the regular laundry detergent directly to the stain, or you can mix a full cap of the detergent with the baking soda and put the mixture on the stain.
Leave the solution on the stain, then put the fabric in the washing machine and wash it as usual.
Remove the fabric from the washing machine, check if the stain is removed, then repeat the process if you are not satisfied with the result.
You may also want to check out: The best ways to use baking soda in washing clothes.
Removing rust stains with white vinegar and salt. White vinegar is one of the most common ways to remove rust from clothes, and by mixing table salt with white vinegar, a more effective solution is formed, especially in removing old rust stains or accumulated color changes. In this regard, apply the following steps:
Place the rust-stained piece of clothing on a towel under direct sunlight, with the stained surface facing up.
Pour white vinegar directly onto the affected area, saturating it completely.
Add a sprinkle of salt to the surface, using your fingers to rub the stain. You can also prepare a mixture of white vinegar and table salt, and apply it to the rust stain.
Leave the mixture on the stain for 15 to 30 minutes or more if you're dealing with old and solid rust.
Wet a clean white towel with water and use it to clean the stain. Additionally, avoid rubbing the mixture with the fabric.
Leave the fabric in the sun until the rust stain is completely gone, then wash it as usual, and consider repeating the process if necessary.
Removing rust stains with cream of tartar. Cream of tartar is often used in cooking and baking, but its acidic and mildly abrasive properties make it an effective option for removing rust stains, as follows:
Make a paste by mixing 6 teaspoons of cream of tartar with two liters of water, and a teaspoon of baking soda. Then, add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide, considering applying the paste directly to the affected area.
Leave the paste for 30 minutes to an hour on deep stains.
Rinse the stained area well with water and wash it as usual.
Repeat the process if there are still some stains on the clothes, allowing the paste to sit for a longer period.
It is best to remove rust stains when detected early; in this case, all you need to remove fresh rust stains is mild soap and warm water, or if the stain is old or has set, you can use lemon or white vinegar or baking soda. After removing the stain from the fabric, wash it in the washing machine at the water temperature recommended for the fabric or manually with a gentle detergent after removing the rust stain.
Drying your clothes in the sun for up to an hour or more can help remove rusty stains. But if there is no sunlight available, you can simply air dry the clothing item, avoiding the use of a hot clothes dryer, as high heat will set any remaining stains on the fabric, making them harder to remove.
Never use bleach or any product containing bleach on rust stains, as it might set them and cause permanent damage to your clothes, so it is wise to review the ingredient list of any product you use.
Use cold water to rinse rust stains and the solution before washing them.
For extremely delicate clothes, leave them to a professional cleaning service.
