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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Can Lime Away clean rust stains in my washing machine?

The inside of my washing machine is all rusted around the bottom of machine. A friend suggested I try Lime-A-Way ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] to soak and clean it. Can I do this ? Thank you in advance......Kathie

Kathie Vigliotti
homeowner - Rochester, New York
2007

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Disconnect it, tip it on its back, steel brush the rust and spray paint. Fix the leak (hose?). Hook it back up. Get ready to buy a new one.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2007

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Hi, Kathie. Lime Away or C-L-R ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] may be useful for cleaning the surfaces, but the way to deter continuing rust would be to use a rust converter ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] on it before painting.

I think I'll disagree with James on planning for replacement, because my experience has been that the older a washing machine is, the longer a life it has in front of it :-)

I've got a real Maytag, from back when the word used to mean something. It's 35 years old and I'm confident it will still be in service after the "Maytag" you buy today is in the junk yard :-)

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey