How To Remove Rust from Tiles
Rust stains on titles are more common than you think – and can be extremely frustrating and unsightly! Picture this, you’ve just had your brand-new bathroom fitted with your show home-inspired tiles, but you placed your old and rusty metal bin on them which has left unwanted corrosion stains. Disaster! Don’t worry – we’ve got your back! We are here to show you how to remove rust from tiles easily!
Unsightly rusty stains can easily be removed, with a little bit of elbow grease! The idea is, above all, to prevent other objects from staining your inner or outer tile with rust. To do this, they will have to be protected. Find out the key steps to remove rust from tiles and protect them, thanks to WD-40®’s top tips below.
Always patch test any solutions on an inconspicuous area before use. Wear protective clothing and gloves at all times!
Things you will need
A mix of lemon and salt for non-porous tile
Marseille soap or black soap for porous tiling
Baking soda and dishwashing liquid for tiling your terrace
A WD-40® Multi-Use Product to protect metal surfaces from corrosion
A sponge and/or brush to rub the stain
Step 1
Get rid of rusting on non-porous tile
To remove rust from tiles that are non-porous, apply lemon juice to the rust stain and cover with coarse salt. Leave for a few moments, or up to one hour for more stubborn stains. Then, using a sponge, rub the area with the abrasive side. Please, however, be careful and avoid scratching the surface.
An extended method to remove rust from the tile: create a paste by mixing baking soda and lemon and apply to the area. Rub after letting the mixture work for a few minutes.
Step 2
Remove rust on a porous tile
If your tile is porous (such as cement tiles or marble), to remove rust from tiles you should use non-abrasive and non-acid products. It’s important to avoid lemon, salt or vinegar. Mix soap with hot water and rub vigorously with a brush.
Step 3
Maintain the terrace
For your exterior, to remove rust from tiles, take a bucket and add one litre of hot water, three tablespoons of baking soda and one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid. Apply and wash your deck. Rust stains should fade.
Step 4
Prevent rust returning to your tiles
Once you’ve been able to remove the rust from your tile, make sure it doesn’t come back! The best solution is to protect any metal objects that have contact with your tiles from rust. Use the for this action and simply spray all over the object. Using a clean cloth, wipe once finished and you’re done! This method will ensure your equipment is protected from rust for a substantial period. If your object is outdoors you will need to apply the product more frequently than indoors. It all depends on the climate (humidity, rain, salty atmosphere or not…).
Job Done!
Removing rust stains from tiles can vary in method depending on surface and the severity of the staining, but it’s nothing a little persistence and elbow grease shouldn’t solve! For other ways to remove rust in your home check out our blog. Or read our dedicated guides such as How to Remove Rust from Chrome and How to Clean Rust from Metal Furniture.
The uses shown and described for WD-40 Multi-Use Product were provided to WD-40 Company by the users themselves. These uses haven’t been tested by WD-40 Company and do not constitute a recommendation of suggestion for use by WD-40 Company. Common sense should be exercised whenever using WD-40 Company products. Always follow the instructions and take heed of any warnings printed on the packaging.
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