To remove rust from ceramic tile, you can use bleach. Simply apply it neat to rust stains, leave it to sit for 20 minutes before wiping it off with a clean, wet cloth.
Provided you're only dealing with surface rust or a rust stain, you can simply spray some WD-40 directly onto the stain, leave for around ten minutes and wipe away with a cloth or old toothbrush. You may need to use something like an abrasive sponge if the rust is a little more stubborn.
Vinegar – for old rust stains pour some white vinegar directly onto the stain and leave it to soak for an hour or two. Pour some table salt over the stain and use a soft brush or old toothbrush to rub the affected area. The rust should lift right off.
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.
INSTRUCTIONS: TO CLEAN TUBS, TOILET BOWLS, SINKS, PORCELAIN, CEMENT, STUCCO and BRICK: Mix equal amounts of CLR and warm water. Apply directly to calcium, lime or rust with brush, cloth or sponge. Rinse promptly with cold clean water. If stain does not disappear, use CLR full strength, wipe and rinse promptly.
CLR's unique formulation has multiple uses! Safe for various applications and surfaces… (tubs, showerheads toilets, sinks, porcelain, glass, cement, stucco, brick, stainless steel, and much more)!
To remove such stains, use NO RUST* (small stains) or DETERDEK PRO (large stains). NO RUST is FILA's special stain remover for getting rust stains off marble, granite, natural stone, agglomerate, porcelain tile, ceramic, terracotta and concrete, and acts in just 15 minutes.
THE FIX: Hydrogen peroxide
Apply it with a soft sponge to the offending stain. Let the paste dwell on the ceramic or porcelain surface for one or two hours. Scrub down the stain with a stiff-bristle brush.
You can safely use vinegar to clean ceramic or porcelain tiles, whether they are glazed or unglazed.
To tackle items with significant corrosion, submerge your rusty tools or knives in a bowl of white vinegar and let them sit overnight or as long as 24 hours. Once they have had a good soak, remove them from the vinegar and scrub the rust off with steel wool, a scouring pad, or a wire brush.
The stains appear most often in homes located in hard-water areas, where the combination of minerals and iron bacteria in the water can cause rust particles to cling to the porcelain or enamel surfaces of bathroom fixtures.
The combination of iron bacteria and the minerals in the water can cause the rust particles to cling to the porcelain or enamel surfaces of bathroom fixtures. Unfortunately, the stains will reappear after cleaning unless the water is filtered or treated with a water-softening system.
Bar Keepers Friend even removes food buildup and knife marks from porcelain, ceramic, glass dishes, and serving ware. From floor to ceiling, Bar Keepers Friend leaves your kitchen shining. You'll quickly learn why we're the best kitchen cleaner!
Things to Avoid
Stay away from products with bleach or ammonia because they can change the tile or grout coloring. If you need to scrub your floors, make sure not to use any brushes with hard bristles since they can scratch the porcelain surface.
Do not use cleaning products that contain acids or ammonia (and other harsh chemicals) as these can damage grout and glazed surfaces of the tile. Choose products that are compatible with your grout to avoid damage or discoloration of the grout. Always dry your porcelain thoroughly after cleaning.
DO not use CLR on natural stone or marble, terrazzo, colored grout, painted or metallic glazed surfaces, plastic laminates, Formica, aluminum, steam irons, leaded crystal, refinished tubs or any damaged or cracked surface. CLR may etch older sinks, tubs and tiles. CLR is corrosive.
Ceramic or Porcelain
On the tub, sink, ceramic tile, or toilet, wet a pumice bar, and rub the iron stain. Caution: Do not use this pumice stick on the ceramic glass found on cookware or ceramic cooktops, as it will scratch the surface. A paste of borax and lemon juice also is effective on iron stains.
While hydrogen peroxide can speed the rusting process, it can also remove rust. In a bowl, place equal parts cream of tartar (a mild powdery acid used in baking and available at grocery stores) and baking soda. Add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide, just enough to form a paste.
What Makes Coca-Cola Such an Effective Cleaner? Coca-Cola is carbonated, which allows it to dissolve with metal oxides and break up rust on a variety of metals and alloys. Phosphoric acid also gives it rust-busting power, while citric acid makes it an effective stain remover.
Vinegar and Baking Soda:
Backing powder can work wonders with rust. It makes an effective paste mixed with vinegar. Rub the paste onto the rust spots and leave to work for at least 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.