Rust stains on clothing can appear for various reasons. Removing them almost always requires effort, and there is a risk of ruining the item. The answer to the question of how to remove rust from clothes will depend on the degree of contamination, the characteristics of the material and other factors.
Causes of rust on clothes
Common reasons for the appearance of red spots on things include:
- Use of metal dryers.
- Washing with metal elements.
- Contact with metal.
Regardless of the cause, removing rust stains can be a major challenge. With the wrong approach, there is a risk of ruining the item.
How to remove rust from white things
White clothes are easier to work with than colored ones. Aggressive influences can deprive a thing of its brightness and affect color saturation. White fabrics do not create such problems and can be cleaned using acids and other similar techniques. However, the chosen product will depend on the characteristics of the fabric (cotton, synthetic or others).
Lemon acid
You only need 20 g of citric acid and half a glass of cold water. It is important to use enamel dishes for the procedure. Place the contaminated item in the prepared solution and leave for a few minutes. The manipulation can be repeated several times until traces of contamination completely disappear.
Bath and sanitary ware
The method is not suitable for synthetic materials as it may change the original shade. You will need to pour a little product onto a soft sponge and then rub the contaminated area. You need to make an effort to get a lush foam. After the procedure, you need to rinse the fabric.
Talc and turpentine
A small amount of baby powder (preferably unscented) should be mixed with turpentine. The resulting solution should have a thick, mushy structure. You will need to apply the mixture to the stain and leave it for a while. It is important to wait until the solution has completely dried. After this, you can rinse the item.
Wine vinegar and salt
To obtain a solution, you need to combine wine vinegar and salt in equal proportions. Next, you need to apply the resulting mixture to the stain, completely covering it. If you leave the contaminated item in direct sunlight for 25-50 minutes, you can get the best result. Any remaining rust should be gone.
Ammonia
Among the options for removing rust, one cannot fail to mention ammonia.The method is relevant for the most delicate fabrics, including white ones. When working, be careful and be sure to act in front of an open window. The manipulation will require a cotton pad moistened with ammonia. The stain should disappear after a few tries.
Stain remover
Many people use household chemicals to remove deep rust stains. This option is not suitable for synthetic or delicate fabrics as it may damage their texture. You can use a soft cloth or sponge for cleaning. It is required to apply to the stain and wipe until abundant foam appears. You can use some types of stain removers for the job.
Dr. Beckmann Expert
For manipulation you need to prepare a solution of Dr. Beckmann, then soak the fabric in it for 5-6 hours. Upon completion of the procedure, you will need to wash the item in the washing machine, also using Dr. stain remover. Beckmann.
Rust Remover
Rust Remover liquid is designed to eliminate corrosion from various surfaces (stone, wood and others). Speaking of how to remove rust from clothes, you can use Rust Remover to clean workwear, denim and other materials with a dense structure.
It is important to use protective gloves and operate in a well-ventilated area.
Cleaner
The Cleaner is universal in use and can be used to clean various materials (white or colored fabrics, wool). Not suitable for leather or artificial fabrics. Available in a convenient spray format, which allows you to act on the stain locally.
Hydrogen peroxide
For work, you can only use hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of 5%. You need to apply the composition locally to the stains and leave for a while.The optimal time would be 30 minutes. After this, you will need to thoroughly rinse the material. You can repeat the procedure if the stain has not been completely removed.
Toothpaste
The method using toothpaste (white shade) is only suitable for fresh stains. The presence of granules or any colored gels in the composition makes the paste unsuitable for cleaning fabrics. You need to apply the composition to the stain and leave it until it dries completely. Using a sponge or an old toothbrush, you need to remove any remaining toothpaste from the problem area.
Oxalic acid
To cleanse, you need to prepare a solution of one teaspoon of acid and a glass of water. You need to heat the resulting mixture, but do not bring it to a boil. After this, you will need to soak the item in the resulting composition. A suitable period can be called a period of 10 to 15 minutes.
Potato
Some shallow stains can be removed with potatoes. You will need to rub the damaged area with cut potatoes and leave it in this state for some time. To get the full result, you need to rinse the fabric.
Apple
For delicate materials (leather, velor, wool and others), which may lose their original characteristics when faced with aggressive influences, it is important to use more gentle methods. You will need to take a sour apple (green), grate it and apply the resulting mixture to the stain for a while. After this, rinse the item.
Petrol
Gasoline is often used to remove rust stains from leather. This method is not suitable for other materials. To clean, you can use a cotton pad soaked in gasoline.
The disadvantage of this method is the unpleasant smell characteristic of gasoline.
Sodium thiosulfate
Sodium thiosulfate is actively used in the fight against traces of rust. You can find the product in any pharmacy at an affordable cost. You will need to dilute 15 grams of powder in 1 glass of water. The liquid will need to be heated, but not brought to a boil. You need to soak the item in the resulting mixture. You should wait until the traces of rust completely disappear.
Alkazeltzer
Alkozeltzer has proven itself on the positive side in solving the problem of how to remove rust from fabric. You will need to add a few tablets of the drug to a glass of water, and then soak the dirty cloth.
The method is not suitable for overly delicate materials.
Baby powder and turpentine
The unpleasant smell of turpentine can be diluted with baby powder. To obtain the substance (the optimal consistency is thick sour cream), you will need to mix two components in equal quantities. After this, the composition will need to be applied to the damaged area and left until completely dry. For best results, you will need to remove the turpentine and baby powder with an old toothbrush.
Bleach
Natural and white fabrics can be safely cleaned with bleach. This method is not suitable for synthetic or colored materials, since the aggressive composition of the bleach can affect them in a negative way.
How to remove rust from colored items
The appearance of traces of rust on colored items has negative consequences and often leads to irreversible damage to clothing. This is due not only to the fragile texture, but also to the characteristics of colored fabrics, which fade, lose brightness and change color under the influence of external irritants. Not all methods can be used to clean such materials.
Chalk and glycerin
To obtain a thick mixture, you need to mix glycerin, chalk and water. After this, you will need to apply a thick layer of the substance to the stain and leave for a day. The final step will be washing, after which there should be no traces of rust.
Glycerin and "Fairy"
Glycerin is successfully used in combination with various detergents. In the case of colored clothing, it is better to choose the least aggressive compounds. So, the current solution will be “Fairy”. You will need to mix the two components and then wipe the damaged areas.
Dishwasher detergent
An effective solution for cleaning colored clothing can be made from ingredients such as glycerin and dishwasher detergent. The item with the stain should be soaked in the resulting composition for 6-7 hours. For the best effect, it is recommended to cover the container with water with plastic wrap.
Onion
Another effective and budget-friendly method involves using onions. You will need to peel and chop the onion using a blender. You need to cover the stain with pulp and leave for several hours.
Salt, soda, vinegar
You can remove rust stains without harming the brightness of your clothes using a special product made from salt, soda and vinegar. You will need 1 tablespoon of vinegar (required 9%), which must be mixed with soda and salt in equal quantities. You should get a paste, which you should spread on the damaged areas and leave for 30 minutes.
Features of removal from various types of material
When choosing a method for cleaning things from rust stains, you should take into account the characteristics of each material. Some methods of exposure are only suitable for certain types of tissue, while for others they can be harmful.
Cotton
Natural fabrics have good resistance to acids and other aggressive compounds. To clean them, you can safely use acetic, oxalic or citric acid. The use of household chemicals or special compounds is also considered acceptable.
Synthetics
Thin synthetic threads do not perceive aggressive influences from the outside. Many chemical compounds can damage their structure, change color or other characteristics. For cleansing, you can use glycerin, citric acid, vinegar, or special all-purpose products.
Delicate fabrics
Delicate fabrics include silk, satin and other materials that cannot even withstand mechanical friction. Products with a neutral composition and gentle effect are acceptable. Otherwise, you can completely ruin the item.
Denim
Denim fabrics are dense materials that can withstand the effects of acids and other aggressive compounds. Many people wonder how to remove rust from white clothes, since such denim fabrics require a special approach. The current option would be citric acid. Blue and black jeans can be easily cleaned using glycerin, acids and other products.
Salt and vinegar
Salt and vinegar work well in cleaning various fabrics. To obtain the composition, you need to mix 3 tablespoons of salt (preferably coarse) and 50 ml of table vinegar. Leave the fabric in the mixture for 30-40 minutes.
Lemon acid
The solution is mixed from 20 g of acid and half a glass of water. The liquid must be brought to a boil, then soak the fabric in it for a while. You can repeat the procedure several times.
"Antipyatin"
Antipyatin works well with denim, eliminating stains and without negatively affecting the structural features. For the best effect, apply soap to an already dampened cloth, rub and wait for a while.
Precautionary measures
When wondering how to remove a rust stain on fabric, you should not forget about some of the subtleties of the process:
- The label can tell you about the characteristics of the material.
- Before starting the process, it is recommended to remove all metal objects from the surface of the clothing.
- Repeated washing will not remove red stains.
- All manipulations are carried out from the wrong side of the fabric.
- After cleaning procedures, you cannot wash the item with other clothes.
By taking into account the type of fabric and its characteristics, you can achieve a good result and give a damaged item a second life.
