How To Clean an Old Porcelain Enamel Bathtub or Sink Kirsten's Bluebird of Happiness House Tour Cast-iron bathtubs and sinks are a common fixture in older homes, and now we're seeing them pop up in many newer remodels because of their unique vintage charm. Unfortunately, years of use or neglect can make for one discolored and dingy tub or sink! Here are a few tips to keep the porcelain on your antique fixture looking next-to-new. Cast-iron is traditionally covered with a porcelain enamel that's fused to the cast-iron in a furnace. While porcelain is a highly durable surface, it's susceptible to chips, cracking, and a dulling of the finish. If you use the wrong products, you will accelerate the degradation of the surface, so let's begin by talking about what not to use. Abrasive cleaners such as scouring powders, white vinegar (or other cleaners with a high acidic content), and steel wool should all be avoided, as they can damage the finish. For the best results, always start with the gentlest cleaner and work your way up to more powerful applications.

Remember, proper care will simplify ongoing maintenance. Nylon or soft sponge For gentle weekly cleaning, mix 1 gallon of hot water with 2 tablespoons of dishwashing soap containing a grease cutting agent. Use a soft rag or sponge to dip into the soap mixture and scrub the tub or sink. For monthly or deep cleaning (when moving into a new home or cleaning up a newly purchased vintage tub or sink), pour warm water into a bucket and add 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of ammonia. While baking soda is slightly abrasive, it's mild and generally safe to use on porcelain. The ammonia is great for cutting grease and removing soap scum buildup. Soak a non-abrasive sponge in the baking soda/ammonia solution. Scrub the surface of your porcelain bathtub or sink, paying particular attention to stained areas. Dip the sponge in the solution, scrub and repeat until you're satisfied. After rinsing, wipe thoroughly with a clean rag or the baking soda will leave a white film behind.

For tough-to-remove rust stains (and as a last resort), cover the stain with table salt. Take half of a lemon and squeeze the juice over the salt. Scrub the salt/lemon mixture with a clean cloth or a nylon sponge. If the stain still doesn't come up, leave the paste-mixture on the stain for an hour or so. Imagery For Weight LossSqueeze more lemon juice on the stain and try scrubbing the stain again, then rinse and wipe clean.Thrive Weight Loss Diet Plan To add shine and a protective coating, squeeze a small amount of lemon oil onto a clean rag and rub the lemon oil into the sides of the porcelain bathtub or sink, avoiding the bottom of the tub to prevent slipping. Wholesale Wedding Chairs For SaleThe lemon oil will help repel soap scum and other dirt to keep the sink/tub clean longer, and it smells good, too!

Bathtub rings can usually be blamed on oily bath products or a clogged drain. Keep the drain clog-free, and if you use a bath oil product, make sure to do a quick cleaning afterward. It's always wise to test a small hidden section first to ensure that the cleaner will not cause any adverse effects to the surface of the porcelain. If none of these suggestions work and your tub or sink still looks a bit lackluster, it might be worth the investment to have your fixture re-glazed by a professional. While there are DIY re-glazing kits on the market, the results are usually shoddy and do not last. Unlike fiberglass or acrylic, your cast-iron fixture can stand the test of time, so it's well worth the expense to hire a specialist for the job. Edited from an original post published on January 20th, 2011 by Kimber Watson Have a really great DIY project or tutorial that you want to share with others? We love checking out what you're making these days, and learning from our readers.

When you're ready, click here to submit your project and photos.Home / Housekeeping / General / Surprising Ways To Clean A BathtubSurprising Ways To Clean A Bathtub  43 Comments    Print     EmailThink your old, grungy bathtub is beyond repair? Then this is the tip is for you! If nothing seems to bring it to a shine, you can try spraying a layer of oven cleaner on the surface.I have an old bottle of Easy-Off in my chemical crate and the back label reads:…is ideal for barbecue grills, NON-ALUMINUM and NON-CHROME pots, pans, skillets, fryers, drip pans, etc.Also cleans surfaces of porcelain enamel, stainless steel, undecorated ceramics, and concrete.For white porcelain surfaces that are hopelessly stained and you don’t have the cash for a refinishing job, I found this does do a good job lifting grime. Make sure you open the bathroom window first to ventilate the room as much as possible and wear a face mask if you find the fumes overwhelming.You will see the foam ooze out black and brown grime.

Let it work for a few hours before rinsing off.The chemicals are very harsh so I would only use this if nothing else works. I did use this myself once on a 20 year old tub that was deeply stained and it worked like a charm. I can’t say if it damaged the finish at all or if it had any undesirable long term results but as a non-expert, I didn’t notice any ill effects.I don’t know if this is safe to use on colored porcelain, but you can test a small area if you’d like to find out.Tip: If it’s a plastic or acrylic bathtub that has hard to remove stains, try soaking laundry detergent in it for a few hours–this can do wonders too!Update: Here’s a cautionary note sent in from a reader:I used three fourths of a can (Easy Off) making sure every inch was was covered and it didn’t work at all and it took off all the color on my new brass colored drains on the tub, making them all turn black.Although none of the hardware discolored when I used this method, it’s something to be aware of (test a small area first just to be sure).

Kickin SoakHere’s a “miracle paste” you can try plus details for using a laundry detergent soak.Fill the tub with hot water and add 2 to 3 cups of powdered laundry detergent. Drain then wipe down with a hot, wet sponge.Laundry detergents that work well for this task:Tide, Ivory Snow, Cheer or any detergent that has enzymes.Miracle PasteIf things are particularly grimy, here’s a paste you can try*:Make a paste with baking soda and bleach, then apply to wet sponge to scrub off grime.Rinse well then voila! To scrub down the shower walls and tiles, use the bleach and baking soda paste with a nylon scrubber, rinse well.*Don’t use if you’ve applied ammonia or ammonia based solutions to the tub.DecalsPeeling off old decals reveals a sticky mess or dark dried up glue underneath. Here are a few different methods to remove them, get that gunk up and surfaces back to a shine.If the decals don’t pull off easily, fill the tub with very hot water about 1″ deep with a cup of white vinegar poured in, soak for several minutes until the water has cooled enough to comfortably put your hands in (but still very warm).

Then take a plastic scraper (or old credit card) and gently try prying an edge of the decal up and then pulling it off completely. Drain the water and dry the surface.You could also try heating each decal with a hair dryer and then pulling it up once the glue has melted underneath. *DO NOT DO THIS* if there is any water in the tub! I feel silly just typing that–but–you know.How To Remove The ResidueMethod #1Cover each gunk spot with a paper towel, then saturate the towel with vinegar. Press the towel firmly on each spot to make sure the gunk is soaking in the vinegar. Leave alone for a few hours (keep pouring on vinegar if the paper towel starts drying) then remove and rub each spot gently with baking soda and a wet cloth. The gunk should wipe up easily.Method #2Rub in petroleum jelly and leave it sit for an hour. Then take a hot, wet cloth and work the jelly in and then wipe up.Method #3Slather mayonnaise on each spot, cover with plastic wrap and let it sit for a few hours. Wipe away mayo and if some residue is still stubborn–rub gently with some baking soda.