Do you have cream of tartar? It’s that white powder in your spice rack that you’ve only ever used to make meringue. Surprising fact: cream of tartar is actually a byproduct of wine-making—so yes, you’re using booze leftovers to clean your clothes. Mix it with a little lemon juice or water to form a paste, and slather it on the rust. Let it sit for 20 minutes. It sounds like witchcraft, but it works. I swear, rust stains cower in fear when they see cream of tartar coming. It’s the stain’s kryptonite.
The Biological Stain Remover
For the truly lazy: buy a commercial rust remover like Rit Rust Remover or Whink. But read the label before using it on natural fibers like wool or silk, because those will melt faster than your dignity at a karaoke bar. Test on a hidden seam first. If that test goes wrong, you’ve only ruined a tiny spot instead of the whole shirt—a win in my book.
