How to Remove Rust Stains From a Bathtub (8 Best Methods)

Rust stains occur as dark spots on your tub as well as other bathroom walls, creating an ugly look.

However, removing these stains may be a difficult chore for many people, and repeated futile efforts might easily mislead them into believing that the spots are irreversible.

Rust stains are like those pesky things that manifest themselves wherever there is water. It’s a simple reality of life!

However, this does not imply you have to bear with it, and you must remove the rust as soon as possible for the benefit of your bathtub.

Meanwhile, I’m here to assist you by offering instructions on how to remove rust stains from a bathtub.

There are many techniques for removing rust from tubs, and I’ve detailed the best ones below, along with a stern caution about what you should really never do.

Also read: How to remove green buildup on faucet

Also read: How to change a bathtub faucet

How to Remove Rust Stains From a Bathtub

The success of stain removal is dependent on a number of things, one of which is the substance on which your bathtub is constructed.

Furthermore, various materials respond in different ways to different cleansers.

Acidic cleansers, for example, may cause damage to enamel bathtubs, whereas bleach can cause harm to acrylic bathtub and vice versa.

Because of this, selecting the appropriate cleaning for your bathroom fixture is vital.

The amount of time that the corrosion has been around the bathtub has an effect on how easy it is to remove the stubborn stain.

Stains that have already been scratched deeply into the skin of the bathtub may need more than a simple cleaning to remove.

Before beginning the stain removal process in your tub, it is recommended that you do a test on an isolated portion of the tub to see how the cleaning agent you have chosen will react.

1. Rust Removal With Baking Soda and Vinegar

• Baking soda and white vinegar work together to create a highly effective stain remover, even for rust stains!
• This is ideal for stubborn stains that refuse to budge.
• Additionally, it is pretty simple to use!
• Simply mix up a 3:1 ratio of baking soda and white vinegar in a cup.
• You’re going to make a paste with the above ingredients.
• Once you mixed, you can apply it with a scrub sponge.
• As soon as  a thick coating of the paste has been applied, allow it to rest for an hour before cleaning and rinsing it away.
• If you continue to observe rust after cleaning, repeat the procedure.
• The wonderful thing about baking soda and vinegar is that they are fully natural and environmentally friendly!
• Additionally, they will not produce any hazardous gases that might be irritating to your delicate skin.

2. Remove Rust Stains With Lemon And Salt

• Lemon and salt are not just terrific food ingredients; they’re equally excellent at removing stains of all types, which include, you guessed it, rust.
• Much similar to the baking soda and vinegar, you’ll want to produce a thick paste with the help of lemon and salt.
• You’ll need lemon juice for all of this, and it’s entirely OK to use packaged lemon juice!
• Mix these two ingredients till a thick paste forms, then gently apply it on the rust.
• Allow 30 minutes for it to rest before wiping it off with a cleaning sponge.
• This method is a little softer than the baking soda and vinegar method.
• Therefore, if you have a very tough stains that will not come out with lemon and salt, then you should consider switching to baking soda and vinegar method.
• That will do the magic, you want!

3. Rust Removal Using Shaw’s Pads

• If you’ve been searching for a scrubber that is suitable for use on both ceramic tiles and porcelain bathtubs, you may want to choose Shaw’s Pads.
• Those pads are almost miraculous in their ability to remove rust as well as other stains.
• Indeed, if you contact a plumber, you are likely to witness him utilising Shaw’s Pads!
• One of the nicest features is that you can purchase a handle to connect them to.
• This would alleviate some of the effort on your hands throughout the cleaning process.

4. Remove Orange Stains Using Pumice stones

• This approach is particularly good for porcelain bathtubs because of its non-abrasive nature.
• However, these incredible natural rocks have a plethora of other applications, including the ability to remove rust from your bathtub without severely damaging it.
• Thus makes it an excellent choice for porcelain baths that may be scratched by other substances on this table. 
•  Meanwhile, you should avoid using it on fiberglass tubs.
• Using the pumice stone, just moisten it and moisten the surface of the rust, then clean the rusty area.
• Incase you have a lot of rust to remove, you may keep wetting the stone and eventually create a paste that will assist in the washing process.
• Once completed, thoroughly rinse the surface with fresh water.

5. Rust Stain Removal Using Sandpaper

• A piece of lightweight sandpaper can be purchased at almost any hardware shop.
• Indeed, if the hardware shop doesn’t have one, you can order one from Amazon.
• Soak your sandpaper in clean water.
• Allow a minute or two for the sandpaper to soak up the moisture before beginning to wipe away the rusted area.
• Scrubbing too vigorously might cause long term scratches on your tub, so use it with caution.
• If you’re concerned about causing harm to your tub, you may want to try another option.

6. Remove Mild Stains Using Scouring pads

• When it comes to mild rust stains, you may be able to come up with simply using the scouring pad portion of a regular kitchen sponge to remove them.
• You may also purchase scouring pads with or without a smooth, bouncy sponge side on the back.
• Apply a little amount of warm water to your scouring pad and gradually scrape the rust.
• You may start with this procedure and then go on to further massive and tough removal techniques if this doesn’t work out.
• If the above technique doesn’t work out, you can always try another one.

7. How to Remove Rust Stain From a Bathtub with Elbow Grease

A little effort along with a cleaning screen could sometimes be an effective strategy for getting the work done, despite the fact that it is not the quickest or most convenient.

Cleaning screens, which are comparable to lightweight sandpaper, may be found at most hardware shops and home improvement stores.

You’ll need the following supplies:

1. Cleaning screen
2. water

• Prepare your cleaning screen by soaking it in water. Allow it to rest for a minute.
• Softly massage the affected areas with the screen to remove the stains. It will begin to vanish as soon as possible.
• Repeat as necessary till the rust spot are completely removed.

8. Commercial Rust Remover

• Commercial rust removers are available for purchase, and they are highly successful at what they do.
• However, the majority of them include toxic substances that are both unsafe to come into contact with and hazardous to inhale.
• As a result, the majority of individuals do not wish to use commercial rust removers for this reason.
• They may also be rather abrasive, and it has been reported that they have caused tub damage.
• For many of the reasons listed above, I really do not advise that you use a commercial rust remover.
• However, it is something that is often used, and I thought that this post would be incomplete if i did not include it as well.

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Video Guide: How to Remove Rust Stains From a Bathtub

What to Avoid While Removing Rust from Bathtub?

While bleach is effective for cleaning a variety of household surfaces, rust is not among them.

As a matter of fact, it has been shown to make the rust issue even worst!

When shopping for a commercial rust remover, be sure that the product you choose does not include bleach as one of its active components before purchasing it.

Also read: How to remove scratches from stainless steel sinks

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What is the Reason for Rust Stains in the Bathtub ?

• Outdated water heater, cracked pipes, and damaged fixtures are some of the most typical sources of removing rust stains in bathrooms and kitchens.
• These mostly release rust granules into your water supply, which results in rust spots in your bathtub and shower.
• Moreover, hard water stains creates iron deposits that result in stubborn rust stains, which are especially noticeable in locations where there is stagnant water, including the toilet and bathtub.
• It doesn’t important how the stains came into your tub, since they’re there.
• But instead you should think about how to get away of them that is the most important matter.
• Luckily, there are a variety of techniques available for removing these stains.

How to Prevent Rust Stains in a Bathtub?

As the old saying goes, prevention is always preferable to cure. The following suggestions can assist you in keeping your bathtub rust free for the benefit of your home.

Replace any outdated or rusted fittings as soon as possible.

In the event that you have hard water, you should install a water softener to remove hard water stains.

Stains produced by iron deposits will be prevented from forming as a result of this procedure.

Make certain that metal cans are kept aside from your tub.

The metallic bands at the base of the cans corrode fast, creating stubborn rust stains on the exterior of your bathroom’s cabinets and counters.

Please remember to thoroughly clean your bathtub after each usage. It aids in the removal of residue that may include ferrous iron.

How to Remove Rust Stain from a Porcelain Bathtub

• Now let’s see how to remove mild stains from porcelain tub.
• Combine equal volumes of cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl.
• Place a thin layer of the paste on top of the rust spots and let it settle for 15 minutes.
• Gradually scrub the rusty patches with the help of a nylon brush to eliminate the stains as lightly as possible.

Also read: How to remove rust from sink and bathtub

How to Remove a Rust Stain from a Fiberglass tub

• After moistening the afflicted area with water, then add baking soda above it and scrape with a damp nylon brush to make a paste.
• Allow the paste to dry for one hour before wiping it away with a moist cloth or sponge.

Conclusion

Finally, since you know how to remove rust stains from a bathtub, try a few of the suggestions and report back to us on your findings.