What is the best method to remove rust stains from clothing?

Question

What is the best method to remove rust stains from clothing?

Answer 1

The best way to get rust stains out of your clothing is to use a lemon, or table salt and cream of tarter.

Lemon

•To use a lemon, lay your garment on a flat surface on top of a towel.

•Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice onto the rust stain. (If you do not have a lemon, you can use bottled lemon juice, it works just as well.)

•Lay your garment in the sun and allow it to dry.

•Once your garment has dried, look to see if the rust stain has lifted. If it has not, repeat the process.

•If the rust stain is removed, launder your garment.

Salt and Cream of Tarter

•To use salt and cream of tarter, simply make a mixture using equal parts of both.

•Lay your garment on a flat surface on top of a towel.

•Spread your cream of tarter and salt mixture onto the rust stain.

•Place your garment in the sun and allow it to dry.

•If the rust stain has lifted, launder the shirt.

•If the rust stain has not lifted, repeat the process.

Answer 2

Whink Rust Stain Remover.  Been around for many decades because it works!  Brown bottle.  You may need to look around a bit.  I find it at the hardware store that sell household goods, like Ace Hardware.  Maybe WalMart/KMart, Walgreens may have it, rarely do I see it in grocery stores.....pity.  

Answer 3

   1. Pad the back of the rust stained area with several layers or paper towels.

   2. Saturate the rust stain with straight lemon juice. (fresh or bottled will work)

   3. Place the clothing in direct sunlight or someplace warm and allow the lemon juice to dry.

   4. Launder normally.

   5. If the rust stain remains and the article of clothing is white, you can boil the fabric in a solution of cream of tartar and water (use 1 tbsp cream of tartar per cup of water). This solution should remove the stain but may also leave a residue so once the rust stain has been removed you should launder the article normally.

   6. Failing both of the above methods, try saturating the stain with a household cleaning agent that contains oxalic acid and then laundering normally. Your local grocer should have a few of these products (Bar Keeper’s Friend is a common one); read the labels – but be warned, these products are more likely to damage or discolor your clothes so this should be a last resort.

Answer 4

WalMart sells a product call Wink.  It is a rust remover.  If this does not work getting the stain out of your clothes try what the older folks use to say to do. Put lemon juice on the rust and set the stain (clothes, stain side up) in the sun.  Repeat if necessary.

vicki