Today’s guest post is brought to you from ABL Tile:
How do you get those rust stains off a tile floor?
Rust is a fairly common occurrence on tile surfaces. By their nature tiles are used in places which are subject to wet conditions such as bathrooms and kitchens. When water comes into contact with iron, rust particles are deposited; so if you have metal containers, or other items, in your bathroom or kitchen, chances are you will experience rust at some point.
This is by no means a disaster, your tiles can be restored to cleanliness without too much stress.
Lemon is Good on Ceramics
Lemon juice might be bitter to the taste but it is a wizard with rust. It can be used in a couple of different ways. For a straightforward solution pour some lemon juice onto the affected area and leave for five minutes, without allowing the juice to dry. After the five minutes has elapsed grab an old toothbrush and scrub at the stain. If the rust proves to be stubborn, add some more lemon juice and some salt, which should cover the whole stain. Leave the mixture to stand for between three and four hours and scrub the area with the toothbrush again, using warm water to rise off the solution.
For another lemon based solution to rust, add lemon juice to baking soda and apply the paste to the stain, leave it in place for half an hour and then use hot water to scrub it off with a sponge or a soft brush.
Make use of Condiments
Salt and vinegar can make food tasty but they are also really useful for cleaning rust from ceramic tiles. Mix the two substances together to make a paste and apply it to the stained area. After leaving it for between three and four hours rinse the paste off with hot water and you should have pristine tiles.
Borax and Citrus on Ceramics
Put on your protective gloves, and mix some borax with some lemon or lime juice. Using a spatula spread the resulting paste over the stain and leave it to dry; do not remove it until it has fully dried out. After this has happened, wipe the mixture off with a sponge and warm water and rise the area with water to get rid of any remnants.
A Little Salt and Lemon for Vinyl Tiles
If your tiles are vinyl and not ceramic you can still get rid of that stubborn rust. Take some salt and place it on the stain then pour some lemon juice over it. Leave the mixture in place for several hours; it should turn orange in color as it absorbs the rust. When absorption is complete, wipe the substance off and the tile should be rust free.
The Tartar Cream and Water Solution
Another great way of ridding vinyl tiles of rust is to mix some tarter cream with water and spread the resulting mixture on the affected area. After an hour has passed, scrub the area with a scrubbing brush and give it a wipe with a damp cloth. Do this and your tiles will be back to normal.
Pop & Circumstance | Guidebook for Beautiful Living 