Rust and mineral family: acid, never chlorine
How to get rust out
Iron oxide from tools, zips, metal buttons and old washers.
Do this first
Lemon juice and salt in the sun on whites
Fresh stain
- Lemon juice and salt in the sun on whites
- Or fabric rust remover per label
- Rinse well
- Wash
Dried or old
- Same, repeat
- Fabric care
- Never chlorine bleach.
- Time
- 30 min to hours
- How to tell
- Look: orange-brown spots; Feel: none; Smell: none
Where this fix comes from
We check every fix against these published guides. We do not run a test lab of our own.
Before you start
- Test on a hidden seam first.
- Never mix cleaners.
- Keep it out of the dryer until the stain is gone.