Our carpets are prone to accumulating all kinds of stains and you’re likely to encounter some rare ones like rust stains. Although you are unlikely to come across rust on the carpet every day, sometimes the stain can sneak onto the carpet at home. So what do you do upon sighting rust stains on a carpet? You remove it, right?
Yes. You need to go ahead and get rust stains out of the carpet. But before that, it’s important to understand what rust stains contain to make the removal process easier. Understanding what actually is in this stain helps you choose the right products to tackle it.
What is Rust?
Rust is a product of oxidation that is made up of iron oxides. Scientifically, it arises when iron reacts with oxygen in the presence of water or moisture. A few different types of rust exist, and each one of them features its unique chemical makeup.
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Scientific studies have shown that corrosion of iron takes place in the alloy steel. Rust is the formation of reddish-brown flakes that loosely attach to the iron.
In this article, we will give you a comprehensive guide that can help you remove rust stains from carpet. These are the recommended do-it-yourself techniques. They are useful in tackling rust stains and getting them out of a carpet.
How to Remove Rust Stain from Carpet
Allow it to Dry Completely
When dealing with rust stain on the rug, the first line of defense is to let it dry exhaustively. You can know if it’s entirely dry if you no longer see any loose dirt in the stain. Try poking at the stain with a spoon just for confirmation.
- Scrape Off the Rust Residue
In this step, you’re going to need a scraping tool, such as a dull butter knife, a scraper or a dull plastic spatula. You will use it to remove any excess rust particles that flake off. With one of these tools at hand, scrape the excess rust off the carpet surface. Gently pry it from different angles to increase your chances of removing the stain for good.
NB: Be careful not to pull the carpet threads or snag the fibers while scrapping. Exercise absolute caution and patience while at it.
Vacuum Out the Carpet
Vacuum your carpet to remove any dust, debris or hair. Then proceed to the next stage of removing rust stain from the carpet.
Do a Spot Test
It is important to do a spot test prior to using any cleaning solution. You should carry out this test on an invisible portion of the carpet, such as behind the TV or under the couch. Doing a spot test allows you to know whether or not the cleaning solution will ruin the carpet. Therefore, you can easily avoid causing unintentional staining or bleaching.
Mix a Detergent with Cold Water
The first solution to try out involves mixing a mild detergent with cold water. Choose a detergent containing no alkalis, and always utilize cold water to avoid setting the stain further deep. Hot water will set in the stain, which can make it a lot more stubborn to eliminate.
Avoid using anti-bacterial versions of detergent. Your success rate becomes higher if you can find a detergent that is not too deeply colored. Blot the stain with a clean cloth until it lifts up—don’t rub it. Rinse out your sponge regularly to keep the water clean.
If this solution doesn’t eliminate rust stains from your carpet, let the stain dry again. Then continue with the next stain removal remedy. Go to the step that follows after you are satisfied the stain has re-dried completely.
Use a Mixture of Lemon Juice and Salt
One of the popular stain removers available today is lemon juice. Mixing lemon juice with a little salt forms a mild abrasive cleaner. To remove rust stains from carpet, put a mixture of lemon juice and salt in a spray bottle and saturate the stained area very lightly. Afterward, continue the blotting procedure as indicated in the preceding step.
Use Water and Cream of Tartar
This is another effective remedy to get rust stains out of a carpet. You need to create a paste comprising of water and cream of tartar. The consistency of this paste should be close to that of toothpaste. When complete, spread the mixture onto the stain and allow it to sit for about 5 minutes. Finally, blot it away with cool damp water.
Pour Vinegar on the Stain
If all these remedies don’t work, you can try vinegar as it is another great product for removing rust stains from carpet. Pour a generous amount of vinegar directly on the stain, and let it set in or dry. After a few hours, you will be able to notice whether the rust stain has vanished or not.
You can then blot the area with a cool, damp cloth. This is to gauge if any more rust stain still lifts. If there is a pungent smell, use a light lemon mixture to absolve it.
Verdict
Rust is naturally caused by a chemical reaction and can be difficult to remove. When rust stains hit your carpet they are not only stubborn but also ugly. These DIY household remedies have been tried and tested. They work adequately when it comes to getting rust stains out of the carpet. If they don’t work, it would be useful to call a professional rust removal specialist for assistance.
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