The Household Essential That Can Lift Rust Stains From Carpet In A Pinch

When you notice rust stains developing on your carpet, it's likely ended up there from rust on your metal furniture legs or lamp stands. These stains can be hard to remove sometimes, but this common household essential can help rid your carpets and rugs of rust in no time. When you're in a pinch, hydrogen peroxide can be a great option for getting those ugly, orange stains out of your carpet. Though hydrogen peroxide helps with removing rust from your carpet, it has the potential to pull the color out of your rug, especially if it's a darker color. This trick, though extremely inexpensive and convenient, should only be used when you have no other options, as hydrogen peroxide can sometimes bleach fabrics.

Because hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer that is slightly acidic, it works well for removing stains from a variety of surfaces. This first aid and cleaning staple can be found at most grocery stores and pharmacies for just a couple of dollars if you don't already have it on hand (at CVS, a 16-ounce bottle is just $1.19).

To start, you'll want to dilute your cleaner to make sure it isn't too strong for your carpet's fabric. Add 1 tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide to 3 tablespoons of warm water and stir to combine. If the rust stain on your rug covers a large area, you could make more of the solution as long as the ratio is the same. This stain remover can then be applied directly to the rust or poured into a spray bottle and spritzed over the affected area of your carpet.

Allow the hydrogen peroxide mixture to sit on your rug for at least a few minutes or up to half an hour with an old towel or rag covering it. The solution may be able to sit for an hour if the stain is particularly bad and set in. When you've finished waiting, dab the hydrogen peroxide away with a clean cloth or paper towel. This process can be repeated if the stain persists, but make sure to inspect it every so often to see if it's affecting your carpet's color.

Hydrogen peroxide is a fairly safe chemical compound that breaks down into water and oxygen, making it a good choice for those who are trying to be more environmentally friendly; however, peroxide is still a strong bleaching agent, which is why you'll need to be careful when using it to fight tough rust stains. If your carpet is a dark or bold color rather than white or cream, using hydrogen peroxide on it could lighten it, which is why this stain removal method works best on carpets of lighter colors.

Before using hydrogen peroxide on your rug or carpet, try testing a small area at the edge or in a spot that is hard to see. If it drastically changes the color, you may want to consider another stain removal tactic, like using citric acid to lift rust stains from your carpet. Diluting the peroxide with water can also help to lessen the bleaching effects.