Have you ever noticed brownish-red stains whose origins you can’t quite pinpoint on your white clothes? When you try to remove them, you realize that they are particularly stubborn — no amount of washing seems to have any effect. In fact, it’s starting to seem like the only solution left is throwing your clothes out.
Before you take such drastic measures, let us help you. The stubborn stains in question are likely rust stains — more difficult to clean than regular stains but not impossible to deal with. On the contrary, the four ways listed here are bound to be effective!
1. Lemon Juice and Salt
As a safe bleaching agent and a natural cleaner, lemon juice is an excellent stain remover. If combined with salt, a liquid-absorbing abrasive, it becomes even more powerful, dealing with rust stains in a matter of hours. On top of that, this gentle formula doesn’t damage white fabrics and may even be used on colored ones.
To use this cleaning method, just sprinkle some salt directly on the rust stain and pour lemon juice over the salt. Then, lay the clothes out to dry, preferably outside in the sun. The ultraviolet rays will speed up the stain removal process and act as natural bleach.
After a few hours, when the garments dry, check whether the stain is gone. If it’s still visible, repeat the process until you’re satisfied with the result.
2. Tartar, Baking Soda, and Hydrogen Peroxide
As an alternative to the lemon juice and salt method, use a paste made of tartar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. Even on its own, tartar cream is a mild cleaner. But mixed with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, it becomes a powerful rust stain remover. When used correctly, the paste should dissolve the stain in only thirty minutes.
To make the paste, mix one teaspoon of tartar cream and one teaspoon of baking soda with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. While this mixture might cause discoloration on darker clothes, it should be perfectly safe for white garments. After applying it, let it sit for thirty minutes, then rinse the fabric thoroughly. If the stain is still there after air-drying, you’ll have to repeat the process.
3. Commercial Rust Removers
If you’re not particularly concerned about whether your rust removers are natural or not, try using commercial removers, like this one from Magica. They are highly effective, though safe only for white and colorfast clothing, as they may damage and discolor other fabrics.
All commercial rust removers come with instructions, so make sure to read them carefully and follow them closely. In most cases, you’ll need to apply the remover directly to the stain, leave it there for a few seconds, and then rinse it off.
Be careful when handling chemical rust cleaners, though. They are highly toxic and may cause burns, so don’t let them come in contact with your bare skin.
4. Gentle Removers for Delicate Fabrics
When removing rust from delicate garments and fabrics, you need to use gentle stain removers.
Silk
To ensure silk retains its quality, pour some lemon juice on the stain and sprinkle salt on it. That may seem like a familiar technique, but instead of letting the garment air-dry in the sun, rinse the solution with warm water after five minutes. If necessary, repeat the process a few times. Once the stain is gone, apply some white vinegar to help bring back the silk’s former shine.
Wool
If rust stains appear on your favorite wool sweater, blot them with club soda. Then apply lemon juice and salt paste. Wait until the solution dries, then remove it and check the results.
If the stain is still there, mix two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid with 1/3 cup of white vinegar and a cup of water. Soak a clean cloth in the solution and dab it onto the stain. Once the stain is gone, let the wool garment air-dry.
Causes of Recurring Rust Stains
If you regularly find rust stains on your clothes, even after removing them, the issue might require some further examination. To make sure they disappear once and for all, you need to figure out the exact cause and eliminate it. Here are the places you should investigate.
Washing Machines
Although most modern washing machines come with stainless steel tubs, older ones may still have steel tubs with a porcelain finish. Over time, this finish can chip away, letting water get to the steel. As a result, rust will form and stain your white clothes during washing.
To check your washing machine, take a look inside with the help of a flashlight. If you see any rusty areas, you have found your culprit. To fix it, use appliance touch-up paint and apply several coats to fully cover the chips and scratches. Once it dries, you can use your washing machine as you normally do.
Water Heaters
Iron deposits frequently build up in older water heaters, causing them to rust. Over time, rust particles can break loose and travel to your washing machine, staining your laundry. If you suspect your water heater is rusty, it’s best to call a plumber. They will look into the issue and clean your heater if necessary.
Dryers
Much like washing machines, dryers may have steel drums with a porcelain or enamel finish. As mentioned before, the finish can chip away over time, exposing the steel underneath.
When you put damp laundry in a dryer with a chipped drum, the moisture seeps through the cracks and causes the metal to rust. If you suspect your clothes dryer to be the culprit, inspect it carefully, detect all the cracks, and use appliance touch-up paint to fix them.
Water Pipes
If everything else seems to be in order, yet you still find rust stains all over your clothes, your water pipes might be responsible. Typically, water has high levels of iron, causing the older cast iron pipes to corrode. If possible, consider replacing them with copper or PVC pipes, which are far more popular nowadays.
But if you can’t afford to replace your entire plumbing system just to avoid rust stains, you can try water filters. They should minimize the amount of iron and other rust-causing minerals in your water, helping you keep your clothes clean and stain-free.
A Few Additional Tips
Don’t Wash, Bleach, or Dry Clothes With Rust Stains
When you see a rust stain on your white garment, your first instinct might be to throw it into the washing machine. Unfortunately, that won’t make much of a difference — washing machines typically can’t remove this kind of stain.
Next, you could think of applying bleach, which is usually quite an effective stain remover. But in this case, bleach will only make things worse. This cleaning agent tends to make rust stains permanent instead of whitening them.
In addition, avoid putting clothes with rust stains in the dryer, as the heat may set the stain, making it impossible to remove later. In other words, you need to try one of the above-mentioned rust-removing methods before you do your laundry.
Test Your Cleaning Solutions Before Using Them
First and foremost, it’s essential to read the labels on your clothes. That way, you will know how to properly care for your garments and what chemicals may have adverse effects. But even if you think your cleaning solution is perfectly safe, it’s best to test it beforehand. If you do, you won’t have to worry about ruining your fabrics.
To test a cleaning solution, apply a bit to an inconspicuous part of the garment you want to treat. For instance, dab a few drops on the inside of a sleeve or a seam and leave it there for a few minutes. If there are no adverse effects, you can use your stain-removing mixture freely.
Be Gentle
Rubbing a stain vigorously may seem like an effective way to remove it, but it could do more harm than good. If you’re too harsh, you may wear away the fabric fibers.
Instead, use a white towel blotting method for maximum effect. Once you’ve rinsed off the fabric after treating it, gently dab it with a white towel to remove the rust stain. You’ll be able to see your progress on the towel by checking how much of the rust has transferred.
The Quicker You Are, the Better
If you spot the rust stain early on and treat it quickly, you’re much more likely to remove it entirely. After all, if you let it sit, it might set into the fabric permanently. So, make sure to check your clothes for stains regularly!
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to effectively remove rust stains, you’ll no longer feel dread when you spot them on your white clothes. Choose the most suitable method and watch your garments restore their former brightness once again!
