Rust stains in your bathtub may be frustrating, but they’re far from permanent. Whether caused by iron-rich water, aging pipes, or a rusty water heater, these stains can be tackled with the right approach.
First, identify your tub’s material—porcelain, enamel, or acrylic—to choose the safest cleaning method. Using the wrong cleaner can cause damage, so this step is key.
From DIY remedies to powerful cleaners, we’ll walk you through the best ways to remove rust and restore your tub’s shine. Let’s get started and bring back that sparkling clean look!
There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.
What’s the bath made out of?
Before you attack that nasty rust stain, you must determine if the bath is acrylic, enamel, or porcelain.
Avoid using bleach on enamel or dark porcelain, as it will ruin the tub’s finish. White porcelain and ceramic tubs can handle being bleached.
Acrylic baths can be cleaned with a mild solution or vinegar.
How to clean the rust stains from your bath
Though the methods below will remove the rust stains, it pays to test a small spot of the tub before proceeding.
You don’t want to ruin your bath, and doing a test patch will show you how the bath will react to the cleaning product you are using.
Use baking soda and vinegar
Time and again, baking soda and vinegar crop up as a cleaning couple. They make a powerful pair that can tackle the toughest stains, including rust.
- Add one part vinegar to three parts baking soda. Mix until you have a paste.
- Apply the paste to the rust stains and then scrub the area.
- Wait for 60 minutes, and then rinse out your bath.
For inbuilt stains, you may need to repeat the process.
Removing the stain with lemon juice and salt
Lemon juice is great at removing stains, with salt being an amazing natural cleaner. Combine them, and you can kiss those brown rust marks goodbye.
- Cover the stain with lemon juice.
- Sprinkle salt over the spot and wait 20 minutes.
- Scrub over the area with a sponge.
- Wash out the tub.
Repeat the above if necessary.
Use a cleaning screen
A cleaning screen is abrasive, so careful when using it in your bath. The process for removing rust stains with this product is simple.
- Wet the cleaning screen.
- Carefully scrub the stain with the screen.
This method is a bit labor-intensive, so be prepared to feel the burn in your arms.
Taking away the rust stains with a pumice stone
The subtle coarse nature of pumice makes it ideal for scrubbing away stains and mineral deposits from your bath. This is another method that requires some elbow grease.
- Soak the pumice in water.
- Apply water to the rust stain.
- Gently rub the stain away with your pumice.
- Rinse out your bath to remove the debris.
Using Shaw pads to remove rust stains from your bath
Shaw pads work in a similar way to cleaning screens and pumice. You soak the pads in water and then scrub away the stains. Not only can you use them on your bath and toilet, but your tiles and even your pool can also withstand cleaning with Shaw pads.
Because these pads can take care of stains, lime, and hard water marks, plumbers love them. So will you!
Eliminating the rust marks with a rust remover
If you want to get the job done fast, then using a rust remover is a quick option. However, rust removers contain chemicals that can not only let off fumes but may damage the surface of your bathtub.
There is also the possibility that you can receive burns from the product if you aren’t careful.
Ensure that you wear personal safety products: eye protection and gloves. If you can’t ventilate the room, then put on a breathing mask.
When finished, allow fresh air to circulate through the bathroom to remove the vapor of the rust remover.
- Apply the rust remover to the stains.
- Allow it to sit for the time recommended by the manufacturer.
- Thoroughly rinse out your bath to remove any trace of the rust remover.
- Give your bath a wipe-down with soap and water.
Remove the rust stain with cream of tartar
Cream of tartar is great in baking as it stabilizes your egg whites, but did you know it is also a great cleaning product? The acid contained in it can lift stains and grime, so try it on those rusty marks in your tub.
How much cream of tartar you need depends on the number of stains you are removing.
- Create a paste by slowly adding water to the cream of tartar.
- Apply the paste to the affected areas.
- Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Use a brush to scrub away the paste and the stain.
- Rinse away the cream of tartar and rust.
How can I prevent rust stains in my bathroom?
Prevention is better than cure may be a cliche, but it’s a truth in all areas of life. Why spend your time cleaning out rust stains from your bath when you can stop them from occurring? All it requires is some diligence on your part.
- If you use hairspray or shaving cream, don’t have them sitting in the bath. Store them away in a cupboard in the bathroom. If that’s not possible, or you want the products to be easy to reach, place a cloth under them to act as a coaster.
- Maybe you live in a location where there is iron in the water supply, or your pipes are old and rusty. You can stop this from affecting your bath by having a water filtration system that eliminates the nasties in the water supply.
- Every time you have a bath or shower, wipe down the surfaces to prevent any deposit buildup.
- Take care of any leaks as soon as you spot them.
- Swap out the metallic parts of your toilet tank with PVC equivalents.
Conclusion
If you spot rust stains on your bath, it’s easy to tackle the issue. Yet, which method you decide to go with is determined by what the tub is made of. Always do a spot test before proceeding with a fuller clean.
Be gentle when scrubbing away the stain, as you don’t want to damage the surface of your bath.
When you get your tub looking sparkling clean again, keep it that way with preventive steps such as filtering the water or wiping down surfaces.
Enjoy your rust-free bath.
Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.
