rust removal from fabrics

 

Isn't this the cutest fabric EVER???  I recently swapped someone for it and she warned me it had some spots on it.  I didn't care.  I wanted it!!  When I got it home, I washed it in my laundry detergent that will seriously take anything out.  Except rust.  Darn.

Until I found out that there is a way to get it out.  Using something most people have laying around, and a little sunshine.  Today, we are going to learn how to get rust stains (and even those diffuse yellow stains that distinguish a lot of older fabrics) out of our precious fabrics! 

ringalingaling!!  class.has.started.

This is what you will need:

• your rust riddled fabric
• lemon juice
• paper towels
• sunshine!

And this is what you do.

(if you look closely near the side edge, you can see the rust.  The fabric was covered like that with rust)

1. lay your dry fabric out on the paper towels
2. juice your lemon(s)
3. soak the rust stains with lemon juice so that the paper towel and fabric stick together. (and you don't have to be particular with this step.  My fabric had seeds and pulp all over it)
4. lay the paper towel/fabric layer out in the sun to dry.
5. repeat if necessary.

I did this twice to my rust riddled fabric and the stains are mostly gone.  I'm kind of picky though, so if the sun is out today, I'll do it once more. 

Tada, no more rust to speak of!

Have a great, rust-free weekend!!

~Penny

Comments

[Diane]

Wow... Thanks for this. I have a vintage table cloth that I love that has some stains I have been unable to remove. I must try this (too bad the couds moved in this morning)

[wishes, true and kind]

Incredible! I will definitely try this. Finding sunshine right now will be the hardest part ;0

[MichelleB]

Perfect timing! I did a mini quilt and got a couple of rust stains from pins - arrggh! I'll definitely use this method.

[Paulette Doyle]

Incredible! Thanks for the tip! Lucky you! Love the fabric!
Paulette

[Trisha]

Awesome tip! I am going to have to tuck this away for when the sun comes out again here in Seattle. I think I have about 6 or 7 more months. LOL

[Audrie]

I'm so glad you got the rust off that cute fabric! Definitely bookmarking this... I'm pretty sure I'll find rust on something sooner or later haha

[Stephanie]

Thanks! I love being able to use natural products...is there anything we can't clean using either vinegar, lemons, or baking soda?

[jenn]

Awesome tip Penny!!
You are so good!!

[Marjorie]

NO WAY! NICE! Awesome fabric too Penny! I'm filing that tip for sure!

[Allie]

That is amazing. I love that fabric!!! I'll have to try this next summer, I'm too cold to do it now, lol- thanks fo the tip!

[V]

didn't know that! aweseome info thanks penny!

[amylouwho]

I just learned this earlier this year too! GREAT trick and works on tomato and other stains too - sometimes just letting your whites dry out in the sun will get stains out. Isn't nature awesome!?

[Thimbleanna]

Wow! That's great to know - thanks for sharing Penny!

[LollyChops]

W.O.W.! Thanks so much Penny! This is definitely The Tip of the Year!!!

HUGZ!

[sue brown]

wonderful, I have a vintage chenille bedspread with rust all over it that I will try this on.

[Karen]

Fantastic tip! Timely too. I just bought some vintage sugar sacks from eBay and some of them have come with rust stains. I had no idea what to do about it... until now! THANK YOU!

I just love the fabric you cleaned up. Those apples are adorable! And the combo with the white and that hit of lemon? Inspiring. I want to run out an make a quilt with those three colors right now!

ryn: I do love the ceramic cup but I always worry I'm going to drop it so I don't use it much... which kinda defeats the purpose. :(

[Jody Blue]

I've have had great success doing this on old aprons.