How to Remove Rust Stains on Bathtubs and Sinks

Clean up the rust stains from sinks and tubs.

When kitchen and bathroom surfaces show signs of rust, you know your water contains iron. With continued exposure, your tubs and sinks may develop stains. Clean the surfaces and remove unsightly rust with powerful acids that will dissolve the discoloration and leave these areas sparkling. Avoid chlorine bleach, however, because bleach may set rust and make it impossible to remove.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber gloves
• 1-gallon bucket
• Oxalic acid
• Sponge or brush

Instructions

1. Put on the rubber gloves and wear them the entire time that you mix and apply the oxalic acid.

2. Fill the bucket with 3/4 gallon of hot water. Add 1/8 cup oxalic acid to the hot water, sprinkling it evenly over the top of the water. Stir the ingredients well for at least five minutes to dissolve the powdered oxalic crystals. Add 1/4 gallon of hot water to fill the bucket and stir carefully.

3. Dip the scrub brush or sponge into the oxalic acid mixture. Apply the acid to an inconspicuous area of the tub or sink to ensure that damage does not occur. Wait about five minutes and rinse away the acid. As long as the surface remains undamaged, proceed with the rust treatment by applying the acid liberally over the rust stains to remove them.

4. Rinse the surfaces well with warm water to remove all traces of oxalic acid.

Tips & Warnings

• Try making a paste of equal parts borax and lemon juice and applying the paste to the rust. Allow the paste to sit on the rusty surface for 30 minutes and then rinse it away.

• Avoid inhaling the dry oxalic crystals as you pour them into the hot water. This chemical is toxic to inhale, ingest and touch.

References

• North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service; Removing Mineral Deposits From Household Surfaces; Sandra A. Zaslow; March 1996
• Cheap Chemicals: How to Remove Rust Using Oxalic Acid
• Kansas State University; Basic Home Maintenance; July 2000

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish