If you like your cleaning supplies to sound like a fancy cocktail, this one’s for you. Mix equal parts lemon juice and Borax into a paste—about a tablespoon of each will do. Spread that paste right onto the rust stain, and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Go watch a cat video on your phone. The acid in the lemon juice eats the rust, while the Borax acts like a gentle scrub sergeant.
After the wait, grab your toilet brush and scrub like you’re trying to win a dance-off. Flush, and nine times out of ten, that rust will wave the white flag. If it’s stubborn, just repeat the process. Pro tip: Don’t use this if you have a septic tank—Borax can mess with the bacteria. Stick to the next method if that’s you.
