How to Remove Rust From Clothing

Rust can form if you put your wet clothing on a metal hanger. If you have hard water in your house, chlorine from bleach can pull iron out of the water and deposit it on your clothes. Sometimes rusty pipes cause rust stains on clothes, and sometimes contact with rust can make a stain. You can remove rust from your clothing with a few simple products you have in your kitchen.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hot water
• Salt
• Cream of tartar
• Lemon juice
• White vinegar
• Rust remover

1. Make a paste by mixing equal amounts of cream of tartar and salt with hot water. Rub the paste into the rust and let it set for 15 minutes. Wash with your regular laundry detergent. If the rust stain is very large and the garment can be washed in hot water, mix 4 tsp. of cream of tartar in a pan of water. Place the garment into the pan and bring the liquid to a boil. Rinse the garment immediately.

2. Soak the rust spot with lemon juice or sprinkle the stain with salt and rub it in with lemon juice. Place your clothing in the sun for two hours. Launder as usual.

3. Place delicate materials with light stains over a bowl of boiling water and sprinkle the rust spot with lemon juice. Let it sit over the boiling water for five minutes, then rinse. Repeat if necessary.

4. Make a paste of white vinegar and salt. Dab the paste into the rust spot. Let it set for about 30 minutes and rinse with warm water.

5. Try a commercial rust remover such as Whink or Iron-out that contains hydrofluoric or oxalic acid. Follow the instructions carefully and use the rust remover in a well ventilated area. Rinse the rust remover out immediately as letting it sit too long on your clothing can ruin it.

Resources

• Organic rust removal