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What, perhaps, is the safest and most effective way to remove rust residue from wool?
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Re: Rust removal from woolen articles...
Hallo!
Iron is a mordant, and "sets stains." Many products that would remove rust stains, will remove color dye as well.
On the one hand there are commercial fabric rust remover products.
On the other hand some folks have had some success with lemon juice or vinegar, using a towel or paper towel to wick away the discolored solution.
IMHO... one can make a bigger mess dealing with the stains sometimes...
And also test on an out-of-the-way, out-of-sight spot first to see how the material reacts.
CurtCurt Schmidt
In gleichem Schritt und Tritt, Curt Schmidt
-Hard and sharp as flint...secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster.
-Haplogroup R1b M343 (Subclade R1b1a2 M269)
-Pointless Folksy Wisdom Mess, Oblio Lodge #1
-Vastly Ignorant
-Often incorrect, technically, historically, factually. -
Re: Rust removal from woolen articles...
When you're doctoring fabric, first, do no harm :)
Patience will help a lot. Gently dusting as much rust as you can out of the fabric, rubbing it gently while it's dry, will get maybe half the residue out. Cold water alone will flush out some of it. Vinegar or lemon juice, if it doesn't lift the dye, will get most of the rest. As Herr Schmidt says, there are commercial rust removers, but they're formulated to use with modern dyes.
If the rust isn't too noticeable, you may be better off leaving anything that won't come out with vinegar. If you have enough seam or facing to test it, and you're willing to use a non-period solution, you *may* be able to get some of the last stain out with Oxy-Clean, but proceed with great caution and be ready to rinse immediately and thoroughly if you see any sign of fading. A big pale spot will be far more objectionable than a coathanger line or a buckle stain.Becky MorganComment
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Re: Rust removal from woolen articles...
You could always just stain the rest of the item; it would be iron dyed then!;)[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=3]Michael Phillips, GGG Grandson of
Pvt Edmond Phillips, 44th NCT, Co E, "The Turtle Paws"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Mustered in March 1862
Paroled at Appomattox C.H. Virginia, April 15, 1865[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=Navy][B]"Good, now we'll have news from Hell before breakfast."[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
Was Gen Sherman's response upon hearing the capture and execution of 3 reporters who had followed from Atlanta, by the rebels.
The execution part turned out to be false.[COLOR=DarkRed] [B]Dagg Nabbit![/B][/COLOR][/FONT]Comment
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Re: Rust removal from woolen articles...
Whink rust stain remover: http://www.whink.com/rust_stain_remover.htm[FONT="Times New Roman"]David Slay, Ph.D[/FONT]
[COLOR="Red"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Ranger, Vicksburg National Military Park[/FONT][/COLOR]Comment
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Re: Rust removal from woolen articles...
Thanks for all the helpful hints, gents! It might be worth noting that the rust stains I am attempting to remove are on a pair of trousers I recently acquired; the rust spots are the result of the buttons deteriorating. Hopefully, some of your recommendations will work out to my advantage.Comment
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