Rust is a reddish-brown flaky substance that can cause stains on your carpets, clothes, towels and other fabric surfaces. If you want to know how to remove rust stains from a carpet, it’s important to know that acidic solutions are usually the best approach. In this article, we’ve prepared a couple of handy methods for removing rust stains from your carpet to ensure that it is stain free once again. But before that, let’s take a closer look at some of the causes of rust.
What causes rust stains on a carpet?
Rusting is the process that takes place when iron or steel, oxygen and water combine together. This leads to a reaction that is also known as oxidation and it is typically identified by reddish-brown stains. In your home, these stains can appear on your carpet from leaky windows, wet toys, steel furniture, lamps and more. The quickest way to avoid these stains is by ensuring that any metal parts such as furniture legs, which are placed on top of a carpet, are covered. Alternatively, you may wish to place a darker carpet or piece of material under the legs to avoid the rust from getting onto your light coloured carpets.
What will remove rust stains?
Luckily, rust stains are not impossible to remove. Especially if they are fresh ones. Below, you’ll find some useful methods for removing rust stains.
Method 1: Dish soap
Begin by removing the source of the rust stain on your carpet. If it is a piece of furniture, be sure to remove it from the affected area so that you can begin cleaning.
Then, using a butter knife or a dull object, you’ll want to scrape up as much of the rust residue as possible. Be sure to scrape gently to get off the debris and then vacuum it up to avoid them from getting back into the carpet fibres again. This will result in a lightened stain, although you still have some work ahead of you.
Now for the magic. You need to mix around two cups of warm water and one tablespoon of dish soap. Avoid using dark coloured dish soap on light carpets so as not to discolour the carpet or stain it. Use a bowl to create your mixture. You’ll then want to dip the sponge into the mixture and blot it directly onto the stain. Let it soak for a few minutes. Five to 10 minutes is the recommended time. However, avoid leaving the solution on the stain for longer and letting it dry onto your carpet as this will cause it to set in the carpet as well.
Once the time has passed, the next step is to get a clean, dry white cloth or rag and press the rust stain with it. Blot the area and be sure not to scrub. You’ll begin to see the stain transferring onto the cloth and off your carpet.
Method 2: Ammonia
If Method 1 is not as effective as you’d like and you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, you should prepare a solution of two cups of warm water with one tablespoon of household ammonia. When you’ve created this solution, pour it directly onto the stain and let it sit for approximately five minutes. Then, be sure to use a dry white cloth and blot the stain again.
Method 3: Lemon juice
The third method is also acidic but it is a less smelly option than using ammonia. Here, you will want to mix two tablespoons of lemon juice (fresh or bottled), one cup of white vinegar and one tablespoon of salt (sea salt will also work) together. Similarly to the procedure discussed in Method 2 above, you will want to apply the solution to the stain, leave it for five minutes, pour hot water onto the stain to ensure that the solution doesn’t remain fixed in your carpets and then proceed by blotting it with a clean, dry white cloth. Be sure to let the area dry completely before placing any furniture on it again.
Professional carpet stain removal
Rust stains are clearly unpleasant because they are especially visible on lighter coloured carpets. Of course, you can try to remove the stain by yourself. But if this doesn’t work, it’s always advisable to use a trusted carpet cleaning provider. At Perfect Carpet Clean, our trusted carpet cleaning specialists are experienced with all types of stains and the high-grade equipment we use can tackle practically any dirt or stain residue that may remain on your carpets. So, what are you waiting for? Reach out to us for help with getting your carpets spotless and odourless and looking brand new once again.