How Can I Remove Rust Stains from my Clothes?
- Written By: Deborah Ng
- Edited By: Niki Foster
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Copyright Protected:
2003-2013 Conjecture Corporation
Rust stains don’t have to mean the end of your clothes. In most cases, all that’s needed is some quick action and some elbow grease. The key is to attack the stain as soon as it’s discovered. Don’t toss that rust stained shirt in the rag basket until you read this article.
If you just brushed against something rusty, the rust stains might not have penetrated the fabric at all. If this is the case, all you need to do is toss the garment into the washing machine and launder as you normally would. Sometimes, rust will come out with regular laundering. If the stain doesn’t come out, don’t put the garment in the dryer. The heat will only make matters worse.
Instead, try rubbing the rust stains with a lemon. Squeeze as much of the juice from one lemon onto the rust stains as possible. When the stains are completely saturated, take the garment and lay it out in the sun.
Between the sun and the lemon, the stain should bleach right out. Launder as usual. Again, if the stain isn’t completely removed after laundering, don’t put it in the dryer unless you want to risk a permanent rust stain on your clothing. Keep in mind that lemon bleaches, so if the rust stains are on a dark item of clothing, test in a hidden area first.
Other rust stain removal methods include:
- Naval jelly works for removing rust stains from floors and furniture, and it can also remove the stains from clothes. Rub the naval jelly into the garment and allow to sit for a while. Launder as usual.
- Use an over-the-counter rust remover. Many industrial cleaning products are formulated to remove rust stains from fabric. Follow the instructions on the back of the bottle.
- Boil rhubarb for twenty minutes, remove the stalks, and soak the garment in the rhubarb water until the rust stains are removed or at least most have disappeared. Launder as usual.
- Rub stains with salt and lemon, and leave in the sun to dry. Launder as usual.
- Wet the garment and dab with a bit of cream of tartar. Allow it to sit for a while and launder as usual.
There’s really no need to panic if you have rust stains on your clothing. The stains are easy to remove. Just follow the simple suggestions above, and no one will ever know the difference!
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Discuss this Article
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apowell
Post 42 |
Adriana, it depends on the brands of cloth you are using. Some brands, like Bum Genius, recommend some bleach once a month. Although many brands don't recommend these methods, you should not worry about doing it sparingly unless you are worried about voiding your warranty. I would not recommend ever using vinegar unless you are desperate though because it can dissolve the laminate on the PUL and compromise the elastic. You may run the same risk with bleach, but it is not as corrosive as the vinegar is. Lemon should not be corrosive on PUL or elastic and certainly not on OBV. Try the lemon and sunning and if that still does not work, I would call customer service for your CDs and see what they recommend before trying bleach or vinegar. Rust stains usually don't compromise the diaper's function, so you might just have to live with the ones that are already there and focus on preventative measures. |
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powerone
Post 39 |
Spray the inside of your washing machine tub with power One, it will remove the rust. The tiny holes in your washing machine tub is where the rust is building up and then going on your clothes after the spinning. I used to have that problem but I don't anymore. You can use power one to remove rust stain on your clothes from previous wash. |
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anon176119
Post 38 |
a) What's the best way to keep washer rust spots from staining clothes. b) my cloth diaper manufacturer indicates not to use vinegar, bleach etc. Will the lemon be equally as corrosive to organic bamboo rayon/viscous? trying to maintain the life of the product as much as possible. Any thoughts? --Adriana
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anon175066
Post 37 |
K2r stain remover spray for clothes of dry cleanable and washable fabrics upholstery and carpets. Purchased from Woolworths and coles in Australia. I have a pair of slacks (Marni Pants) Viscous and Silk blend and off white/ cream. they were full of mildew and rust stains that had been there for at least three months (storage in a wet garage) I soaked them in bleach = water for three days and it didn't do anything. I then used a full container of citric acid and sunlight did nothing and then used this K2r stain remover and before my eyes it is vanishing. Amazing stuff. I am not a sales rep or anything to do with this company. I am just the average house mum who has tried everything to remove rust from coat hangers and mildew from my Marni Pants. And it works, this stuff. |
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anon169660
Post 35 |
For rust stains I use a laundry stain remover called My Clean Shirt. This stuff is awesome. It gets rust and all of the other typical laundry stains out. just look up My Clean Shirt. |
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anon163639
Post 34 |
I have spent a ton of money over the years on bunk stain removers. The only one that has really worked, is "My Clean Shirt". This stuff gets all of the stain out. They even give you this thing that they call the "Stain Matrix" that tells you how to treat different stains.
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anon139195
Post 32 |
I have ruined many clothes from sunscreen staining. i had one particular sunscreen that even stained my bedspread just by sitting on it after applying! Fed up (and not willing to risk cancer just so i can wear white!) i decided to do a bit of research to see if, first of all there was a sunscreen out there that would not stain. It seems that Avobenzone is indeed a culprit but beware, as per info online, Avobenzone goes by other names, here in Australia it is most often listed as Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (whew!). Write these words down when shopping for sunscreen as the active ingredients should always be listed, if they're included I'd say avoid them. With this in mind I bought a Hamilton's Sensitive Skin 30+, the active ingredients are Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide only (these sunscreens are often referred to as 'natural' or 'sensitive' sunscreens) but i have noticed some also have a form of Avobenzone in them in a smaller dose so be very careful. I will update to let you know if this will stop the staining. Secondly, info online also says that Avobenzone "binds iron and can cause staining of clothes washed in iron rich water" which may explain why i can't see sunscreen stains until I've washed them, and it also makes sense because my water is so hard in the bathroom and laundry due to rusty pipes that can't drink out out it! I have just bought a packet of Rit Rust Remover (for clothes) which i bought off e-bay (but may be available in supermarkets), which i will use in the next few days and let you know if it's worked. Other blogs have indicated rust removers have worked really well, fingers crossed! |
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anon97894
Post 25 |
Go to an auto parts store and purchase Naval Jelly Rust Dissolver. Have washing machine full of water and ready to go. Rub into stain, it will dissolve in a few short seconds, but the jelly is pink so you must rinse under sink immediately and put in washer or you'll have a new problem. This stuff works instantly, so don't let it sit on. Rub it into the stain until the stain is gone then go! |
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anon96907
Post 24 |
The acid in the lemon juice, combined with the sunlight is a naturally powerful way to rid clothing of stains, not just rust. This might sound odd but this method can also be used to bleach one's hair blonde. Be careful, as this might be permanent. |
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anon94491
Post 23 |
I kept getting rust stains on my white shirts from the holes in my washing machine. The only product that worked was Whink Rust Stain Remover. All you do is squirt the stain and it disappears right away. I highly recommend it! |
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anon90853
Post 20 |
You can also get Power one at canadian Tire in Ottawa and surrounding area. if you cannot find it, ask a manager. |
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anon88527
Post 18 |
I would like to purchase Power one, but where do I get it? I'm in the UK. |
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powerone
Post 17 |
You can get Power One at some Canadian Tire in Ottawa and surrounding area. As for Australia, unfortunately it's not there yet however you can purchase online. Please do tell everyone how great it is because I know you will love it and I know the owner! |
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anon63044
Post 16 |
I used to be able to buy Power One at Canadian Tire in Ottawa but i have not been able to find it in a while. I can't find a website about PowerOne. Any help here? |
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anon56403
Post 15 |
Where are you able to purchase Power One to remove rust stains? |
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anon46320
Post 12 |
I had a terrible issue with the rust stains from sunscreen. Laundering only brought them out. Light bleach water helpd to removed them from the whites. We found it to be directly related to *spray* sunscreens - non brand specific. The bottle sunscreens do not stain our clothes. |
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anon41947
Post 11 |
Could I put lemon juice in my washing machine if my water contains rust to keep the rust from staining my clothes? |
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anon41427
Post 10 |
Can I get these products in New Zealand? |
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anon39620
Post 9 |
What is Power One and where can I get it? |
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anon38430
Post 8 |
where can you purchase this powerone at? |
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anon37267
Post 7 |
Thank goodness I finally found the answer to the mystery of why my husband's shirts have had terrible rust stains only around the the outer edge of his sleeveless shirts. We ride a motorcycle and I insist on the sunscreen. I thought there must be a connection. I have a tattoo on one arm and I allways spray suncreen on it to protect the color and I have the stain on that one side only. Ackk!! Have you even seen the prices on harley shirts.. they are awsome but expensive..I appreciate the info..Thanks |
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anon36581
Post 6 |
Regarding stains from sunscreen: I have contacted a manufacturer about this after getting rusty stains on my clothes and they said Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) can react with your water to cause the stains but they should come out with normal laundering (mine did for the most part). Most sunscreens now contain a warning on the label that they may stain some materials, but who can say if this reason is true or correct. |
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anon34726
Post 5 |
I had three small rust stains on a white linen blouse. The blouse was part of a matching set, so I was willing to try anything to remove the stains. I tried many products, (bleach, named stain removers, etc.) figured I had nothing to lose with the lemon juice. I just rubbed the stains with a wedge of lemon, getting a few drops on the stain, put the blouse in the sun for about 20 minutes and presto. No more stains! |
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anon29590
Post 4 |
Can you please tell me what "Power One" is and if it is available in Australia? |
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anon25459
Post 3 |
As far as the sunscreen goes, I am not aware of how it could have left rust stains. Sunscreen does not contain any iron containing compounds, which leads me to believe your sunscreen might have been contaminated from piping used at the manufacturing plant. Other possibilities are unknown. As far as the lemon juice and sunlight; lemon juice contains citric acid, and plenty of it. Acids are used to digest, or dissolve, metals. The citric acid will therefore dissolve the iron deposited on your shirt and in a sense detach it. If the shirt is washed in a timely manner the iron will not be able to redeposit itself. The sun is used as a catalyst to speed up the reaction, as heat is normally used. Some suggest adding salt. I am guessing this is to soak up the acid as it dissolves the iron, but not positive. Enjoy the simplicities of chemistry! |
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powerone
Post 2 |
Power One: Will remove rust on clothes/fabric. It will not damage clothes, will removing stain even if it's 20 years old. Simply put Power One directly on fabric and throw it in the wash. If it's just a tiny spot on a sweater for example, just put the sweater on...I removed rust stains from my white duvet cover with no damage.
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anon3234
Post 1 |
why did sunscreen make rust stains on my shirts? and why did lemon juice and sunlight get rid of the rust stains when detergent did not? please answer me!!!
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