How to Remove Rust Stains from Upholstery

Rich Z said, “I have stored upholstered dining room chairs in the basement. After a small incident with a leak from the water heater, I have mold & rust (orangey) stains on the creme cored fabric. The fabric is a poly blend. How can I make these stains disappear & the chair look normal again?”

You Will Need:

• Salt
• Lemon juice
• A steamer
• Sunlight
• Water
• Ammonia
• A cloth
• Rust Remover

Steps to Remove the Stain:

1. Sprinkle salt over the stain, then apply lemon juice over the salt.¹
2. Steam the area with an upholstery steamer, tea kettle, or steam iron.¹
3. If possible, let the area dry in the sun. This will help the lemon juice to bleach the stain out. Use caution not to get lemon juice on the area surrounding the stain or the fabric may be bleached as well.¹
4. Once dry, wipe off the salt, then sponge the area with a damp cloth to rinse.¹
5. If the stain remains, apply salt and lemon juice again repeatedly until the stain is gone, not allowing the lemon juice to dry this time.²
6. If the stain is stubborn, combine equal parts hot water and ammonia. Let the mixture cool, then sponge it onto the stain. Sponge the area with plain water to rinse.³
7. If the stain is persists, there are commercial stain removers for rust available that may also work. Ensure the product you select is safe for upholstery, then follow the directions on the label of your selected cleaner.²

• Do not use any product that contains chlorine bleach when trying to remove a rust stain from fabric. The bleach could cause the rust stain to darken.⁴
• If you decide to buy a commercial rust remover, be sure to read all warnings on the bottle, as it will likely be very caustic.³

1. Don Aslett’s Stainbuster’s Bible by Don Aslett
2. Field Guide to Stains by Virginia M. Friedman, Melissa Wagner, and Nancy Armstrong
3. Stain Removal by Stephanie Zia
4. Clean It Fast, Clean It Right by Jeff Bredenberg