Things You'll Need:
- Cotton balls
- Rag
- White vinegar
- Cream of tartar
- Salt
- Lemon
- Citric acid cleanser, like Lysol Basin, Tub and Tile Cleaner
- Oxalic acid cleanser, like Bar Keeper's Friend
-
Step 1
Start with the mild organic acids first. Apply white vinegar to your cotton ball and dab at the rust stain on your pants. White vinegar contains acetic acid, a mild acid that should take care of small or minor rust stains.
-
Step 2
Rinse with water and see if the stain is gone. If not, repeat the process, letting the vinegar soak through the stain before rinsing again.
-
Step 3
If the stain is still there, move on to another organic compound, cream of tartar, another item common in the kitchen. Make a thick paste, using a few drops of lemon juice, and add some salt. Smear the paste onto the stain. Let it sit for awhile and then rinse. The acidic potassium salts in cream of tartar are a little stronger than the acetic acid in vinegar and should do the trick. But if they don't, it's time to move on to the commercial cleansers.
-
Step 4
Spray a rag with a citric acid cleanser and rub it into the rust stain. Rinse and see if the stain is gone. If not, it's time for the really harsh stuff.
-
Step 5
Oxalic acid, found in such products as Bar Keeper's Friend, is generally used to get rid of rust on decks, cars, barbecues and outdoor heaters. Dilute before trying on pants, and then gradually make the mixture stronger until it does the trick.
