There are few things more disheartening than pulling a white T-shirt out of the wash only to realize it is no longer white. Despite our best efforts, sometimes those troublesome stains can rear their ugly heads. Fortunately, there are some home remedies you can try to get rid of an iron stain on clothes before resorting to burning that bothersome piece of clothing!
Keep in Mind
Heat can worsen a stain. If it has already been dried, your odds of getting rid of the stain decrease — but there may be hope, still! Do not iron clothes once you notice a stain. Treat the stain as soon as you notice it to avoid letting it become further engrained in the fabric.
Treatments
Club Soda
This is probably one of the best known home cleaning remedies out there. Club soda can be found in almost any grocery store and usually can get rid of an iron stain on clothes.
1. Soak the stained portion of clothing in the club soda and let it remain there a bit — five minutes or so. The longer you can wait, the better, but no need to wait to excess.
2. When ready, place an absorbent pad under the clothing. If you have nothing else, an old towel will work, too.
3. Begin blotting the stain from the outer part toward the center. These steps ensure the stain won’t spread while wet. Use an absorbent pad or color fast washcloth to do the blotting. Rinse the clothing in cold water and then, if machine washable, wash in the cold cycle.
Vinegar
You can either treat clothing the same as above if the club soda does not work, or if you have many clothes, try making a solution of one gallon of vinegar, two cups of salt and three gallons of water in a tub or sink. Distilled water may work best if your home water supply contains excessive iron. Let the clothes lay out overnight and wash in the morning with a heavy detergent.
Still Need Help?
Ultimately, if you are having issues with iron stains, there is too much iron in your water, and you will continue to have problems until you fix the source. Your best bet is to find a professional handyman or appliance repair professional in your area by searching through TalkLocal. They’re great at connecting people with the right local professionals for the job.
