Ceramic tiles are a popular choice for many homeowners because they’re durable and easy to clean. However, it’s not uncommon for them to develop rust stains that can be difficult to remove.
These unsightly marks can often be attributed to cooking appliances, other metal objects such as knives and forks, or furniture made of iron. This blog post will discuss the causes and solutions for removing rust from ceramic tile!
What Causes Rust Stains on Tiles?
Rust stains are caused by cooking appliances, other metal objects like knives and forks, or furniture made of iron. When these items come into contact with the tile, they can leave a mark that’s difficult to remove.
The rusting process begins when an iron surface reacts with oxygen in the air to form molecules called hydroxides. The reaction between water and an oxidizing agent such as acid will cause more problems for your tiles.
This can happen from spills on floors or countertops near your stovetop where foods containing acids (such as tomatoes) were cooked.
Note: There are also many commercial products available for removal of concrete, tile, or metal surfaces including LimeAway Rust Stain Remover Gel with Phosphoric Acid.
Things You Will Need to remove rust from tiles
- Baking Soda
- White Vinegar or Lemon Juice
- Salt
- Abrasive sponge or brush
- Cleaning rags
Before Starting, Remove objects from tile floors
If you have rust stains on your bathroom tile floors or in the living room, remove furniture or other objects to spray the solution.
How to Remove Rust Stains From Ceramic Tiles
There are many ways you can remove tough rust stains without resorting to harsh chemicals!
Using lemon juice to clean the rust stains
Lemon juice is a great way to clean rust stains from ceramic tiles. The acid in the lemon will break down dirt and can remove rust deposits without damaging the tile surface. If you want to use lemon juice, but don’t have any on hand, then simply rub your finger or cloth over cut slices of lemon until it becomes juicy.
It may take some scrubbing, but this should remove most stains caused by iron-containing materials like water pipes or nails sticking out of walls which are often home for corrosion that leeches onto nearby surfaces such as kitchen counters and even floors if they’re made of tile!
You’ll notice how easy it is to wipe away all traces when you finish cleaning with just a few drops of lemon juice.
Using abrasives like baking soda or salt for a few minutes to clean the rust stains
Baking soda: The baking soda is mixed with water until it becomes a thick paste which can then be applied to the rust stains. Baking soda reacts positively with iron in order to effectively clean the stain of your ceramic tile flooring.
Salt: Salt also reacts positively when coming into contact with rust and will easily dissolve the stains. You need to mix the salt with water until it becomes a thick paste and then apply that to the stain.
Using Tomato and rock salt to clean the rust stains from the tile floors
You first need to know that there are two different types of rust stains. One type is caused by water; the other one comes from oil or grease.
So if your staining problem is not an old stain but a fresh one, it might be worth checking what has happened recently with the site in question before proceeding.
To clean up those pesky oil and grease spills, use some rock salt, which can absorb liquids without making any mess at all!
Just sprinkle it over the spill and wait for about 30 minutes before sweeping it away completely: this will also eliminate any residue left on surfaces like tiles. The best time to do this would be right after cooking – especially if the cooking oil has spilled on a heated surface.
To get rid of water stains, use an acidic solution such as tomato juice or white vinegar: just pour it over the stain and wait for about 15 minutes before using a sponge to wipe away any excess liquid.
Suppose you want your tiles to look like new again. In that case, it is also worth considering investing in some products designed specifically to clean rust from surfaces at home – these usually come with instructions, too. Hence, they’re easy enough to follow!
If you have no time and patience left (or if all else fails), try pouring boiling water onto the offending area – this will force out most of those pesky stains without much fuss!
Using Toothpaste to clean the rust stains from tile floors
Toothpaste is a great way to remove rust stains from ceramic tiles. It’s easy and cheap, which makes it the perfect solution for removing stubborn stains that have lingered too long on your tiled floors.
This also works with other types of natural stone flooring materials such as limestone or marble surfaces because they are porous like tile floors.
To clean these surfaces:
- Mix equal parts toothpaste (or baking soda) and water in a bowl large enough to cover all of the stained areas
- Make sure there’s enough paste/water mixture so that it can be spread easily across the entire surface
- Use an old toothbrush if you want to make sure every nook and cranny gets thoroughly scrubbed
- Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes before scrubbing vigorously with the toothbrush
- Rinse with water and dry or let air dry
The paste should contain abrasive ingredients to help remove the rust stains. If you don’t have any, baking soda can be used as a substitute.
It’s also important that there is enough liquid, so it doesn’t just pool up on top of the stain but actually gets under it, allowing better absorption into the surface and eventually leading to the stain’s removal.
Letting this mixture sit also allows time for all those power particles in your regular white toothpaste (or baking soda) to work their magic on removing stubborn metal discolorations from porous surfaces such as tile floors.
After scrubbing, the toothpaste/water mixture should be rinsed with water and then dried or left to air dry.
Remove the rust from the tile with a solution of water and vinegar
Mix one part white distilled vinegar to two parts lukewarm water, dip in a sponge or soft cloth, then rub gently over tiles until all stains have been removed. Rinse thoroughly with clean running water before drying off and using again.
The acidity levels that it contains will dissolve mineral deposits quickly without damaging any other surfaces nearby, including metals or stone countertops; additionally, because it is an organic substance, you don’t have to worry about toxic fumes being released into the air while cleaning as some chemical cleaners might do.
Can I use WD-40® to remove rust from tiles?
If your tiles are not porcelain, then you can use WD-40® to remove rust from them. It should be sprayed on a rag and applied directly onto the stain. If it works, you will see some of the brownish color coming off in yellow or white spots.
However, if this doesn’t happen after spraying for about five minutes (or more), then stop using it, as it will likely ruin your tile surface instead of removing the rust stains.
For best results with this product, clean out any water that has pooled around the area where there was an issue first so that nothing gets into trouble spots and pools up even more water underneath when attempting to get rid of stubborn dirt like mud or grime.
How to Remove Rust from Tiles Using WD-40?
Rust stains are a common problem. They can happen from any number of sources, and they’re not easy to get rid of.
Especially if you don’t know how or where the rust came from in the first place! Here’s what we recommend for removing rust stains on ceramic tiles:
- Clean up excess liquid with paper towels; dry completely before proceeding.
- Apply WD40 liberally to the affected area, using an old rag or cloth that is absorbent so as not to cause any more problems than necessary.
Leave undisturbed for at least 15 minutes — overnight is best! After some time has passed, use another clean rag/cloth (dry this time!) and rub the surface until it becomes clean. If there is a lot of rust, the process may need to be repeated on different parts.
- Once cleaning up any remaining residue with water and paper towels (dry!), use dish soap or laundry detergent — whichever you prefer–to clean off any WD40 leftover before it dries. Rinsing again drys everything!