Rust stains look alike, but the surfaces they sit on do not. A bottle that clears a rusty sink can etch glass, strip the finish on a faucet, or do nothing at all on a concrete patio. Most of the makers below name a short list of surfaces and a longer list of surfaces to keep it away from, and the gap between those two lists is where people damage a finish or get hurt.
Start with the surface and the stain, then check the do-not-use list before you read the directions. Look at the signal word on the label, since several of these carry DANGER. Check whether your stainless steel is magnetic, and test a hidden spot first, because most of the makers say to.
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6 products
Our picks at a glance
- Bar Keepers Friend CleanserBest overall for sinks and tileStainless sinks and cookware · Faucets and chrome · Tile, porcelain and shower glassCheck price of Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser on Amazon
- Whink Rust Stain RemoverBest for white sinks and fabricRust on colorfast clothing · Carpets · White sinks and toilet bowlsCheck price of Whink Rust Stain Remover on Amazon
- Lodge Rust EraserBest for cast iron cookwareRusty cast iron cookware · Knives, tools and grill gratesCheck price of Lodge Rust Eraser on Amazon
- EVAPO-RUST Heavy Duty Rust RemoverBest soak for rusty metal partsTools and hardware · Cast iron and cookware · Auto partsCheck price of EVAPO-RUST Heavy Duty Rust Remover on Amazon
- Iron OUT Rust Stain Remover PowderBest for concrete and tubsBathtubs and sinks · Concrete and carpet (spray) · White laundryCheck price of Iron OUT Rust Stain Remover Powder on Amazon
- RUST AID Bathroom Rust RemoverBest for bathroom tile and glassBathroom tile and fiberglass · Shower glass · Chrome and stainless fixturesCheck price of RUST AID Bathroom Rust Remover on Amazon
Best overall for sinks and tile
1. Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser
Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser
Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser is a rust remover the maker lists for non-magnetic stainless steel, including sinks and cookware, plus faucets, chrome, porcelain, tile and glass shower doors. It fits the sink, faucet and tile jobs that come up most in the kitchen and bathroom. Aluminum, copper and brass are on its list too.
Best for
- Stainless sinks and cookware
- Faucets and chrome
- Tile, porcelain and shower glass
Best for white sinks and fabric
2. Whink Rust Stain Remover
Whink Rust Stain Remover
Whink Rust Stain Remover is built for rust stains on colorfast clothing and carpets, and the maker also lists white sinks and white toilet bowls. The maker says it is safe on pipes and septic systems. It is the pick here for fabric, and for a rust stain on a white porcelain fixture.
Best for
- Rust on colorfast clothing
- Carpets
- White sinks and toilet bowls
Best for cast iron cookware
3. Lodge Rust Eraser
Lodge Rust Eraser
Lodge Rust Eraser is a cast iron care tool the maker lists for rusty cast iron cookware. Lodge also names knives, tools and grill grates, but for this roundup its fit is rusty cast iron pans.
Best for
- Rusty cast iron cookware
- Knives, tools and grill grates
Best soak for rusty metal parts
4. EVAPO-RUST Heavy Duty Rust Remover
EVAPO-RUST Heavy Duty Rust Remover
EVAPO-RUST Heavy Duty Rust Remover is a soak for rusted metal such as cast iron, tools, hardware, equipment and auto parts. The maker says it will not harm unrusted steel, other metals, rubber, plastic or glass, so it suits a whole item you can fully submerge. It is not meant for rust stains on surfaces, and the maker says those need a different product.
Best for
- Tools and hardware
- Cast iron and cookware
- Auto parts
Best for concrete and tubs
5. Iron OUT Rust Stain Remover Powder
Iron OUT Rust Stain Remover Powder
Iron OUT Rust Stain Remover Powder is a fabric-safe rust remover for tubs, sinks, tile, toilets and white or colorfast laundry. A separate spray is listed for porcelain, tile, chrome, glass, concrete, carpet and colorfast fabrics, which is why it is the pick for the concrete job. The powder is not for wood, painted metal or old porcelain.
Best for
- Bathtubs and sinks
- Concrete and carpet (spray)
- White laundry
Best for bathroom tile and glass
6. RUST AID Bathroom Rust Remover
RUST AID Bathroom Rust Remover
RUST AID Bathroom Rust Remover is a spray the maker lists for rust stains on indoor tile, stainless steel and chrome, porcelain, fiberglass and glass. It is aimed at the bathroom, so it fits a tile wall or a shower glass job. The maker says to keep it off paints, stains, bricks with iron oxide pigments, natural marble, stone and terrazzo.
Best for
- Bathroom tile and fiberglass
- Shower glass
- Chrome and stainless fixtures
Match the product to the job
How to choose
Rust on sinks, faucets and tile
Bar Keepers Friend is the pick here for stainless sinks, faucets, chrome, porcelain, tile and glass shower doors. Check whether the stainless is magnetic first, because the maker says not to use it on magnetic stainless, which covers most refrigerators. For a rust stain on a white porcelain sink, Whink is the other option, and Rust Aid suits indoor tile and fiberglass with the etching warning in mind.
Rust in the bathtub
Bathtubs are where the picks split. Iron OUT powder is listed for tubs and sinks, so it is the pick for a rusty tub.
Whink says not to use it on bathtubs, and Bar Keepers Friend and Rust Aid do not list bathtubs by name, so read the do-not-use lists before you start. Test a hidden spot first with any of them.
Rust on cast iron and metal parts
For a rusty cast iron pan, Lodge Rust Eraser scours the rust off down to bare iron, so plan to reseason afterward. For tools, hardware and auto parts that can be fully submerged, the EVAPO-RUST soak is the pick the maker describes. Rust on chrome fixtures is a sink-and-tile job, so Bar Keepers Friend or Rust Aid fits there better than a soak.
Rust on concrete and outdoor surfaces
Iron OUT spray is the pick here because the maker lists concrete for the spray, and it does not list concrete for the powder. Test first, spray on the stain, let it stand a few seconds, then wipe with a damp sponge and rinse promptly. Bar Keepers Friend says not to use it on concrete or porous surfaces, so do not reach for it on a patio.
Rust on car seats and fabric
No maker names car seats, so treat them as a test-first job. Whink is made for rust on colorfast clothing and carpets, and Iron OUT spray also lists colorfast fabrics and carpet. Keep Iron OUT spray off car parts, which the maker lists as a do-not-use, and do not let Whink touch washer and dryer surfaces.
Use it safely
Test a hidden spot before you use any of these, and wear gloves and eye protection whenever the label carries DANGER. Never mix a rust remover with bleach, ammonia, peroxide or other household cleaners, since the makers name each of these. Ventilate the room for Whink and Rust Aid, and keep every product out of reach of children.
Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar or other acids, ammonia or rubbing alcohol. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.
Would a home method do?
A home method can be enough for light surface rust on a hard, non-porous surface, and the matching how-to guides cover those steps. For a DANGER-rated product, a stained fabric, or a surface a maker lists as a do-not-use, start with the product whose directions match your job instead.
How we chose
Every product here earned its place on fit, not on who pays: it is made for this job by its maker's own description, its maker doesn't warn against the surfaces this list covers, and its directions agree with the methods in our stain guides. We put the clearest, best-documented products first and limit each brand to two picks. Our editorial standards.
We compared each pick on its maker's product page, label and safety data sheet. Prices and photos come directly from Amazon and can change. Sources for each pick:
Questions
What is the best rust remover?
For most sink, faucet and tile jobs, Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser is the top pick, as long as the stainless is not magnetic. For fabric and white porcelain, Whink is the alternative, and for rusty metal tools and hardware the EVAPO-RUST soak is the one to use. Match the product to the surface before you buy.
Can I use rust remover on stainless steel appliances?
Only if the steel is non-magnetic. Bar Keepers Friend says not to use it on magnetic stainless steel, which covers most refrigerators, so check the steel before you start. Test a hidden spot first, then rinse and wipe the surface dry.
Is rust remover safe for cast iron?
Lodge Rust Eraser is made for rusty cast iron cookware, and the maker warns against using it on hot cast iron. It removes rust down to bare iron, so the pan needs reseasoning afterward. Start with a cool, dry pan and wash and dry it after scouring.
Will rust remover damage a bathtub?
It depends on the product, so check its surface list first. Whink says not to use it on bathtubs, while Iron OUT powder lists tubs and sinks. Rust Aid lists fiberglass, but it will etch glazed tile and porcelain if not rinsed right away.
Can rust remover be used on concrete?
The Iron OUT spray is the one listed for concrete here, while the powder is not. Test a hidden area first, spray on the stain, let it stand a few seconds, then wipe with a damp sponge and rinse promptly. Do not use Bar Keepers Friend on concrete or porous surfaces.
Can I use rust remover on car seats?
None of the makers in this list names car seats, so treat that as a test-first job. Whink is made for rust on colorfast clothing and carpets, and Iron OUT spray also lists colorfast fabrics and carpet. Keep the spray off car parts, which the maker lists as a do-not-use.
What should you check before using rust remover?
Check the surface against the do-not-use list and read the signal word on the label before you open the bottle. For metal tools and hardware, the EVAPO-RUST soak is listed as non-flammable and water soluble by the maker, and it will not harm unrusted steel. Rinse any soaked metal thoroughly, since iron residue can cause re-rusting.