How to remove rust stains from fabric

Usually rust marks an old fabric, improperly stored, perhaps with pins in it. An old natural method is gentle enough for prized antique fabrics.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• large glass or stainless steel bowl
• bottled lemon juice
• salt
• access to sunlight
• green grass (optional)

1. Fill bowl half-full of lemon juice; add 1/2 cup salt and stir to dissolve.

2. Wet and wring out fabric to be treated.

3. Immerse fabric in salt/lemon juice mixture. Squeeze out moisture gently, just enough to prevent dripping on the floor.

4. Shake fabric loose, hang in full sunlight on wooden or plastic hanger, or lay fabric on a sheet on the grass.

5. When fabric dries, wet again with water, lemon juice and salt (fabric will be stiff).

Tips & Warnings

• Removal of stain may take more than one sunny day--just the way it used to take the sun, lemon and salt more than one day to work on our hair! Patience counts--this method works.
• A number of years ago the Scientific American magazine investigated the interactions of sun and green grass as fabric-whiteners--apparently something scientific happens. That's how old wives' tales get to be old wives' tales!
• Remember not to use a metal hanger for your fabric. Lemon and salt will gradually eat away at metal surface, leaving it--rusty!