Lightening dark leather at home is a popular DIY project, but it requires the right prep to avoid damaging your furniture.

A: Oxalic acid is a potent but toxic cleaner that removes rust and stains caused by iron, water and tannic acid. It's available in dry crystal form, to be dissolved in warm water for use.

To use oxalic acid, mix one-half cup of the powder in a gallon of warm water and mop it on the stain. Let it work for five to 10 minutes, keeping the stain wet, then scrub with a stiff-bristled ...

Let’s talk about oxalic acid, a fairly safe and affordable organic compound you can use to get rust out of clothing or off concrete, vinyl siding or vinyl swimming pool liners.

Make a solution of oxalic acid crystals (available in paint stores) to saturation in hot water in a plastic bucket; never use metal with oxalic acid. Apply it to the stains with a paintbrush.

Another name for this species is Sour Grass, named for the sour taste caused by the chemical oxalic acid. More than 50 years ago, this species escaped cultivation and became naturalized.