We have a good friend who happens to have a bathroom which is renowned to be...how do we put this politely...in dire need of a thorough and drastic cleaning. Most of it is due to the accumulation of mineral deposits from his shower and tub faucet (there are some other issues that make me want to do an Extreme Makeover style intervention while there). Cleaning a bath tub can be hard work, but the first step is knowing what exactly is staining your tub...
How To... Remove Bath Tub Stains
...According to the Color of the Stain
- Blue-green stains, like the one shown up to are normally the signs of minerals the water from dripping faucets. Use a vitreous enamel cleaner like this to clean enameled tubs and avoid using scouring powders, that may scratch the surface.
- A common problem for many city dwelling residents is the issue of hard water, marked by light-gray to white discolouration. An acrylic surface cleaner such as Lumashine Acrylic Cleaner works or a vitreous enamel cleaner like the one listed above.
- Orange-brown rust marks require using a commercial bath-stain remover that contains a cleaner specifically for rust removal like Whisk Rust Stain Remover or similar brands formulated to take on rust. Some people have had success using white vinegar or lemon juice placed directly on the rust, but results may vary depending on how much rust has accumulated.
- For white tide-marks use turpentine (safe for enamel or acrylic sinks and tubs), and then rinse with using any dish washing fluid. We've also had success with Magic Sponge type products from our local 99 Cents Only Store.
[Creative Commons Image: terri_tu]
Comments (19)
Daily Email
Top Tours
- Corey's Converted Barn
- A South Austin Sunny and Sophisticated Home!
- Lezlee & Kirk's Beverly Modern Manor
- Laura's Smallest Coolest
- Jen of Made By Girl's Vintage Chic Home
Top Posts
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
That is a beautifully photographed stain.
I actually thought it was the eye of a bird.
view tenderleaf's profile
CLR!
view LilyC's profile
that is kind beautiful. make sure to take some high resolution photos before removing it. what is your water source by the way, the chicago river on st. patricks day?!
view andrasklang's profile
the best tub cleaner ever is a paste made from cream of tarter and peroxide.
works like a charm on anything
view dosergirl's profile
uh oh I rely on my bon ami powder for cleaning my tub. it works like a charm but am I damaging it?
view lovelyrita's profile
I use Mr. Clean magic erasers to clean my bathtubs, both for weekly maintenance cleaning and for big jobs, like when we moved in. I swear, the previous tenants never cleaned them because they were FOUL. But those magic erasers made them gleam, and with minimal effort. LOVE the magic erasers.
view tequila red's profile
I've been carrying on a shameless affair with Bar Keeper's Friend for years. I have an ancient, claw foot iron tub and Bar Keeper's Friend powder is the only thing that can keep it clean.
view saintpetepaul's profile
amygdaloides ... ahahahahaha!
view kristykreem's profile
Sweet Picture!
view Kemek2's profile
Kaboom takes that blue-green stain right out.
view Lady J's profile
That is the loveliest stain I have ever seen.
view robyn's profile
I use Magic Eraser for weekly cleans, too!
lovelyrita: I think I remember reading in MS's housekeeping book that bon amie can scratch some tub and tile surfaces over time, depending on the material and age. I noticed a change when I switched from bon amie to Magic Eraser: less 'grit.' But I have an old tub and tend to over do it with the bon amie.
view gquaker's profile
What about pink? My shower turns pink with time (the tub, especially where water puddles, and the shower curtain).
What does that mean, and what's the best way to get rid of it? I scrub with brushes and magic erasers and that'll take care of it for the short term...but it always comes back with a vengeance if I don't scrub extremely often.
view Mrs.Mack's profile
All hail Barkeeper's Friend!
Mrs.Mack, this is what the pink stuff in your shower is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serratia_marcescens
You need better ventilation!
view Anna at D16's profile
p.s. Try Googling "Serratia marcescens shower" for more information...
view Anna at D16's profile
For a green approach try sprinkling baking soda in the tub and following it with vinegar. For more bath tub cleaning tips check out Scott Common Sense Community http://www.scottcommonsense.com/Searchresults.aspx?search=bathtub stains
view Kimmy23's profile
I thought pinkish stains are from hard water (that's what my momma always told me).
view robyn's profile
1 on the Mr. Clean eraser. These things are amazing. In one swipe they get off bathroom stains that I would spend forever scrubbing with a sponge or brush. I find they work especially well on shower curtains.
view kerbs's profile
From a chemist perspective an acid will react with rust and lime stains with startling results. Just use a type that is safe, such as phosphoric acid based products. They are more difficult to find because it has a higher cost for manufacturers. (Note that small amounts of phosphoric acid are in many cola drinks.)
I have some before and after pics of it's use on my blog at http://www.edfredcorp.com/blog/?page_id=42
view Don Brown's profile