apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have a question. We had our tub reglazed, and it is wonderful, except through vigourous play my son has scratched it in a couple of places. Has anyone ever repaired scratched reglazing with one of those home kits? What should I do? TIA.

matilda, I'd wait til he grows up and have it reglazed again . . .
but actually I've been wondering the same thing (doggie nail scratches here on a nice reglazed tub)

I'm under the impression that the home kits are *not* so good.
Wonder if the products have improved...

I have a white tub, btw.

Our tub is white too. We just had it reglazed less than a year ago. I am concerned about the scratches becoming deeper, that's why I thought the home stuff might "seal" them.

Curious to know if anyone has purchased anything from Brocade Home yet. Since we can't go to a store to see what the quality is like, I'm a bit hesitant to order....

Thanks!

my tub scratch experience is not that they get deeper, but that you cease to care . . . we were absolutely religious about putting a mat or towel down when bathing the dog, and keeping the paws on the mat and then . . . well, I suspect the same kind of erosion is inevitable with kids too.

A scratch is more likely to hold and show dirt but the Oxy cleaners work great, and I *think* are gentle enough for the reglazed surface. Did your reglazer mention those? It wasn't on the list when I had mine done . . .

Our reglazer said soft scrub is the best thing to use, the one without bleach. We use this with a plastic "tuffy" that does not scratch and it works excellently!!!

Nisha, I have the same thing on my tub. I used to use a little elbow grease and scouring powder but now I use a Mr. Clean sponge. It takes it right off. You may have to do both the first couple of times. I've been "erasing" mine for years so I may have taken most of the tread off by now and that's why the sponge works so well for me.

I still want to know where I can get this large bowl on the floor in this photo. Any suggestions (besides Tucker Robbins).

The boyfriend and I are coming up to NYC on the 17th & 18th (staying in Newark, probably). Any tips on cool holiday-ish things to do? We've never been to NYC during xmas time.

Last year there was a free outdoor concert at the South Street Seaport featuring the 'humna christmas tree' - a choir of people arranged in a tree shape. Not sure if it's an every year thing, but it was well worth the $0. ;)

Nisha,

Had the same problem with my tub. Try Tilex with Bleach. Spray it on. Leave it for about 45 minutes... make sure that there is some fresh air circulating in the place to avoid contact with fumes. come back and it should be all gone. That stuff is great.

Anne,

I don't know if you're in NY, but I came across a listing on CL with a bowl that seems similar to what you're looking for. It's on the second page of the flickr set...

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/fur/243561498.html

Before we had our bathroom redone we had an old cast iron tub with some chips in the surface. We got some stuff called something like "porcafix". It's some kind of porcelain fix up paint meant for bathtubs. They enclose a bit of sanding paper, you sand down the chip and then paint the porcafix on. It's really a temporary fix. Our tub was in seriously bad shape and I'd have to touch up every few months or so since the moisture ended up removing the porcafix. If your tub is in great shape apart from fine scratches I really wouldn't recommend using this stuff.

I haven't ordered from Brocade Home, but it's from the same company as Restoration Hardware so I bet it's at least good quality.

Amber--
Get thee to the Metropolitan Museum, to see their tree and creche. Go on a Friday night when you can have a festive cocktail on the upper level of the lobby (they stay open late on Fridays and I *think* also on Saturdays). Then walk back uptown along Madison Avenue, the most festive street (and the retail world's epicenter) in all of NY at Christmas time. Make sure to see the windows at the Ralph Lauren flagship.

See the windows at Bloomingdale's, Neiman's, Saks, and Macy's, and DEFINITELY the windows at Bergdorf's and Tiffany's.

To avoid tree crowds, skip the tree at Rockefeller Center and see the tree at Lincoln Center. But the tree at Rockefeller Center is pretty cool, set against the ice skating rink, so it is perhaps worth braving the CONSIDERABLE crowds.

You can also go skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park.

City's best hot chocolate at Serendipity. Feel like a kid at Dylan's Candy Bar.

Find a bar or restaurant with a fireplace, like Ye Olde Waverly Inn in the Village, or the bar atop the Library Hotel near Grand Central Station. Grand Central also has an intermittent holiday light projection and is always pretty bustly-holiday-ish. Just avoid at "crush hour."

Damn, I wish I was going to be here for Christmas!! It sounds like fun!!

A little story about a search for the perfect desk chair. Also semi-insane. Enjoy. Or not. It's up to you. Link in my name. I just have to admit, I saw it and immediately thought of you guys.

The best advice I can give is DO NOT go into Macy's. Unless you like the whole rat in a maze feeling.

p(too) thank you! I was going to spend most of my time downtown, but I really do want to see all the window displays! I will have to check them out!

Amber--
I think one of the city bus tours also has a "holiday lights" tour that might be (hokey but) fun.

But mid- and uptown seem to be where the biggest concentrations of holiday cheer are. And I second Jessi-- stay OUTSIDE Macy's, but even that will seem crazy-busy.