Those brown and orange spots don't have to send you running to the flooring or department store anymore. Remove that iron oxide at home with these steps.
Those brown and orange spots don't have to send you running to the flooring or department store anymore. Remove that iron oxide at home with these steps.

Scrape rust particles off the surface of the carpet or clothing with a plastic spatula or scraper.
Vacuum your carpet or shake out the garment to remove any debris, dust, or hair.
Saturate the rust spot with warm vinegar or lemon juice. Scrub the vinegar into the stain with a toothbrush and let sit five minutes for carpet or one hour for clothing.
Before soaking your carpet or best shirt, do a quick test spot to check for color fastness. You may need to try commercial cleaning companies if the color bleeds.
Pat the spot dry with clean rags and allow to dry thoroughly.
Rinse the spot with warm water and pat dry with clean rags. Allow to dry completely.
Assess the results and repeat the process if necessary after the cloth or carpet is dry.
Vacuum the carpet or wash your clothing as usual and keep clear of that devilish rust in the future.
Traditionally made balsamic vinegars can cost up to $200 per bottle and take 12 years to make, while modern-made vinegars can cost as little as $2 and are made in a few hours.