How to Make Homemade Rust Stain Remover

Rust stains on your clothing may magically appear if the garment was laundered accidentally with a metal object that rusted during the wash cycle. Or the stains can result from hard water buildup, or even if your washer or dryer happens to have a rusted part that comes into contact with the clothing.
There are several rust stain removal products on the retail market. However, you can make your own safe and highly effective homemade rust stain removers using common household items.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic spray bottle
• Lemon juice
• Cream of Tartar
• Salt

Instructions

1. Pour ½ cup of lemon juice into a plastic spray bottle. Spray enough of the fluid onto the rust stain to completely saturate it. Allow the garment to set for 30 minutes, and then launder as usual.

2. Dampen the rust stain with hot water if Step 1 doesn't do the job. Rub a generous amount of Cream of Tartar into the stain and let the garment set for 20 to 30 minutes. Launder in hot soapy water. If the stain persists, proceed to Step 3.

3. Pour a quart of hot water into a large pot. Add 8 tablespoons of Cream of Tartar and stir well. Immerse the rust-stained garment in the cleaning solution and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Launder the garment as usual.

4. Dampen the rust stain with lemon juice. Combine equal parts Cream of Tartar and salt in a small bowl. Add a few drops of lemon juice and stir to form a thick paste. Apply the paste to the rust stain and set the garment out in the sun until the damp spot has dried. The stain should be gone. If it isn't, repeat this step.

Tips & Warnings

• It's always a good idea to test a small inconspicuous area of a garment with any cleaning solution to avoid the possibility of damaging the material.

• Don't use chlorine bleach when laundering rust stains. The bleach will actually make them more difficult to remove, and could even cause them to become permanent.