Rust and mineral family: acid, never chlorine
How to get well-water iron (orange laundry) out
Iron in well water slowly turns whites orange. Chlorine makes it worse.
Do this first
Add rust remover to a wash per label
Fresh stain
- Add rust remover to a wash per label
- Rinse well
Dried or old
- Iron filter or softener for the house prevents it
- Fabric care
- No chlorine bleach.
- Time
- 1 wash
- How to tell
- Look: orange tint, worse on whites; Feel: normal; Smell: metallic water
Where this fix comes from
We check every fix against these published guides. We do not run a test lab of our own.
Before you start
- Test on a hidden seam first.
- Never mix cleaners.
- Keep it out of the dryer until the stain is gone.