How to Clean Rust Stains Off Ceramic Tile Floors

Finding rust stains on your ceramic tile is no fun at all, but it doesn't have to be a cause for panic. Whether the stains came from a paint can abandoned on the mud room floor, the metal coffee table that looked so cute in the second-hand store, or a can of shaving cream left out on the bathroom counter top, a little elbow grease and one of these time-tested techniques should make the stains vanish.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cleaning gloves Pumice stone CLR Sponge or terry cloth washcloth Borax Lemon juice Salt Vinegar

1. Wash any surface grime and grit off the ceramic tile, then gather your materials and put on gloves. All of the techniques outlined below can irritate your hands.

2. Moisten the iron stain, and scrub it off with a pumice stone. With the exception of ceramic glass, ceramic is stronger than pumice and will not scratch.

3. Spray the rust stain with CLR and let it sit for five minutes. Scrub the stain away with a sponge or terry cloth washcloth. Rinse the tiles well---CLR is a strong substance.

4. Mix up a paste of borax and lemon juice. Scrub the mixture into the stain and leave it there for several hours, allowing the paste to air-dry. Rinse the paste off, and repeat the process if necessary.

5. Try a paste of salt and vinegar. Leave the concoction on the tile for several hours, then rinse it off with hot water.