How to Remove Iron & Rust Stains from Clothes

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Plus, how to remove scorch marks from an iron

Co-authored by Elias Weston and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: September 4, 2025 Fact Checked

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Iron & Rust Stains

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Iron Scorch Marks

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Preventing Stains

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Video

Whether you’ve come into contact with rust or scorched your favorite shirt with a clothing iron, nothing’s more annoying than finding iron stains on your clothes. Luckily, they’re pretty easy to remove with a few household items. In this article, we’ll teach you how to remove both rust stains and iron scorch marks from clothes and other fabrics, with tips from professional laundry and cleaning specialists. We’ll also explain how to prevent iron stains in the first place, so keep scrolling to learn more!

How do you get rid of iron stains?

Cleaning specialist Elias Weston says to check your clothing’s care label before removing iron or rust stains. Treat rust stains with a mix of salt and lemon juice or vinegar before washing, or use a commercial rust remover. Treat iron scorch marks by dabbing the stain with hydrogen peroxide or vinegar before washing.

Section 1 of 3:

Removing Iron & Rust Stains from Fabric

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1
Pretreat light iron stains with a baking soda soak. In a bucket, sink, or basin, add 3 tbsp (51 g) of baking soda per gallon (3.8 L) of cold water. Submerge the stained garment and let it soak for up to 5 minutes. Then, load your washing machine with a heavy-duty detergent and wash the garment as you normally would.^{[1]
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- If the stain remains after washing, repeat the process.
- If you’re washing white items, soak them in detergent and 1 cup (237 mL) of oxygen bleach for 10-15 minutes. Then launder as usual.
- Do not put the stained item in the dryer. The heat from the dryer will make the stain more difficult, or even impossible, to remove. Allow stained items to air dry instead.
- Dry cleaner and laundry specialist Ayad Mirjan recommends hanging your clothes to dry outdoors if you plan on air drying.^{[2]
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Meet the wikiHow Experts

Elias Weston is a cleaning specialist and the founder of Seatown Cleaners in Seattle, Washington.

Ayad Mirjan is a dry cleaner, laundry specialist, and founder of OrangeBag, a sustainable laundry and dry cleaning service in Los Angeles, California.

Arturo Perez is a residential and commercial cleaning expert and the owner of Janitorial Plus LLC in Gresham, Oregon.
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Treat rust stains with a salt and vinegar paste. Pour equal amounts of table salt and distilled white vinegar into a bowl, using enough to adequately cover the stain. Stir the mixture until it forms a paste, then use an old toothbrush to spread it on the rust stain. Allow the paste to penetrate the fabric for 30 minutes. If the stain is gone, wash the fabric as usual.^{[3]
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- Before attempting to treat a fabric, Weston says, “Check the manufacturer’s label for specific care instructions.”^{[4]
  X
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  Elias Weston
  Cleaning Specialist
  
  Expert Interview} If you’re not sure if a certain stain removal method is safe for your fabric, test it in an inconspicuous area to see how it reacts.
- If the iron stain is still there, repeat the process until it’s gone.
- For tough stains, gently rub the paste into the fabric with the toothbrush so the mixture gets down into the fibers.
- This method works on carpet, too!^{[5]
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Remove tough iron stains with lemon juice and salt. If the salt and vinegar paste doesn’t remove the stain completely, mix equal parts lemon juice and salt in a bowl. Apply the paste to the stain with an old toothbrush, covering it completely. Then, lay the fabric flat in the sun until the paste dries and hardens. Rinse the paste off, then wash the fabric as usual.^{[6]
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- Squeeze a lemon for fresh juice or use a bottle of store-bought lemon juice.
- It may take 2-3 hours for the paste to harden and lift the stain.^{[7]
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- Choose a bright, sunny area, as the UV rays make the paste more effective.
- If the stain remains, repeat the process.
- Test lemon juice on an inconspicuous part of the fabric before applying it to the whole stain. Lemon juice can potentially lighten some fabrics.
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Try a mixture of cream of tartar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. Combine 1 tsp (3.38 g) of cream of tartar, 1 tsp (6 g) of baking soda, and a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in a bowl. Apply the mixture directly to the stain and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. Then, rinse the fabric thoroughly and launder the garment as usual.^{[8]
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- If your fabric is safe to boil, another option is to boil it in a solution of 4 tsp (13.5 g) of cream of tartar to every 1 pint (473 mL) of water. Continue boiling until the stain is gone, then rinse thoroughly.
- Residential and commercial cleaning expert Arturo Perez adds that you can also use cream of tartar to clean rust off of bathtubs, toilets, and sinks.^{[9]
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Apply a commercial rust remover. If the stained fabric is white or colorfast, it may be possible to remove iron stains with a commercial rust remover. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly, and wear rubber gloves; many rust removers are highly toxic and can burn skin. In general, apply the remover, let it sit for a few seconds, then rinse the fabric thoroughly.^{[10]
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- Iron Out is a popular product for removing rust stains.

Section 2 of 3:

Removing Iron Scorch Marks from Fabric

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Apply hydrogen peroxide to white fabrics. Dampen a cotton ball or white rag with hydrogen peroxide and dab it on the scorch mark until it’s thoroughly soaked. Let it sit for about 60 seconds, then rinse it with clean water. If the stain persists, repeat the process. If it’s gone, launder as usual.^{[11]
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- Hydrogen peroxide is very effective at removing stains, but it can bleach or discolor colored fabrics.
- Be sure to rinse all of the hydrogen peroxide out of the fabric, as the residue can weaken the fibers over time.
- Be aware that if the fabric is melted or the burn is completely black, you probably won’t be able to get the scorch marks out.
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Dab colored fabrics with vinegar. Distilled white vinegar is a color-safe alternative to hydrogen peroxide. Lightly wet a clean, white cloth with vinegar and gently press it into the stain. Dab the scorch mark repeatedly, checking periodically to see if it’s transferring from the fabric to the cloth. Once the stain is fully lifted, rinse the fabric and wash it as usual.^{[12]
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- Using a white cloth allows you to see if the vinegar is actually lifting the stain off the fabric.
- Make sure to dab the fabric rather than scrub. Scrubbing may force the stain deeper into the fibers and make the stain worse.
- When a portion of the cloth gets covered in the stain, switch to a clean area and continue dabbing.
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Soak tough scorch marks in warm water and oxygen bleach overnight. Fill a sink, tub, or large container with enough warm water to fully submerge your scorched fabric. Mix in a small amount of color-safe oxygen bleach, following the specific instructions on the package to know how much to use. Submerge the fabric in the solution and allow it to sit overnight, or for at least 8 hours. Then, wash the fabric as you normally would.^{[13]
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- If the stain is gone, put the item in the dryer. However, don’t put the fabric in the dryer if the stain remains, or it may never come out.
- If the stain lingers, repeat the soaking and washing process.

Section 3 of 3:

Preventing Future Iron or Rust Stains

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1
Clean the garment as soon as possible. Whether you’re dealing with iron scorch marks, rust stains, or any other kind of stain, Weston says, “Stains are much easier to remove when they’re fresh.”^{[14]
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Elias Weston
Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview} The longer stains sit, the deeper they penetrate the fabric’s fibers, making them more difficult to remove.
- For rust stains, scrape off as much rust as possible and soak the stain with your preferred treatment method as soon as possible.
- For scorch marks, stop ironing immediately and rinse the garment in warm water to wash away loose singed matter. Then, treat the stain with your preferred method.
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Check your garment’s care label before ironing. Before you iron your clothes, always check their care label to make sure it’s safe to iron them. The label will also tell you the correct temperature to use for your iron, says Mirjan.^{[15]
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Ayad Mirjan
Dry Cleaner & Laundry Specialist

Expert Interview} The label should also tell you what temperature to use. To prevent scorch marks, always follow these instructions and never iron fabric that shouldn’t be ironed.
- Don’t leave the iron sitting in one place for too long, either. Keep it moving.
- If you’re dealing with delicate fabrics, iron them inside out to protect them.
3
Cover your clothes when handling rusty objects. If you work with metal and tools, you’ll likely come into contact with rust at some point. To avoid staining your clothes, either wear clothes you don’t care about getting dirty or wear something to cover yourself, like coveralls or an apron.
- Additionally, try to keep your tools and other materials rust-free to prevent further issues.
- If you aren’t sure where the rust stains are coming from, check your washer. Older washing machines may develop rust that can transfer to your laundry. You may have to replace the washer if you can’t remove the rust yourself.