How and how to remove rust from clothes: 9 methods from experienced housewives.

Inexplicably, from time to time, traces of rust appear on my clothes or fabric. They can appear for various reasons - you simply forgot to take the keys out of your pocket, they got wet and left a fresh rusty stain. Also, rust on fabric can appear from metal zippers, locks, and buttons. You can lean against an object that is corroded. There are many options, but the good news is that you can quickly remove rust from fabric. Just don’t put clothes with a rusty stain in the washing machine right away. Stains need to be pre-treated.

I’ll tell you effective ways to remove rust stains from clothes at home. Removing metal rust from colored fabrics is quite difficult, since under the influence of drugs the fabrics can fade. Therefore, such stains should be removed in the most gentle way. To remove rust, it is best to use DIY home remedies that do not harm the product after use.

Tips from experienced housewives on how to remove rusty stains from fabric

Removing rusty stains is a rather scrupulous procedure, so listen to our advice:

Remove the rust stain as soon as it appears. If the stain remains on the clothing for a long time, then the rust molecules will penetrate deeper into the fabric over time and it will be much more difficult to remove it than immediately after it appeared.
There is no need to pre-soak the rust stain. When in contact with water, the stain will easily spread, especially on white. Therefore, it is better to use the suggested methods on how to remove rust from fabric.
When removing, move from the edge of the stain to the center. When treating the stained area, move the brush or hand from the edges of the stain to its center. This way you will avoid the rust stain spreading throughout the fabric.
When removing a rusty stain, wear gloves and turn on the hood or window for ventilation.

Why do traces of rust appear on clothes?

Rust stains may appear for the following reasons:

Poor quality water. If the central water supply pipes or the washing machine hose are covered with rust on the inside, then corrosion will also get on things during the washing process.
Metal elements on clothing. Washing items with metal inserts is difficult because when they get wet, corrosion begins and marks can settle on the fabric. In addition, you can accidentally get caught in the rain and not notice that the metal has begun to rust.
While working or walking, you can touch corrosive metal, for example, a car bumper, railing, handrail. As a result, an unsightly mark will remain on the clothes.

Attention! If repairs are being made to the water supply system, you should open the tap and let water run for 10-15 seconds. The fact is that dirty water with impurities that got into it after repair work will flow first, and it cannot be used for domestic needs.

Before washing, you need to make sure that the marks on the items are actually caused by rust. Brown marks can occur due to powder, improper washing, aggressive chemicals and even mold on machine parts.

Method 1. How to remove rust stains from clothes using glycerin and chalk

Before removing new rust stains, the item must be washed; it is advisable to use conditioner when washing. After this you need:

for cleaning you need to prepare a mixture (mix the components in equal proportions: 100 g of chalk and 100 ml of glycerin in 60 ml of water);
moisten the contaminated area and apply the prepared mixture to the area of fabric with the stain;
place the product in a plastic bag (usually leave for 10-12 hours);
dry the fabric at a temperature of 18-20o C;
Finally, wash the product using laundry soap. The result will please you.

Removing rust by type and color of fabric

Depending on the type of fabric (natural, artificial, thin, dense), methods for getting rid of stains may vary.

Removal from jeans

It is difficult to remove rust stains from denim, because iron oxide penetrates deep into the fibers. Old stains are especially difficult to remove. To begin with, you can wash the item in the machine with high-quality powder for colored items, or even better - with washing gel. For light-colored trousers, you can use white powder. It is even permissible to apply the product to the stain, leave it for an hour, then rub it with a brush.

If your jeans are not washed, you can try traditional methods. Chalk with glycerin is suitable, and the recipe is especially indicated if the fabric is thin (summer). You can heat a little glycerin, apply it hot to the stain, and after a couple of hours wash it off with dish soap. Traces of scale on black jeans can be easily removed with toothpaste and salt, taken in equal proportions. This mixture is left for an hour, then rubbed with a brush.

Removal from white items

The task of cleaning white items seems easier than washing colored items, but this is not always the case. Substances that are too aggressive can leave the fabric yellow, grey, thin and damaged.

You can use folk remedies - for example, citric acid in the form of a solution. Of the special products, you can only buy those that are intended for white linen, but do not contain chlorine.

Cleaning colored fabrics

An excellent option would be to use oxygen bleaches for colored items, but the products do not always cope well with such difficult stains. You can use vinegar mixed with salt (equal parts), glycerin and chalk, wine vinegar, and onion juice. Some people use dishwasher detergent for washing. Before starting cleaning, it is better to try the type of effect of the substance on an inconspicuous area of the product, so as not to spoil it entirely.

Artificial fabrics

The least aggressive way for such fabrics will be to remove stains with natural lemon juice. This product will most likely not leave marks on things, and to more effectively remove rust, it must be heated with an iron (apply a cotton pad soaked in juice, iron through wet gauze).

There is an original cleaning option: hold the cloth over boiling water, then wet it with juice and immediately wash the stain by hand.

Ammonia is a good way to remove scale from artificial fabric (wash in a solution - add a spoonful of ammonia per liter of water).

Thick fabrics

Natural fibers (cotton, linen) can form very strong, dense fabrics in which rust is fixed for a long time and is difficult to remove. But such materials withstand the effects of various household chemicals well, they are difficult to spoil, except that the dyes may fade.

To remove stains, it is recommended to choose acids that decompose scale into iron citrate and acetate, which can be washed off even with plain water. In order not to harm the product, you can use citric acid in the form of a boiling solution. Vinegar and oxalic acid are suitable, but they must be used with caution, observing safety precautions.

Silk and wool

Light and thin silk and natural wool are representatives of the so-called delicate fabrics that can be damaged not only by aggressive influence, but even by strong spinning.

Acids are not tested on jumpers and blouses; it is better to use glycerin mixed with chalk or a special bleach for a specific category of fabrics. The products are in the form of a gel and act in a gentle manner; they are left for an hour to remove the stain, and then the item is washed in a machine on the appropriate setting.

Leather

Gasoline will quickly remove stains from leather items. They gently wipe the damaged area with it, then wash it with a clean cloth soaked in water.

White skin can be cleaned well by a mixture of gasoline and talc in equal proportions. The mixture is applied to the stain, left for an hour, then brushed off.

You can try to wash dirty boots with hydrogen peroxide, which should then be immediately rinsed off with water.

Some people remove rust with Sanox sanitary ware, but it is better to try the manipulation first on the inside of the leather upholstery.

Suede

Shoes, jackets, and other suede products are cleaned with a brush after sprinkling with talcum powder. Coffee grounds work well as a cleaning agent (on brown items only).

Suede is a very delicate and expensive material; to clean it, you should go to a dry cleaner. You can disguise stains using suede paint.

Knitten things

Such products are also considered delicate. It is better to remove rust from them with proven non-aggressive substances - lemon, chlorine-free stain removers. People advise treating contaminated knitted items with hydrogen peroxide, which will certainly remove unsightly stains.

Tulle

You can clean tulle with oxygen bleaches suitable for synthetics or mixed fabrics. Fresh traces of rust can be removed with lemon and vinegar. Other acids are used only as a last resort, because they can damage the product.

Towels

Almost any popular method is suitable for such things: tomato juice, onion, lemon, vinegar, acids. For example, you can lubricate a stain on a towel with lemon juice, put it in the sun to dry, and then wash the item in the machine on the cotton cycle.

Method 2. Onion

In order to clean an item with an onion you need:

Remove the peel from a medium-sized onion;
chop the onion in a meat grinder or coarse grater;
mix the resulting mass with 50 ml of glycerin;
Cover the contaminated area generously with the mixture;
after 3 hours, remove the mixture and wipe the stained area with half a lemon, cut lengthwise;
Rinse the product thoroughly and then wash it in the washing machine.

This interesting way to remove rust stains on clothes can be used to clean even delicate fabrics.

Method 3. Vinegar essence

This is a good folk way to get rid of rust from colored clothes. To remove remaining rust stains, you can safely use vinegar essence, since household vinegar does not harm dyed fabrics. To prepare the cleaning composition, take 4 liters of water and dissolve 100 ml of vinegar essence with a concentration of 75% in it. Next, immerse the contaminated item in the resulting solution and leave for at least three hours. Then the product must be wrung out and washed without rinsing.

Acetic acid, like tartaric acid, is good at removing rust stains from jeans and colored clothing.

Preventing rust stains

To avoid having to look for ways to remove rust stains, you should properly care for your clothes. Here are some tips on how to do this:

You should not dry things on the radiator, so both the laundry and the heating medium will not be damaged.
Check for moisture on metal parts after washing. If there is one, you need to dry them dry. You can use a hairdryer for this.
All removable metal elements should be removed from clothing. Accessories that cannot be removed should be coated with clear nail polish.
Pockets must be checked and emptied before washing. This will help save not only the clothes and things inside them, but also the washing machine.
You should carefully inspect metal benches, swings and other seats that may have rust before sitting on them.
You should not try to remove this type of stain with hydrochloric acid. There are better products for removing stains, but this acid can cause serious damage to skin and fabric.

Method 6. Stain remover

Before you begin removing stains, you should carefully read the instructions for using this product (it will be difficult to undo a mistake). Usually it is enough to apply a small amount of concentrate to the dirty area and let it soak in (10 minutes, some manufacturers recommend 15). Next, wipe the contaminated area with a clean cloth until the stain disappears. If necessary, repeat the procedure. The cleaned item can be machine washed.

Here are stain removers that will help you remove old rust stains. You can remove rust from colored clothes:

"Vanish";
Amway;
"Ace";
"Sarma";
"Oxy";
"Antipyatin."

In any case, when adding stain remover to colored items, make sure that it does not contain chlorine. Not all remedies are useful.

How to remove rust marks from fabrics using stain remover:

It is best to use a gel cleanser. They penetrate deeper into the fabric than powder ones and at the same time have a delicate effect on the fabric without destroying it. Cleaning from rust occurs as follows:

First, apply a few drops of gel to the stain, scrub it with a brush if necessary.
Let the product work - leave it on the stain for the time specified in the instructions, usually 10 - 15 minutes.
Wash clothes by hand with powder or laundry soap.
After washing, if the rust stain remains, repeat the first three steps.

Other situations

How to wash clothes from rusty water:

Next time, carefully monitor what kind of water is in the tap;
wash white items using bleach;
for colored clothes, add stain remover, use more powder and conditioner than usual;
Before washing, soak in a solution of oxalic or acetic acid; delicate, colored fabrics - in a solution of citric acid.

What to do if the washing machine leaves rusty stains on clothes:

install the filter on cold water;
disassemble the car, see if there are bra wires, pins, bolts, nuts inside - all this gets inside, rusts from humidity, dirty the water that goes into the drum;
Before each wash, open the cold water tap and carefully check its color.

The zipper on the outerwear has oxidized, how to clean it:

take a toothbrush or a hard cloth and soak it in Coca-Cola;
clean the zipper open and closed on all sides to remove rust everywhere;
rinse in clean water.

We recommend

You can get rid of a rusty stain on a carpet using a concentrated solution of laundry soap and a soft dish sponge.

In order not to wonder whether rust can be washed off, you need to carefully monitor things. This is not an easy task, sometimes almost impossible. It is better to prevent stains from appearing.

Method 7. Lemon

Lemon works well to remove rust stains on clothes made of white fabric. Boil water in a large container. Fabric with rust stains should be held over steam until it becomes damp. Next, squeeze lemon juice onto the contaminated areas and hold over the steam for a few more minutes. Then the fabric should be rinsed in water at room temperature. Repeat the procedure until the stains disappear completely. Then wash the product.

Removal from denim items

Antiscale agent Antiscale will help fight unpleasant stains on denim clothes. Treat the stain with a moistened cloth and leave to act for 15 minutes.

In addition to the vinegar solution, use lemon juice. It should thoroughly moisten the stain. Then dry the surface with an iron or hairdryer. Wash with powder.

Wine vinegar can successfully remove rust from jeans. You will need to dilute a teaspoon in a glass of water. Thoroughly moisten the stain with the solution, leave for several minutes and rinse.

Method 8. Citric acid

This method is most often used (one of the best) if they do not know how to remove rust from white clothes. We can't help but share it. Lemon and citric acid have whitening properties. To clean a stain with lemon, you will need an iron, preferably with a “steam boost” function, and, accordingly, citric acid itself. The sequence of actions is as follows.

Dissolve 35-40 g of citric acid in 100 ml of water.
Soak a small ball of cotton wool wrapped in a clean cotton cloth with the solution and gently wipe the stain.
Place blotting paper or a napkin under the contaminated area.
Cover the top of the stain with paper as well.
Iron the fabric from the inside out using the steam function.
Wash the product thoroughly by hand, paying special attention to the places where the stain was.