We bought a duplex in an area with a lot of rust in the water. We have 3 bathrooms and 2 kitchens. How can I get the rust out of our toilets, bathtubs, sinks, etc.? I've used Poly Z and it works great, but it damages the shower surrounds. I need something to get it off the surrounds and the tub, toilet, etc. without damaging the surrounds. Thank you in advance for any help.
Cindy from North Pole, AK
I don't know whether or not you get "Tang Orange Drink" crystals in N.Z. They remove rust from toilet bowls, bath tubs, dishwashers, you name it. Simply fill with water add packets of crystals. A tub would need about 4. Leave to soak overnight. (04/11/2005)
By Shirley
Try a pumice stone. It takes a little elbow grease, but it restored my toilet to a sparkling white state I hadn't seen in years. (04/11/2005)
By Jen
Wet and dry sandpaper, the black stuff sold by the sheet in hardware stores or Bunnings, (if you have them. I'm in Oz). It comes in different grades like 200, 400, etc, grit. It sounds like you will need a fairly coarse one. I have done it for a badly stained toilet I wanted to recycle in a new bathroom and it works. It does need a bit of elbow grease, too. If it's very slow just move up to a coarser grade. I cut up the sheets and use smaller pieces. It's not cheap, but it is reusable if the stains build up again.
Regards.
(04/12/2005)
By Jo
We had orange stains on everything in our house because of rusty water. Installing a water softener took care of the continuous problem, but the only thing I could find that would get out the rust stains was a product called Wink. I tried The Works and it didn't get it out. But Wink did. It comes in a little brown bottle. If this doesn't work nothing will. (04/26/2005)
By Pam
Try soaking your rusted toilet bowl with Coke for an hour. (07/14/2005)
By Terry
We have yellow-orange stains on all the toilets in our town. I guess it's rust, I really don't know. The only thing I found that worked was a product I got at a paper supply store called TRR (toilet ring remover). But it is very expensive and takes nearly a whole bottle for each toilet, because you have to soak it. I'm going to try the Tang or the Wink (if I can find it). Any other suggestions would be great. The Works doesn't work on this problem. (08/23/2005)
Easy Off BAM. It's in a kind of purple squeeze bottle. It got rust off of my tile in the bathroom. (01/04/2006)
By Paula in GA
How about trying Barkeeper's Friend? It's available at most grocery stores with the cleansers (like Comet). It even removes rust stains from clothing; the instructions are on the container. We had well water at one time and this is what I used to clean bathtubs, sinks, etc. I even used it on good china which would build up rust stains from the dishwasher. Good luck. (01/05/2006)
By Joan
The Works does work, but it's so caustic and impossible to use around children. Walmart carries it and it is $.97 for the toilet cleaner, which is the only one I'll use. Vinegar or baking soda or both works in the shower and tub. (02/24/2006)
By Rebekah
Try Lime-A-Way toilet bowl cleaner. It works wonders on orange rust stains in the toilet, and I imagine it would do just as well on other porcelain fixtures. Be sure and use gloves and minimize inhalation of the product, it contains hydrochloric acid. (02/24/2006)
By Antheia
I have tried anything and everything to remove years of rust stains from our toilets in our new house and nothing worked, until I tried Lysol Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner. This works like magic. My toilets are sparkling new.
Make sure all water is removed from toilet bowl and dry. Then apply cleaner starting at the rim and allow to run down the rim. Leave on for 15 minutes or more and Voila, the rust is gone. Try on sinks and showers, it works great. Remember to use gloves. (07/06/2006)
By Janie
Most of the products mentioned are not available in my neck of the woods. (Northwestern Ontario) I did find Janie's suggested product, Lysol Power, and it worked very well. For the first time in years all the rust in the toilet bowls is really gone. Thanks for your help. (07/21/2007)
By Dorothy
Where I work, the public restroom is really nasty with toilet bowl stains. The rust engulfed everything in the bowl. I finally tried a product called Iron Out. You just pour it in the bowl (powder) let sit a few minutes, and very little scrubbing was needed. I fell in love with this stuff. (09/12/2007)
By Jan
Use the Mr. Clean original sponges and then use Gel Gloss it is excellent for tubs, showers, and chrome and makes it really shine. (10/26/2007)
By D Schoonover
I have an ongoing problem so once a week I take Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner (Blue Bottle) squeeze it on and rub everywhere with a rag. Then I thoroughly rinse with hot water. Do not leave it on very long. My tub comes out like new. (11/22/2008)
By Pam from Brighton, Ontario
I just read "do not" use Clorox on the rust stains because it "sets" them.
Found that warning on the Reader's Digest website:
(12/20/2008)
By Guest
Forget Coca-Cola, bleach, vinegar, CLR, or a pumice stone. Run, don't walk to your nearest Lowe's and purchase a red bottle of RUSTAID. I was beside myself and felt so dirty because of the rust in my toilets and tub, until I used this product. Wipe it on full strength (drain the water from the bowl), and before you can get the bucket of water (you collected this before-hand), the stains are gone. (12/27/2008)
By Nancy
Thanks for the tip on Barkeepers Friend. It works wonderfully. If you have issues with getting behind a tiny sink and facet, regular hydrogen peroxide works great. Just let it soak and wipe off (I used a Q-tip). It eats the dirt away. (11/23/2009)
By Monkey
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