Hi All – What product is best for cleaning rust stains on a asphalt shingles safely without damaging the shingles.
I’ve used OneRestore and f9 barc, they both worked well.
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I ordered a bottle of OneRestore. Anything I need to know about using it to avoid damaging the shingles or removing the granules.
I use it straight out the jug…..spray and watch it disappear the rust.
Thanks. I’ll try it Monday.
Aluminum brightener does the exact same thing for way less money. I keep a spray bottle handy at all times for rust, oxidation streaking from windows or basically anything non-organic that left a stain. Bonus at the end of the year when I pull my tritoon out because I use the rest of what I didn’t use through the year on houses to clean my toons!
@Kentucky1234 and @Nickski, do either of those products work on rust stains on vinyl siding?
100%, aluminum brightener is the only thing I’ve used for rust on vinyl. 50/50 in a pump sprayer and it disappears in seconds
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@Nickski @Kentucky1234 Thanks, guys! I’ve used it on mud stains on vinyl with great results. Never tried rust. I’m assuming it works on vinyl fences as well?
Yep it does, I use it on most stains. Works well on many substrates too…..if I needed a lot of acid on a specific job, I’d use aluminum brighter, but most of the time I have small areas so I just carry OneRestore or f9 barc.
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I only carry SH, degreaser and aluminum brightener. Haven’t had any stain come up yet I couldn’t remove.
I pressure washed a golf cart in my driveway last year not thinking about the battery acid. Aluminum brightener even removed the massive stains from that. Took almost full strength and left the area white, but removed it.
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I applied One Restore to a small area on my green shingles. It took the green color off my shingles. The color came off on my finger when I rubbed on the shingle. Thank goodness I did a small area instead of the whole area.
One Restore is hydrochloric acid which is pretty strong stuff and needs to be used with caution. This is why I like the aluminum brightener, its phosphoric acid, which works great on rust and stains but is much less aggressive. I’ve got it on my skin plenty of time and it does nothing.
Thanks. That’s why I did a test spot first. You think the aluminum brightener would be safe to use on asphalt shingles. They are 30 year shingles about 15-20 years old.
Just so you know, almost any acid will take that up. To keep it simple acid attacks rust. The least aggressive is what I would choose. Look at an acid scale and see. Some very aggressive acids will hurt you, just remember to add the acid to the water, not the water to the acid.
You are treating the symptoms of an underlying problem. There shouldn’t be rust on a roof. Is something above it rusting and dripping on it like gutters. cupola, roofers left a pack of coils nails up there? If it isn’t that, then your nails on your shingles are rusting, which they shouldn’t do.
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That’s why I like aluminum brightener with phosphoric acid, same stuff that you’re drinking in your coke! 
Yes. My flashing around the chimney rusted and is bleeding down.
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Most acids can cause that, just depends. I’ve used it and never had that issue. Of course not on 20 year old green shingles….you could dilute it down some and try. It might had been too strong……I use straight out of jug personally, been using it for years. Or try another acid and dilute it, glad you tried a small area, it says to do that anyways. Much success on getting the rust stain out. I will say the OneRestore is a buffered acid, so it’s not in its raw form, supposed to be safer to use. I’ve gotten on my skin and didn’t burn me so…….who knows.
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That flashing must be really old to do that, or the roofer got one over. If you ever remove the copper runoff from a chimney (copper capped) it all comes down green from the acid. Seeing green isn’t uncommon. Just don’t lick your finger and taste it. 
