We all want our homes and offices to look good, and one way we achieve this is by using beautiful flooring in these places. We can get this done by using linoleum or vinyl flooring.
But sometimes, our beautiful flooring just somehow gets rusted up at some spots, and we can’t help but ponder on how to get rid of the stains. This article will show you how to get rust off linoleum and how to remove rust stains from vinyl flooring.
How To Get Rust Off Linoleum
Table of Contents
Use Vinegar And Baking Soda
To remove rust from linoleum, vinegar and baking soda are a very good solution for that. Spread some baking soda on the affected spot, then soak a towel in vinegar, and scrub the spot with the wet towel.
Repeat the process over again until you get your desired result. Once you have gotten the stain off, wash the area with water and allow it to dry.
Use Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a quick fix for rusts on linoleum. It comes at almost no cost. All you need is lemon juice, water, and a towel or soft brush.
Start by applying lemon juice to the affected spot and allow it to sit for at least ten minutes. Then scrub the spot properly with a towel or brush and rinse the spot with water and allow to dry.
For a more effective solution, you can consider mixing the lemon juice with vinegar. They should be mixed in equal proportion, that is, in a 50/50 ratio.
Then, apply the mixture to the spot, and leave for at least 10 minutes. You can then scrub, rinse and dry. You can reapply and scrub if the rust did not clear completely.
Use a Rust Remover
One of the easiest and stress-free ways to remove rust from linoleum is to make use of a rust remover. There are lots of them out there in the market.
Although some of them are sometimes ineffective, there are lots of effective rust remover products out there that can get the rust out in under a minute and can also be gotten at a very affordable price.
One of the most effective of these is the ZEP calcium, lime, and rust stain remover. It is affordable and will get the job done in less than a minute.
Read: How to remove rust stains from concrete
How To Remove Rust Stains From Vinyl Flooring
Use Oxalic Acid
Oxalic acid is an organic compound that is very useful for removing rust stains from vinyl floors.
Before you proceed with this method, you have to protect yourself as you will be handling harsh chemicals. You must put on a pair of gloves, and cover your entire arm either with long gloves or long sleeve clothing. Put on safety glasses too.
Now, get your oxalic acid ready. If you will be using powdered oxalic acid, you have to mix ten spoons of the powder with one liter of water. The idea is to make a five percent solution from the mixture.
Once the oxalic acid is ready, dip a towel into the acid and rub the rust stain with it. Then, place the towel on the stain for about ten minutes.
You can cover the area with a bowl or bucket after applying the oxalic acid to prevent the escape of fumes. Once the time elapses, remove the bowl/bucket and scrub again.
Repeat the process until the spot is clear. After which, you can then use water and detergent to do the final cleaning and then dry the area with a towel.
Please, ensure that the working area is well ventilated as you work.
Use Vinegar
Vinegar is very effective at the removal of rust stains from your vinyl floor. It is also very easy. But before you proceed, ensure to put on your gloves first.
Add some salt to the vinegar and mix thoroughly to combine. The quantity of salt you use should be enough to get the mixture thick.
Once you have your thick solution, apply it over the rust stain and allow the mixture to sit at the spot for about 1 hour.
Then, wash off the solution with detergent and water. Make sure to scrub it properly to remove the stain from the vinyl floor. Then dry the floor with a towel.
Read: How to clean bamboo floor with vinegar
Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is also very effective in removing rust stains from the vinyl floor. You can use baking soda in two ways. You can either use it with water or vinegar.
If you have vinegar, you can go ahead and apply baking soda moderately on the affected spot, after which you dip your towel in the vinegar and then use the towel to scrub the affected spot.
This process will fade the rust away gradually. You can keep repeating the process until you clear the rust stains from the vinyl floor completely.
If you do not have vinegar, you can boil a half-liter of water, add two spoons of the baking soda to the warm water to make a mixture, and apply the mixture to the affected spot.
Leave the mixture on the spot for about 30 minutes, then wash off. You can repeat the process until you get your desired result.
Read: Best ways to clean vinyl floors
Rust Remover
If you can afford to get a rust remover, and you don’t want to go through the hassles of preparing a rust remover yourself, then you should buy a rust remover from a supermarket.
Like the one discussed for the linoleum, there are many of them, which can work on different types of surfaces and materials. They are easier and quicker to use.
It’s possible you already have a rust remover in your inventory. If you do, go through it and check if it can be used on vinyl, if it can apply it according to the package’s instruction.
Read: Can you use swiffer wetjet on vinyl floor?
Conclusion
Although it doesn’t happen often, the rusting of linoleum is a problem sometimes faced by homeowners with linoleum flooring. Also, vinyl was designed to be rustproof, but it could still get rust stains if a metallic object is left on the floor for a long while.
So if you looking for how to get rust off linoleum and how to remove rust stains from vinyl flooring, you can apply any of the above methods, and you can rest assured that the rust or rust stain will be removed from your linoleum or vinyl flooring.