How to Get Rust Out of Clothes? (Step-by-Step Guide)

Rust stain is just one of several hard-headed stains that persists no matter how hard and how many times you wash your clothes.

To address this issue that most of us encountered, we prepared a list of the easiest ways to get rust out of clothes.

How hard to get the rust out of clothes?

Rust is formed when iron and oxygen undergo a chemical reaction in the presence of a liquid, and when this reddish-brown oxide sticks to your clothes, you will lose your cool as it will take much of your time to get the rust out of your clothes. But that doesn’t mean that the stain removal process is complicated.

With all the necessary ingredients, materials, and correct methods needed to remove the reddish-brown stain from your clothes, you can take out the rust in just a couple of minutes.

We have searched several ways on how to remove rust stains from clothes, and we have come up with two best solutions to take those rusts away from your clothes.

Best Ways to get rust out of Clothes?

Here’s a quick guide for you on how to let the rusts come out specifically from white clothes. But before you try all these, try to scrub or scrape the excess rust stain first.

Lemon and Salt Mixture

This mixture is one of the best non-toxic treatments that you can perform to remove rust from your clothes.

Ingredients:

Lemon

Salt

Procedure:

1. Mix the lemon juice and salt.
2. Spread the mixture onto the part where the rust stain is.
3. Bring your clothes to the place where there is access to direct sunlight.
4. Spread your clothes under the sun.
5. Leave it for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
6. Wash the clothes, and rinse thoroughly.

Home-made cream rust remover

You will be surprised when you learn the ingredients of this concoction, which you usually see in your kitchen.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon (4.2 grams)	cream of tartar
1 teaspoon (4.2 grams)	baking soda
5 drops	hydrogen peroxide

 Procedure:

1. Mix the cream of tartar and the baking soda.
2. Once they are thoroughly mixed, add 5 drops of hydrogen peroxide or until you will create a paste.
3. Apply the paste to the affected area.
4. Wait for 30 minutes for the paste to work ultimately.
5. Rinse the clothes thoroughly.

Other ways to remove rust stains from clothes

Commercial Rust Remover

You must carefully read the instructions that come with the package. Some of the widely used commercial rust removers are toxic enough to burn your skin.

Be cautious when performing the steps below. Or better yet, use.

Ingredients:

Depends on the manufacturing company.

Procedure:

1. Read the product’s label and the instructions carefully.
2. Apply the commercial rust remover to the stained area.
3. Brush the affected area. You may also use a cloth to remove the rust stains.
4. Rinse the clothes thoroughly.

Laundry detergent

This is the most basic method on how to wash and remove rust stains in clothes. These days, you will see different types of detergents that are all tailored to fit the users’ needs. These detergents are mainly formulated to be acidic to remove stains and dirt.

Ingredients:

Depends on the manufacturing company.

Procedure:

1. Pre-wash the garment.
2. Wash the clothes with the rust remover laundry detergent.
3. Adjust the water temperature based on instructions.
4. Check the affected area.
5. If the stain persists, rewash the clothes.
6. Once done, air-dry your clothes.

DIY rust stain remover for colored clothes

The easiest way to get rid of your colored clothes‘ rust stains is through commercial color-safe rust stain remover. But in cases you can’t find any, or if you want to go green, you can use rhubarb to remove the rusts from your clothes.

Ingredients:

1 Liter	Water
	Rhubarb stalks

 Procedure:

1. Fill half of the pot with water.
2. Put the rhubarb inside the pot.
3. Let the water boil and cook the rhubarb for 20 minutes.
4. Once cooked, remove the rhubarb.
5. Transfer the hot water to a pail or basin.
6. Put the clothes and soak them until the rust stain is removed.
7. Once the stains are entirely removed, wash the clothes.

Click here if you want a video on how to simply get rid of rust stains.

How to remove other types of stains from clothes?

Aside from the rust stains, there are other types of stains the are hard to remove.

Coffee and Sauce Stains

Coffee stains are one of the hardest things to remove. But the peroxide-dishwashing soap mixture can help you remove the stain.

Ingredients:

1 part	Dishwashing soap
2 parts	Peroxide

Procedure:

1. Combine the dishwashing soap and peroxide.
2. Soak the stained part for 10-30 minutes. This will soften the stain.
3. Rub or brush the stained area.
4. Soak the stained part again. Let it sit overnight.
5. Rub or brush the stained area again.
6. Once the stain is removed, wash the clothes and rinse them thoroughly.

Grease Stains

Grease stains are one of the hardest stains to remove. To successfully fight off this type of stain, you need the following:

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon (4.2 grams)	Glycerin
1 teaspoon (4.2 grams)	Dishwashing soap
1 1/5 cup	warm water
1 tablespoon	baking soda

Procedure:

1. Put all ingredients in a spray bottle.
2. Shake and mix the ingredients well.
3. Spray the mixture in the stained area until it’s soaked completely.
4. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes.
5. Wash the clothes with cold water and a tablespoon of baking soda.
6. Rinse thoroughly, and air dry the clothes.

Sticky gums and glue sticks

Dried gums are way more challenging to remove than fresh gums that stick to your clothes. We have prepared a method on how to remove them from your favorite clothes. But the main ingredient that we will use in this process is known to bleach out fabrics.

Perform the method at your own risk.

Ingredients:

Acetone

Procedure:

1. Drop some acetone in a white cloth.
2. Rub the white cloth to scrub off the gums.
3. Once done, wash the clothes and rinse them well.

Life Hacks on removing common but difficult to remove stains

Apart from rust stains, gums, coffee, and grease, other types of difficult-to-remove stains battle almost every laundry day. These worst stains include deodorant stains, sweat stains, and lipstick stains. Perform the procedure below, and you will surely love your favorite clothes back!

Underarm deodorant stains

Here are three ways to win back your favorite clothes.

Ways How to Remove the Stain	Procedure
Vinegar	Drop an ample amount of vinegar to the stained part and sit for 30 minutes before washing the clothes.
Hydrogen peroxide	Pour hydrogen peroxide into the affected area and leave it for an hour. Wash after the stain is removed.
Baking soda and water	Mix the baking soda and water. Brush the stained area using the mixture, and leave it for 4 hours. Wash the clothes well and air dry.

Favorite Lipstick Stains

For those who love to wear lipstick in everyday life fully understand how hard it is to remove the lipstick stains, especially if the stain comes from a long-wear, and waterproof lipsticks.

Ways How to Remove the Stain	Procedure
Vaseline	Pre-wash the stained area. Apply Vaseline on the stained part of the shirt. Wash with hot water and laundry detergent.

Sweat stains collar area

I bet you have stopped wearing some of your favorite clothes because of sweat stains. Here’s how you bring your clothes to life again!

Ways How to Remove the Stain	Procedure
Using Liquid Laundry detergent	Pour the liquid detergent directly into the stained collar. Leave it for an hour, and wash it after.
White vinegar-water mixture	Apply the mixture directly to the stain. Leave it for 30-60. Wash once the stain is removed.
Lemon Juice – water mixture	Use the mixture as an alternative to plain water. Spray the mixture to the stained part until it is removed.
Salt water	Dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt in a cup of water. Use the mixture to spray to the affected area. Scrub the stained part, and wash the clothing once done.

When to stop trying removing the stain?

Removing rust stains or any stains is a long and vigorous process. Sometimes, you end up feeling the need to give up.

If the stained clothing is new or important to you, it might be worth a couple of tries. It also helps if you know the type of stain your favorite shirt has. Some stains like ink, blood, red wine, chocolate, and tomato sauce are known to dye the shirt quickly and are difficult to remove. Thus, if the stains stay after a couple of tries, you might need to stop and call it a day.

Summary

Removing rust stains in clothes may be challenging, but not the correct procedure for getting the rust out of clothes. However, you must keep in mind that the procedures in removing the stains depend on the type, the color of clothes, and the type of stains.