How do you remove rust from a toilet bowl?

Pumice stone gently rubbed on wet porcelain, or a paste of baking soda and lemon juice left for 30 minutes.

Can you remove rust stains from concrete?

Yes. Apply lemon juice or a commercial rust remover, let sit, scrub with a stiff brush, and rinse.

Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is an oxidizer. Rust is iron oxide. Bleach adds more oxygen, intensifying the rust reaction.

Remove metal objects from wet surfaces, fix leaky fixtures, and install a water filter if your water has high iron content.

Stain Removal

Stain removal is all about speed and technique. Here's the proven method for tackling rust stains effectively.

1
Apply lemon and salt
Squeeze lemon juice onto the rust stain and cover with salt. Let it sit in the sun for 2-3 hours. The citric acid dissolves rust while salt absorbs it.
2
Scrub and rinse
Scrub the stain with a soft brush. Rinse with cold water. Repeat if the stain remains.
3
For hard surfaces, use vinegar
Spray undiluted white vinegar on rust stains on tile, porcelain, or concrete. Let it sit 30 minutes, then scrub.
4
Wash the garment
For clothing, wash normally after lemon treatment. Don't use bleach -- it sets rust stains permanently.

TIPNever use bleach on rust stains. Bleach oxidizes iron, making the rust stain darker and permanent.
TIPCommercial rust removers containing oxalic acid are the most powerful option for severe rust stains.
TIPFor rust in toilet bowls, drop in a denture tablet or use pumice stone on porcelain.

XUsing bleach, which makes rust stains worse by oxidizing the iron further.
XScrubbing with steel wool on porcelain or enamel, which scratches and leaves more rust deposits.
XIgnoring the source of rust (leaky pipe, rusty water heater, metal objects left on wet surfaces).

Yes. Citric acid in lemon juice dissolves iron oxide (rust). The sun intensifies the reaction.