In the beginning stages, this type of staining can easily be removed with white vinegar or lemon juice. Once it has set, try scrubbing with CLR. White vinegar is also good for getting rid of mild pink mould infestation. For more serious cases, use bleach.
Use Distilled White Vinegar
For weekly cleaning of sinks, tubs, and shower walls, spray the vinegar on the rust stains. Use a scrub brush to clean the area and then rinse well. For weekly cleaning of rusty toilet bowls, add one to two cups of vinegar to the bowl and scrub with a toilet brush.
Pour 3 parts white vinegar and 1 part water into a spray bottle. Generously spray the rust stain with the solution and let it soak so the vinegar can break down the rust and mineral buildup.
If the “stains” are orange or look like rust, then they probably are from iron in the water. These will need to be treated with a commercial rust remover. However, if the stains are from hard water, then just plain old white or apple-cider vinegar should work.
One of the main causes of orange stains in showers is iron in the water. If your water supply contains high levels of iron, it can react with the oxygen in the air and create orange rust stains. This is especially common in older homes with outdated plumbing systems.
Orange or reddish stains are caused by high iron in the water. You will likely notice these red hard water stains around your faucet or the waterline of your toilet.
For stains in the bathtub basin or on the shower floor, Bar Keepers Friend original powder cleanser is the go-to choice for rust removal. Make sure the surface is wet (but free of standing water), and sprinkle a small amount of cleanser on the rust, first testing it on an inconspicuous area.
Steps to Clean
Rinse. Sponge with rubbing alcohol, using light motions from center to edge of stain. Soak for 30 minutes in one quart warm water with one tablespoon enzyme presoak products. If color stain remains, launder in chlorine bleach if safe for the fabric, or in oxygen bleach.
Tips To Help Prevent Orange Mold
There are things you can do every day to help reduce the chances of an orange mold problem in your house. Keep your bathroom and shower dry, by using the ventilation fan. Flush properly, and if your toilet doesn't thoroughly flush, have it repaired as soon as possible.
Will hydrogen peroxide remove rust stains from clothes? Yes. To remove rust stains from clothes, mix a few drops of hydrogen peroxide together with a teaspoon of tartar cream and baking soda. Apply the resulting paste onto the stain, let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse it thoroughly and wash the clothes as usual.
A paste of borax and lemon juice also is effective on iron stains. Rub the paste into the stain and allow it to dry. Rinse with clear water, then repeat if necessary. Dry with a clean cloth.
For small objects, like a paring knife or a house key, you can remove rust stains by simply soaking the thing you want to clean in a bowl of distilled white vinegar for one to 24 hours. After soaking, rinse the object and thoroughly dry it.
When iron bacteria (Sphaerotilus-Leptothrix) “feed” on iron in water, the dissolved iron reacts with oxygen in the air and forms rust-colored iron oxides. These deposits can be found in lakes and streams and often occur on hot, dry days when the water is sluggish. You may notice an unpleasant odor.
Orange/Red Water Stains
If you are on city water and experiencing orange staining, this may be due to the presence of iron in your municipal aquifer. Cleaning: If applied quickly, lemon juice or white vinegar work well to remove iron stains before they set in.
You can use chlorine bleach to remove the stains from cotton white garments and linens (follow the product directions carefully). Alternatively, for items that are not colorfast, mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach in cool water following package directions.
In the beginning stages, this type of staining can easily be removed with white vinegar or lemon juice. Once it has set, try scrubbing with CLR. White vinegar is also good for getting rid of mild pink mould infestation. For more serious cases, use bleach.
Skip the bleach for rust
Bleach is great for removing many stains, but not this one. In fact, bleach (or any product that contains sodium hypochlorite) is an oxidizer formulated at an alkaline pH, which provides the perfect conditions to oxidize iron and make a rust stain even worse.
Put a bit of dish soap onto a damp white cloth and dab the rust stain several times. Get the stain area soapy and let it sit for 10 minutes. Press a dry white cloth or paper towel over the dampened stain to absorb the soap and rust.
For more stubborn rust, try using white vinegar. The acetic acid in this common household product is acidic enough to dissolve rust. You can soak smaller things like earrings, wipe it onto a surface with an old cloth, or just pour it directly over rust spots or bolts and screws that have rusted together.
These hard water stains are not permanent; however, if they're allowed to build up over time, you could end up with layers of scale in your bathroom plumbing or around the valves of your dishwasher which could lead to costly repairs down the line.
Hydrogen Peroxide & Cream of Tartar
Ordinary hydrogen peroxide works wonders on stubborn soap scum and water stain combinations that accumulate on bathtubs and metal fixtures. For added cleaning power, make a paste using cream of tartar, a type of baking powder, and apply it to the stained area.
The iron in hard water can cause rust-colored stains to appear in your toilet bowls, sinks, and other fixtures. The reason these stains look like rust is typically because the sediments causing the stains are from the insides of rusty pipes.