Topic: How to clean rust stains?

[theElench]

Good morning all,
I've been trying to clean what look like rust stains from the base of this vase.  Tried washing-up liquid, warm water and a soft scrubbing brush.  Soaking overnight in white vinegar and then the same with bleach but no noticeable effect.

The surface is rough textured so possibly sand-blasted?

Any suggestions please?

[glassobsessed]

Try a non scratch scourer, if all else fails very fine wire wool works well for that sort of job. If you use coarse wire wool you run the risk of creating quite deep scratches.

John

[Mosquito]

I use a product called 'Barkeepers' Friend Stain Remover'. It's a mixture of citric and oxalic acids in powder form. Just mix it to a paste with a little water then apply and wait. For more stubborn stains you can scrub with an old toothbrush. Rinse off after a few minutes and the rust should be all gone

[chopin-liszt]

The trick for removing rust from anything is raw minced onions.
I get a cheap bag of frozen onion slices, defrost them and use the electric blitzer to make the mush.  Just leave it to soak, the rust will all dissolve.
I've cleaned up a beautiful old cast iron door knocker, absolutely solid with rust. It's now on our front door.
I've used raw minced onion to unrust the little fancy screws and frilly nuts you find on old glass lampshades, got them all free and usable again.
It's amazing. The rust just dissolves in the onion.

[Anne]

Wow! Sue, that is a handy tip, thank you. I've not tried onion but I will give that a go.  I have used Barkeepers Friend that Steven suggested, though and it is really good. 

[theElench]

Will try the onion first as it's easier to find than Barmans Friend.

Thanks for the tips.

[Della]

Try raw potato and bicarbonate of soda  It really works.

[chopin-liszt]

How do you operate the potato and bicarb? Use the potato to rub the bicarb on it, or mash them together and use as a soaking paste?  (like the onion)
You need to watch where you buy bicarb. It can be really expensive in supermarkets. You need the cheap household stuff in big packs from hardware places.

The advantage of the onion is no elbow grease is required. You just need to mix it around as it goes black, depending on how much rust you're trying to remove.
The door knocker did require a few days soaking, but the rust was really thick, (as you can see!) all the moulding had been lost. We got it back.

It was great to be able to use the proper original frilly nuts and screws again, for the vintage lampshades.

Onion goes into small spaces you can't rub, but I'm always interested in new uses for good old bicarb.

[Della]

Sorry, I should have been more explicit   
I put dry bicarb on a plate, cut a raw potato in quarters (mid-sized), dab it in the bicarb then rub in a circular motion on the rust spot.
I will remember the onion one too  I always cut an onion in half and leave it out when I have odours (curry, fish, paint, etc), it is amazing at absorbing the smells, just plain vinegar does the job too.
I used an old, out of date, packet.

[chopin-liszt]

Bicarb absorbs smells brilliantly too.
I buy most of my clothes from charity shops, they're always full of chemical conditioner smells, so I soak them in bicarb for a few minutes before washing, to get rid of the stink.
I use bicarb. solution for cleaning the fridge and the freezer (it keeps smells down) and for cleaning the cat box if it has a pong.
Old, out of date stuff still works for household tasks.