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Need to remove rust on vinyl siding
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Wanting to get rust stains off my chimney that the metal is started to run rust down the side of the house in the front. I heard that manatic^muriatic acid will; is that true and will I need to get a professional to do the work or will that work with just a hose spraying it off... I have a light beige vinyl siding ... thank you.
homeowner - Virginia Beach, Virginia
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Should I read here, muriatic acid [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] (hydrochloric acid) instead of manatic acid? This will work most likely, as might citric acid. You would want to be careful your siding is not damaged, and so might want to try a small spot first. Rust is basically iron oxide, and that is attacked by a number of acids. The trick is to find the simplest and safest one that is effective and that does not attack the siding. I would try citric acid first, and then hydrochloric, though the latter is likely much easier to work with! Rubber protective gloves [linked by editor to product info at Amazon], and avoiding the fumes, etc., are in order.
Vincent E. Summers- Charlottesville, Virginia
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An easy and safe way to get rid of "rust" stains on vinyl siding is to use "Lime-A-Way [linked by editor to product info at Amazon]" cleaner. I worked as a maintenance man for a local mobile home sales company and one of my responsibilities was to pressure wash the houses and keep the rust stains off. All of the houses used vinyl siding. For regular cleaning, use a diluted solution of chlorine bleach and water (about 1 in 10 parts). Bleach is a surface tension inhibitor (lubricant). Any built up dirt will run off of the vinyl siding within 2 to 3 minutes, then just spray fresh water on the siding. The rust stains are not real rust, but lime deposits. I spray the deposits with Lime Away and the deposits will dissolve within 1 or 2 days.
Raymond Bliss- Jacksonville, Florida
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Ed. note: You're experienced at it, Raymond, and if it works, it works. But we have a hard time agreeing with you that the deposits are lime.
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I have been watering my yard and not even caring about the well water hitting the siding on my garage and side of my house. I've read that possibly Lime Away for a form of citric acid or hydrochloric acid might work. How would I apply these solvents and is there something in a name brand available that might be easier on me? - Mokena, Illinois July 18, 2008 I have spent all week trying to get the rust off my vinyl siding and finally found the magic. It's called RustAid by WM Barr and Co. Spray it on in a sprayer straight and the rust is gone in minutes. Then just hose it down. It took a Gallon to do 2 sides of the house. It comes in a maroon container.It is in with the heavy household cleaners. There is also one for indoors that is in a quart bottle.I tried Clorox straight and CLR and Limeaway but it didn't budge the rust. This RustAid is awesome. MaryBeth Ruger- Virginia Beach, Virginia |
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July 27, 2009
I purchased an expensive vinyl siding rust remover and a bottle of "CLR". Neither one worked....at all! - Granger, Indiana April 25, 2010 I just completed a power wash of my house with yellow vinyl siding. The irrigation system left rust stains on the siding from where the wind blows the mist onto the siding. The power washing didn't touch the stains. I tried "The Works" as recommended in this post and it worked extremely well. Quickly, efficiently, then rinsed to remove all the chemical which is [dilute] HCl. I did a 12 sq. ft area in about 1 1/2 minutes...thanks John. Michael Cherubini- Hampstead, North Carolina |
July 31, 2010
I too had rust stains on my vinyl siding from my irrigation system and nothing seemed to work until I read this thread. I bought Works at our local Dollar General store ($1.50) and it really does work. I had to put it on full strength but after a minute or so I was able to wash it off and the rust came away. I followed up with a soap and water wash and final rinse. The product works for even severe rust stains on siding.
Jeff Hahn
- Quantico, Maryland, USA
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August 13, 2010
I use well water to water my lawn and am usually very careful not to let overspray hit the house, but one day the wind blew the water on the house and left behind a rust like color stain all over the side of the house. It was most likely hard water stains or something of that nature. I panicked needless to say. I saw the posting of "the Works" from the Dollar General store (also available at the Dollar Tree) and thought what the heck, let me give it a try. This stuff really does works with a little effort; I actually used "the works tile and tub cleaner" rather than "the Works toilet bowl cleaner" (I bet they both work). Thank you Mary Beth for your posting, I live in Virginia Beach too, it must be something in the well water Paul Anderson- Virginia Beach, Virginia November 29, 2010 The WORKS from Dollar General did the trick on my vinyl fencing! Spray on and rinse off. Amazing! - Elizabeth City, North Carolina USA |
July 8, 2011
I tried The Works awesome stuff I stained the side of my house with my water sprinkler and was trying all kinds of stuff trying to get it off. Thank you stains wiped right off with The Works from the Dollar Store.
Margaret Brunke- Bellefontaine, Ohio USA
July 20, 2011
I have "rust" stains on the vinyl siding from our sprinkler. I try to keep the sprinkler from hitting it, but it never fails. I was going to try The Works - but wanted to ask if anyone has used it around plants. I'd hate to be killing my garden while I'm cleaning the siding. Thanks for any info you can give me.
Margie Conklin- RAMSEY, Minnesota, USA
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August 19, 2011
Thanks for the hint. - Carmel, New York USA |
September 5, 2011
OMG!! I spent hours scubbing my siding with CLR after the sprinkler left rust stains all over it two years ago. I tried "The works" toilet bowl cleaner and a sponge, amazing. Finished the whole area in about 20 minutes with no scrubbing. Just wiped it on and then hosed it off after a few minutes.
Amber Barnes- Big Lake Minnesota USA
December 13, 2011
I have to agree with the earlier posts about "The Works". I too had rust stains on the vinyl siding of my house. I used several cleaners such as Lime-a-way, CLR, and Awesome. To no avail, they all didn't work. I used "The Works" and within a few minutes, I let it sit then I scrubbed and pressure washed off and the rust came off! This stuff is truly amazing!
Duane Spruill- Portsmouth, Virginia