How Can I Remove Rust Stains from my Clothes?
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 rem
If you notice rust or iron stains on clothes when taking them out of the washer, don’t dry them before treating the stains. Heat sets the stains and makes them difficult or impossible to remove. Also, do not use chlorine bleach to attempt to remove rust stains. Chlorine can also make the stain permanent. In order to help remove or lighten rust stains, you may want to consider rewashing the clothes with a commercial rust remover, many of which are readily available and can be found at most grocery and discount stores. Examplesof commercial rust removers are: • RoVerâ • Rit Rust Remover® • Iron-Out® • Miracle-Rid-Iron® • Whink® Use them carefully according to the manufacturer’s directions, including testing garments for colorfastness, using correct water temperature and wash cycle for type of fabric, and rinsing clothes thoroughly. Reminder: Heat and chlorine bleach may make the problem worse. Reference to commercial products is made with the understanding that no discrimination is inten
