Bathtubs attract stains like magnets attract metal. From hard water mineral deposits to body oils and dirt left behind after bathing. Over time these can leave behind stains that are somewhat difficult to remove. Difficult does not mean impossible, unless of course the tub is a very old porcelain or enamel and the stain has become etched into the porcelain.

Lime or Rust or Just Plain Scum

Determining the type of stain that needs to be removed is beneficial in knowing what to clean it with. A brownish-red stain is indicative of rust, while a blue, green, or white stain could indicate lime scale. A filmy ring around the tub or discolored streaks is a sign of soap scum.

Various Methods

There are many different cleaning methods for stains on old bath tubs. Often it may take more than one to get the stain completely out. Although they are cleansers, elbow grease is still necessary to get any stain out. The exception is the CLR cleanser; many stains come off simply with a sponge and a squirt of CLR.

1. Westley’s Bleche-Wite: A commercial degreaser for tires that works great on bathtub rings. This can be purchased at any auto parts store and some discount stores.
2. Mr. Clean Eraser: A commercial cleaning tool. The eraser is used to scrub away stains.
3. Vinegar/Peroxide: Using protective gloves, mix together 4 tablespoons flour, 4 tablespoons white vinegar, and 8 tablespoons peroxide. Apply to stains and allow soaking for several hours. Scrub with a brush and rinse clean.
4. Wear gloves and use a sponge to clean the bathtub using the hot vinegar.
5. CLR: A commercial cleaner made specifically for calcium, lime and rust. Wear gloves when using this and watch the stains wash away.
6. Baking Soda: Sprinkle baking soda on the stains and use a sponge to scrub it away.
7. Salty Lemon: Rust stains can be removed using salt and a lemon. Sprinkle the rust stain with a liberal amount of salt and cover with lemon juice. Allow to sit for several hours or even overnight. Wipe and rinse.
8. Toothpaste: Spread toothpaste around the ring on the tub and allow to sit for several days. Scrub with a brush and rinse well.
9. Shampoo: Shampoo specially formulated for oily hair makes a great soap scum remover for the bathtub. Apply directly to the stains and use a sponge to wipe them away.

10.  Bleach: Bleach cleans practically anything. There are two methods that can be used, one is to use a spray bottle and spray the bleach on the stains, allow to sit and then scrub and rinse the stains away.

The second method is to fill the tub with water and bleach and allow it to soak overnight. This method requires more bleach but removes more stains at once with less scrubbing.

Having an older bathtub with what appears to be permanent stains doesn’t necessarily mean calling in a remodeling company. Using elbow grease and some cleansers, either commercially bought or homemade, old bathtubs can be given a new lease on life.

About the Author:

Mike is a writer for this Texas Cleaning company that offers Houston Cleaners

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – How to Clean Stains off an Old Bathtub

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