Have you tried soaking them in Iron Out?

I'm not sure if this is recommended by the manufacturer, but I have used Wink Rust Remover on a hand made Amish white wedding quilt that had a small rust stain where someone had put a safety pin. I put some on a cotton swab and dabbed it on. The rust just disappeared. The fabric does not appear to be damaged in any way. I did rinse the area with cool water repeatedly.

Try Majica Rust Remover, it's non corrosive and really effective. you don't have to worry about it damaging the finish of the washer either.

http://www.magicarustremover.com

Maybe dab CLR on it? Barkeepers works on rust. Dampen it and sprinkle some on.

I've tried CLR. And I tried pouring some liquid, Bar Keepers Friend on it. Nothing happens, which is depressing as heck.

@hmorton, where do you buy Whink? I've looked for it at Target & Walmart, and haven't found it. I have a feeling it'd work though.

@sandy1616, I haven't... tried Iron Out yet. I did try a powdered, rust remover from Rit (same company), and no results. I guess.. I should try looking for Iron Out, maybe I'd have better luck.

@aamassther, you wouldn't by chance know what's in it, would you? If it's Oxalic Acid.. I'm not so sure it'd work.

@hmorton, I just checked Walmart.com... no wonder I haven't seen it, it's been OOS at my store. That explains it all, lol.

I guess... I'll have to drive out another store, or check Harris Teeter. :)

Wink rust remover works great. Just removed some rust stains from a white tee shirt this week with it.

The tube I have doesn't give the active ingredient. I haven't needed to use it in awhile, got rid of the porcelain tub Kenmore that used leave rust spots on the whites if I left them in there longer than an hour. Did it from new too, hated that washer. But it really did work better than whink, etc.

Have you tried sodium thiosulfate? I've only used it on iodine stains but it's supposed to help rust too.

@LaundyMitch, I've had great luck with Iron Out. Can also be used to delime home dishwashers or added to the softner salt. Add a capful to a sink full of water and soak the towels. It's just an acid. Depending on how bad the rust is vinegar and sun may do it too.

Mich, where did the rust stains come from? I have an old bath towel that has a few rust stains, shaped elongated, I saved the towel for an experiment someday lol. I haven't a clue how it got there, but I suspect it was put in the hamper wet and was up against a zipper on something. Lol

I never have liked the liquid Barkeepers. I always used the powder version and it removes rust beautifully. Maybe the powder will work for you?

@aamassther, I'm going to try Whink.. and if that doesn't work.. I'll buy that, and give it a try ;)

@Donna-37, I haven't tried the Powder. I guess.. I could try boiling water, and dissolving it, and then applying it to the stain.

@fishcow, I think I've used that ingredient.. from the "Rit" rust remover packets, I tried. I'll have to check.

@Sandy16, I saw that... and thought about it. No idea if it'd be too strong, but it's worth a shot if Whink, can't do it.

I use this:

@mamapinky0.. I'm completely convinced, it's the towel holders on the wall. While I don't see any rust on a screw holding it together... I think that could be the culprit.

A lot of times you see the Whink in older grocery stores also. I have read lemon juice will work, haven't tried it . Also mechanics soak rusted bolts in coca-cola and it cuts the rust. That might help but it will take a while, not sure it would work on fabric.

Ahh Mich, ya I didn't think of towel racks, prolly right on that.

@mamapinky, It's hard to describe. But... I have a "walk in" shower, surrounded by a metal frame and a heavy glass door. I can't really check (not tall enough) but I'm also thinking... that maybe there's a screw on the top of it somewhere that's rusted.

Of Course Shower Rods, and even shower hooks, could also be culprits. A LOT of people (including myself) will hang their towel, across the top... for them to dry. That's a possible culprit.

I don't exactly have Iron stains on anything, but these towels. I'm not convinced it's water, or anything else.

Mich you might should get a ladder and get up there to take a look see..I know I also hang towels over the shower rod long enough to dry, really I hate doing that because when someone needs to shower they don't want all those towels there, but I can't think of a better alternative, I do towels daily so I doubt theywould be in the hamper long enough wet to cause a problem but on the other hand I think mold can grow in a short time. I could probably put a wall rack in lol

My mom taught me how to deal with rust stains when I was a kid ( I have loved laundry since I was in diapers). Simply, wet the rust stains throughly with lemon juice, then rub table salt into the stain. Place the stained item directly in the sunshine, preferably laid flat out in the grass. Give it a few hours or so. You might have to repeat it once more, depending on how badly the stains are set, and how heavy the stain is. I have never had this NOT work, even on some old clay dirt stains. Commercial rust removal products do work, but I have less experience with those on individual stains, only whole loads of rusty whites.

Have had this work for tomato sauce stains on white tees

I finally located a bottle of Whink Rust Remover, at a 2nd Harris Teeter ;)

Really shocked honestly.. how well this stuff works. I mean... literally the stains lighten up, as you treat them... and they fade away like magic :D

Mich, great. Now you can keep the towels, arnt you glad you didn't admit defeat lol.

Was it worth all the trouble, maybe ;) I'm really shocked at how well the Whink worked. Now I know why it's hard to find in stock.

Glad you found the Whink and that you like it. It feels like magic when something just disappears before your eyes. I also have used it on green water stains in the sink and other little things around the house.

In light of my recent foul up with my sheets I'm bring this post back...wish I could bring Mich back also.

I'm working on the sheets with lemon and salt..Barkeepers will be next..if these don't work I will get really serious even though I'm the one that doesn't like hard core chemicals.

I miss Laundry Mitch also. Hope he is ok.