DIY Rust Stain Removal Simple & Cheap Hack
DIY Rust Stain Removal with Lemon Juice
Why Try DIY Rust Stain Removal?
Rust stains can sneak up on just about anything—kitchen knives, tools, clothing, sinks, even outdoor furniture. They make items look worn out, dirty, and older than they actually are. Many people think the only solution is to toss the item or use harsh chemical cleaners, but that’s not true. With this simple DIY rust stain removal hack, you can tackle those stubborn spots naturally with something you probably already have in your kitchen: lemon juice.
The Best Natural Rust Remover: Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a natural acid that works to break down rust, making it easy to wipe away. It’s safe, inexpensive, and doesn’t require special tools or products. This makes it the perfect solution for busy families and frugal households. If you’re looking for a quick and easy fix, keep reading to see how you can remove rust stains in just minutes.
How to Remove Rust Stains from Knives
If you’re guilty of putting your steak knives in the dishwasher (I know I am!), you may notice brown spots or rust forming over time. Here’s how to clean them up:
- Pour fresh lemon juice into a bowl.
- Soak the knives in the juice for several minutes.
- Wipe the blades with a sponge or soft cloth.
- For tougher stains, sprinkle a little salt onto the cloth and gently scrub.
And just like that—goodbye rust, hello shiny knives! No harsh chemicals, no pricey cleaners, just a lemon and a little patience.
Removing Rust Stains from Clothes
Did you know this trick works on clothing too? Rust stains can appear from buttons, zippers, or contact with metal. Luckily, lemon juice can help there as well.
- Saturate the rust spot with lemon juice.
- Boil a pot of water until it produces steam.
- Hold the stained fabric carefully over the steam for a few minutes (be careful not to burn yourself).
- Launder the item as usual.
The rust stain should disappear, leaving your clothing fresh and wearable again.
Other Surfaces You Can Clean with Lemon Juice
- Sinks and Faucets: Rub lemon juice on small rust spots and rinse clean.
- Outdoor Tools: Soak hand tools like pliers or screwdrivers in lemon juice to remove surface rust.
- Bathroom Fixtures: Use lemon juice and salt paste to scrub away rusty water stains.
Extra Tips for Preventing Rust
Once you’ve cleaned away rust stains, you probably want to keep them from coming back. Here are a few easy prevention tips:
- Dry metal items thoroughly after washing to avoid moisture build-up.
- Avoid leaving knives or tools sitting in the dishwasher or sink.
- Apply a light coating of mineral oil to knives or tools to protect them from future rusting.
- Store clothing in a dry place and avoid contact with damp metal surfaces.
Why This DIY Rust Stain Removal Hack Works
The acidity in lemon juice dissolves iron oxide (the technical name for rust), while salt acts as a gentle abrasive to scrub it away. Together, they make a powerful, natural cleaning duo that’s safe for your home and family.
Final Thoughts
DIY cleaning hacks don’t get much easier than this! This DIY rust stain removal with lemon juice is simple, fast, budget-friendly, and chemical-free. Whether you’re dealing with rusty knives, stained clothing, or even tarnished sinks and toilets, this method can bring all of it back to life without spending a bunch of money on expensive cleaners that are harsh and may note even work. Try our DIY rust stain removal today and let us know in the comments what items you’ve saved with this easy and cheap hack!
See more handy DIY hacks to simplify your life
Trending Diys
Comments
Leave a Reply
More Related Diys
Trending DIY Projects
- DIY
- Recipes
- Deals
- Blog
Report a Problem
Please select the problem you are facing with this deal:
- Price Increased
- Price Decreased
- No longer available
- Expired
- Link doesn't work
- Suggestion
- Compliment
- Other
Add more details:
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it.
Enter your email address if you would like
to receive a follow up.
Please Try Again
Thanks for providing the email address.
We will reach out to you as soon as possible.
Popular
Recommended
About Us
At Fabulessly Frugal, our goal is to help you live HEALTHY, WEALTHY, and WISE! My team and I work hard to bring you the best, online deals, clean eating, DIY's, freezer meal recipes, and more! I LOVE coaching and inspiring people to improve their health in my fitness challenge! You should also check out my favorite cleanse! Learn more about me and the rest of my team.
Copyright © 2008–2025
Fabulessly Frugal: A Coupon Blog Sharing Gift Ideas, Amazon Deals, Printable Coupons, DIY, How to Extreme Coupon, and Make Ahead Meals. All rights reserved
Is there any way to remove the black stains on aluminum baking sheets or pans? Do you know what causes them?
The whole team uses these: https://fabulesslyfrugal.com/silicone-baking-mats/ so we don’t deal with the black spots anymore. 🙂
Pour some salt on a potato and scrub.
I have a self cleaning oven. I actually put my blackened pans in when I clean my oven. They look like new after the cleaning cycle.
Could this be used to remove rust on a old bicycle?
It could. It would take a LOT of lemon juice though, and might be hard to soak. The chemicals in a can of CocaCola work too, you just slowly poor it over the rust. It might be easier than the lemon juice, depending on the spot.
Wow, I just watched a demo using coke to remove rust on YouTube – amazing! Thanks for recommending it, Becky! I will certainly give it a try 🙂
Just one more reason to not drink the stuff right? I mean, if it’s doing that to rust… what’s it doing to your body?!
Does it matter if it is regular Coke? Or can you use diet Coke?
Try this- wad up a piece of aluminum foil. Wet the rusty area and rub with the foil. I do this on the bottom of my salon chairs and they look new. Actually got the idea off a bicycle website when I looked up chemical free rust removal.
Great tip Shelia! I’ll have to test that out!
Just did this to my steak knives while browsing Buzzfeed & it worked like a charm!!!!
AWESOME!!
I also use lemon juice and salt to remove rust from clothing. Sprinkle lemon juice on the stain, then some salt and place in the sun. The combination along with the sun removes the stain like a charm.
Great tip Jonna, thank you!!
Because we are replacing our over 34 year old stainless steel, I have been doing some research about how to keep my new stainless from getting rust stains. We are replacing our old set, because the knife blades are rusty, spotted, or discolored. I learned that the knife blades are the most likely to discolor or rust. In order to be strong enough, the blades are mostly stainless steel and have less of the rust inhibiting minerals like chromium and nickel in them. The info with my new stainless steel says not to leave food on the metal, but to wash or at least rinse immediately. Don’t soak them for a long time. Avoid dish detergents or dishwasher detergents that contain citrus. While lemon may take off the rust residue, evidently citrus can help cause the initial damage. Your knives look like steak knives. They may be even less rust resistant than stainless silverware and should probably be hand washed. However, never use dishwasher detergent with lemon added.
If you wipe knives clean before putting dishwasher you should have no trouble with rust
Will this remove rust stains in a stainless steel sink?