# Temporary rust treatment for washing machine **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 3, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-rust-treatment-for-washing-machine/501814 "2009-07-03T14:27:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-rust-treatment-for-washing-machine/501814/1 "2009-07-03T14:27:01Z")
I have always had rust in my well water, but this year it has gotten bad. I can no longer ignore it and have made an appointment to have a rust treatment solution installed. However, until then, is there anyway of preventing the water from staining my clothing when I use the washing machine? Anything I can add at the start of the cycle? ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-rust-treatment-for-washing-machine/501814/2 "2009-07-03T14:48:46Z")
Rust will settle at the bottom so it seems like you could decanter the water using several buckets. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-rust-treatment-for-washing-machine/501814/3 "2009-07-03T14:55:50Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I have always had rust in my well water, but this year it has gotten bad. I can no longer ignore it and have made an appointment to have a rust treatment solution installed. > > However, until then, is there anyway of preventing the water from staining my clothing when I use the washing machine? Anything I can add at the start of the cycle? You can use a sodium hydrosulfate product like Rust Out, Iron out etc. I use it to remove existing iron stains from clothing but it could be used in a preventative manner. It can have ill effects on dyes though. I have a few shirts that gotten bleached from it. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-rust-treatment-for-washing-machine/501814/4 "2009-07-03T14:59:53Z")
Adding borax to each load will help. Borax is a chelator, so any iron in your water will bind to it, instead of to your clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-rust-treatment-for-washing-machine/501814/5 "2009-07-03T16:54:37Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I have always had rust in my well water, but this year it has gotten bad. I can no longer ignore it and have made an appointment to have a rust treatment solution installed. > > However, until then, is there anyway of preventing the water from staining my clothing when I use the washing machine? Anything I can add at the start of the cycle? I use iron out, which helps a lot. However, it’s gone once you hit the rinse cycle so a little bit of rusty water will hit the clothes untreated. If you can find a rust water treatment that doesn’t involve a shitload of money or the exhorbitant use of water in order to clean it thoroughly, please post it. I have not found a solution that is both economical and ECOnomical, but I’m always on the lookout for something that will solve my obnoxious rust problem. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-rust-treatment-for-washing-machine/501814/6 "2009-07-07T16:21:15Z")
Thanks for all the answers. I ordered some Rust Out which should be here today. The Culligan man just left: all told I’m going to end up paying nearly $2100 to take care of all my water problems. (A new water softener too.) ---
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-rust-treatment-for-washing-machine/501814/7 "2009-07-07T16:51:05Z")
I am looking into something like this (not this company)[Rusty Water](http://budgetwater.com/iron_filters.htm?pmc=iron-g&gclid=COy3nJWFxJsCFc5L5QodXVkxAg). I think i get it locally for a little less money and I can install it myself. I got quoted around $3,000 by the local well guy for the same setup; but most of that was his labour costs. Unfortunately a broken tooth and a root canal depleted my cushion, so I am going to have to wait on it. I think I found some “filters” for around $250, but the amount of Iron I have makes a permanent setup the better option. Any suggestions, welcomed. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-rust-treatment-for-washing-machine/501814/8 "2009-07-07T16:59:38Z")
**holmes** , without the Water Softener, it was about half the cost. Also though, Culligan offered to finance this and for the 2100 it would have been about 63 dollars a month. The interest is outrageous (between 10 and 14 percent) but if you need to pay monthly, then I guess it is one way to go. I have to replace the filter 4 times a year he said. BTW, that 2100 included installation costs.