Rust stains on prefolds

[CookAMH]

The communal washers in our apartment building left rust stains on 3 of my prefolds when I was prepping them. I had done 3 washes and dries, so I don't know how many times the stains were dried in the dyer before I noticed. I tried using oxy clean and also Shout spray, no change in stains. What else can I do? I am thankfully using a diaper service for the newborn dipes before we move in July so I don't have to be using the apt. washer and ruining the diapers. I can't do anything about the water of course.

My mom mentioned a rust remover, so that is an option.

[HeatherB]

I had rust stains from a washer in a place we were renting and never got them out. Sorry not to have better news! I did find that the stains set in when the diapers sat in the washer for a while (which was not uncommon with two little guys and the laundry in the garage). It's possible you could avoid the problem by moving the diapers from the washer with great expediency. But, of course, with a newborn that might be difficult!

I would be cautious with products like rust removers because of the likelihood they'd breakdown the diaper. Sunning is probably the best other option, but like I said, I had little dots of rust that never seemed to go away.

[CookAMH]

Thanks anyway. I did read on an old thread about using salt and lemon juice then setting in the sun. Today is a clear sunny day, maybe I'll try that.

[HeatherB]

Let me know if it works!

[skolbut]

I use a product called Iron Out to get iron deposits out of white clothes.
It's pretty hefty stuff, though. Not a 'green' product AT ALL, but a lifesaver with water so iron-y it turned everything rusty even with rust remover salt pellets in the softener! Don't use it with kids nearby.
It will take out color though so it may fade your edge thread on your pfs if it's not white.

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by CookAMH

Thanks anyway. I did read on an old thread about using salt and lemon juice then setting in the sun. Today is a clear sunny day, maybe I'll try that.

This worked! ::

I did it two times, prob 4 hours each in the sun and the stains faded. Woohoo!