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How to Remove Rust Stain From Floor Tiles
Tile floors help enhance the beauty of our living room, kitchen, and especially the bathrooms by reflecting the light, visually opening up the space, and making it feel larger.
However, properly cleaning and maintaining the tile floors is important to avoid fading, rusting, discoloration, and wear and tear. Among all these, rusting seems to be the major problem that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
While this problem can often be hidden for many years, heavy soaking can allow minerals to the surface with yellowing discoloration. In some cases, spot marks can be distinct with bold color contrast to the rest of the tile. Also, rust can weaken the tiles and grout, causing them to fall apart, resulting in holes.
No need to worry because our quick guide on how to remove rust stains from tile will help you keep tiles clean, shiny, and protected with commercial products and at-home solutions.
What causes rust on tiles?
In all its forms, rust, or iron oxide, a reddish-brown substance, is a product of a chemical reaction between oxygen and iron. In areas such as bathrooms, where water is a common element, unpleasant rust stains are common due to the reaction between oxygen in the air and water reacting with the iron in things like tiles or steel objects.
Unfortunately, these stains are particularly visible on light-colored tiles. But don't worry; it's time to get to work and learn how to clean rust off tiles using this article.
Tools for removing rust stains on tiles
Here are the tools required to remove the rust stains from tiles, especially the ones in your bathroom.
Rubber Gloves
Toothbrush
Soft Bristle Brush
Microfiber Cloths or Rags
How to remove rust stains from tile
When it comes to rust, it doesn’t stand a chance against the commercial cleaner solutions:
1. Harpic Bathroom Cleaner
Harpic bathroom cleaners, with their strong liquid formula and powerful cleaning agents, help you remove the toughest rust and other stains within a few minutes of being applied.
Available in Bathroom Cleaner Floral, Bathroom Cleaner Citrus (Liquid), and Bathroom Cleaner Trigger (Spray), these cleaners remove rust and offer unparalleled disinfection by eliminating 99.9% of germs and bacteria while leaving a pleasant and refreshing fragrance.
To effectively remove rust stains, apply the cleaner directly to the affected area, then gently scrub with a brush for at least two to five minutes before thoroughly rinsing with water.
2. Vinegar
With its near-perfect acidity, vinegar is one of the most popular and effective household cleaners to remove rust stains. The process is called neutralization and involves a chemical reaction between rust and acetic acid.
Be it rust, grease, or any mineral deposit, its ability to dissolve the oxide and leave behind a water-soluble salt that you can remove easily while not damaging the surface makes it a useful cleaning asset.
Pour two to three tablespoons of vinegar on the rust stain and let it sit for about three to five minutes. Use clean microfiber cloths or rags to gently rub and wipe down the tile surface.
3. Lemon
Lemon is enriched with citric acid, which best breaks down the rust. Additionally, apart from possessing the capacity to remove rust stains from the bathroom floor and helps eliminate germs due to its antibacterial properties.
Extract lemon juice in a bowl and add a pinch of salt. After that, pour the juice directly on the rust stain and let it sit for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Next, using a toothbrush or brush, scrub the area gently before thoroughly rinsing it.
4. Toothpaste
Most toothpaste contains abrasives like aluminum oxide, calcium pyrophosphate, or silica, which assist in removing rust and mineral deposits.
Mix one part of toothpaste with one part of baking soda and create a thick paste. The amount of toothpaste used will be determined by the size of the rust stain.
Apply a thick paste layer to the rust stain and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. Next, scrub it with a toothbrush or soft bristle brush until the rust stain loosens. In the end, rinse it thoroughly and repeat the process if necessary.
5. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a versatile cleaning agent that removes rust through its oxidizing and bleaching powers, resulting from its ability to form OH radicals that work against these stains.
Mix one part of hydrogen peroxide with two parts of cream of tartar to make a paste. Apply and rub the paste into the rust and allow it to sit for a while. After that, simply wipe it away and rinse it thoroughly.
However, as with any cleaning solution, conducting a spot test before applying it to a larger area is advisable to ensure it won't damage your tiles.
How to prevent rust on tiles
Preventing rust from occurring in the first place will go a long way in saving the trouble of cleaning out rust stains. Here are a few tips to help you prevent rust on tiles:
Ensure your bathroom is well-ventilated to reduce condensation and humidity, which can accelerate rust formation.
Towel dry the bathroom tiles after showers or baths and wipe any excess water and moisture off their surface.
Seal your floor regularly and apply good quality grout sealer to protect it from moisture and minerals
Add a corrosion inhibitor or anti-corrosive chemicals to the water softener or heater to reduce mineral buildup, prevent corrosion, or lower the corrosion rat
Choose high-quality, nonabsorbent, rust-resistant tiles for bathroom surfaces.
FAQs
Is bleach good for removing rust?
No, bleach is not a suitable cleaning solution for rust. Its main ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, can turn the rust into a more resistant and harder-to-remove compound.
What is the best homemade rust remover?
Vinegar, which has acetic acid, is the best homemade rust remover. However, you should choose Harpic Bathroom Cleaner for its thick formula and powerful cleaning agents to remove tough rust stains, dirt, and dust while offering 99.9% germ protection with sparkling shine and pleasantly fresh fragrance.
Can rust stains damage the tiles permanently?
Rust stains can potentially damage tiles, but they’re usually not permanent. If left untreated for an extended period, the rust may cause discoloration, cracks to develop, and corrosion. However, by following the tips mentioned in our article, you can prevent permanent damage and preserve the integrity of the tiles.