8 Best Rust Removers for Every Surface

Key Specs

• Type: Chemical
• Form & Application: Powder, direct application

For removing rust stains around the house, Iron Out powder is a must-have. It can be applied to sinks, toilets, clothes, and carpets, and even inside appliances to dissolve hard-water deposits. As a chemical-based formula with sodium hydrosulfite as the main ingredient, it acts quickly to remove unwanted stains without containing any harsh acids that many chemical solutions possess. However, it’s still recommended to use Iron Out in a well-ventilated area and avoid using it on colored clothes or fabrics.

Key Specs

• Type: Chemical
• Form & Application: Liquid spray

Rust is the ultimate enemy of hand tools, but Rust-Oleum’s rust dissolver gel can get your prized tools back in working order and looking like new in no time flat. Once the gel is applied, it takes only 30 minutes to dissolve the toughest cases of rust. Afterwards, it leaves behind a protective coating that shields the metal from rust for up to 12 months. This is my personal favorite formula to use on tools. Again, I used this gel on some of my rusted sockets alongside the CLR, and it took significantly less time and effort to get the sockets shining like the day I bought them. It required some initial scraping, and two separate applications of the gel to completely remove the rust, but I had my precious sockets fully restored within an hour.