Retro Clean- how long, especially for rust or blood?

[BigBrother]

So I just did my first soak and first subsequent Retro Clean soak. Great stuff (both WWII uniforms went from dingy to brilliant!) but one of the main things I was going for, these rust or blood stains, didn’t give much. Pics attached. Now, I only had about 24 hours to do this, but I’m curious in your experience how long a really good Retro Clean soak should take. They say up to 48 on the package but then I think I’ve heard people discuss literally weeks! So what do you think? What’s your experience? And can you soak an item for too long?

 

[The Vintage Merchant]

it may be blood, and that may never lift. If it is rust, though, I recommend trying "Whink" rust remover, but you have to be careful applying it or it can eat right through fabric. it might work, it might not, but we've had real good luck with it. patience helps with it, too.

 

[BigBrother]

it may be blood, and that may never lift. If it is rust, though, I recommend trying "Whink" rust remover, but you have to be careful applying it or it can eat right through fabric. it might work, it might not, but we've had real good luck with it. patience helps with it, too.

You know, I looked at the garment more carefully and I'm 99% positive it's rust: if you see the first picture, that's clearly where a cuff link had caused rusting. That stain I was always sure of. But the 3-4 others not so much (as it was a nurse's uniform, blood would be very plausible.) But I looked at it again, and the 3-4 other stains are exactly along the same line, horizontally, as the cuff link stain, and it looks as though in storage, the sleeve was touching the middle of the dress. It completely looks like the cuff link area was touching the fabric in several locations, and that's what we're dealing with (the stains are also all identical in color and shape, roughly.) So yeah, it's rust!

 

[bycinbyhand]

As Mary said, Whink is great and the product for the job. It works nearly immediately. But use it, rinse with water and clean as normal. DON'T let it sit as it'll chew up the fabric.

 

[Hollie Point]

I'm also a big fan of using rust removers. I use a different one--I think it's Krud Kutter, the Must for Rust--but I know a lot of people really like Wink. I usually apply it, maybe rub it in a bit with gloves, and let it sit but only for a few minutes. Then I soak in warm soapy water. Sometimes I have to do this a few times. As far as using Retro Clean, I've left things soaking in it for as long as three days before but only if they don't have any metal parts (zippers, button backings, etc.), and I usually ad a little gentle detergent along with it. Good luck!

 

[BigBrother]

Quick update- my local dry cleaner, to whom I brought said dress just for pressing, returned it with virtually all the rust GONE. "How the hell did you do that?!?!?!" "I just tried some stuff" .