Removing a stain from a bath tub.

Letter 8229

Removing a stain from a bath tub

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I have stained my heavy old-fashioned bath tub by pouring sulphuric acid down the drain to remove a clog; the fumes have made dark brown stripes on the sides and bottom of the white enamel tub. Is it possible to remove these unsightly stains with ordinary javel water bleach? If not, what should I do short? Can anyone help me, please.

David Alexander Mitchell
- Montreal QC, Canada

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An oxidation problem has occurred.

Let's de-oxidize......... buy Naval Jelly [link is to product info at Amazon], A RUST REMOVER. Simply, a de-ox, and will remove those drip-rust-stains...... as well as the chemical stain that you incurred. Drawback; the porcelain may have impurities that were reacted upon by the staining acid. Regardless. Proceed by getting protective gloves [link is to product info at Amazon] & goggles [link is to product info at Amazon] on now. Use a 1" paint-brush and brush on the Naval Jelly until it is absurd. Leave room for 4 HOURS, with fan running. Return and DON ON the gear again. Rinse the jelly off completely. If another layer is required (doubtful), then let surface dry, or force-dry with a hair dryer. Apply coat #2 absurdly, leave again 4 hrs.

Paul T. Knisely
- Kenmore, Washington

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I hope I can save someone 8 hours of torture. To remove those brown stains in the bathtub caused by sulfuric acid fumes, pour some hydrogen peroxide [link is to product info at Amazon] on the area. The brown stains will disappear faster than they showed up!

Dennis Mostyn
- Lincolnwood, Illinois
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Hi
I put neat bleach on my old enamel bath to clean it, but when I came back there was a horrible brown stain I can't get off. can any one help

Mrs Jennines
- U.K.

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HI
I had Terrible stains in my tub from a professional drain opener made with sulfuric acid. I used the Works ( green bottle and I think that helped little) Then I put on Lysol thick blue toilet cleaner and that worked great!!!!!!
Also, I had the stains in my kitchen sink from the same drain opener product, and the Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner [link is to product info at Amazon] worked on those also. I got most of the stains out! You should try it. It may have scratched my tub a little and hurt the finish.. not sure, but the nasty horrible brown stain is gone and that is great. Good luck.
Try it on a small spot in your stained area and see if it works and if it is safe for your tub or sink

Colleen Mcgraw
- Grand Rapids, Michigan

March 14, 2008

Hello
I cleaned the steel oven rack in the porcelain bath tub. It left numerous "aluminum-looking" scrape marks on the tub, though obviously not aluminum. Tried VIM and Mr Clean to no avail. Help, please?

Robert Barr
hobbyist - Winnipeg, Manitoba

March 14, 2008

Some other readers reported scrape marks like that in their sinks caused by titanium rings, Robert. Some suggestions were made and some success reported on letters 18828 and 20906. You might see if those ideas work for you. Good luck.

Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

March 19, 2008

Thanks for leading me to query 18828. Glass Stove-top cleaner had the metal scrapes removed from the porcelain bath tub in two minutes flat. No damage.

Robert Barr
- Winnipeg, Manitoba

March 23, 2008

Similar to others above, I used a sulfuric acid drain declogger in my bathtub drain and the fumes stained the entire tub a dirty brown. Normal cleansers didn't touch the stain and I was really worried until I found this site. The hydrogen peroxide (simple drugstore antiseptic) sounded like the least caustic remedy so I tried it first, painting it on with a paintbrush. Presto, the stain disappeared with each brushstroke! Thanks, Dennis!

Tbruce Bridgeman
- Toledo, Ohio

May 22, 2008

I just sprayed basically, straight bleach on the mildewed tile grout in my tub surround and cane back a few minutes later to major rusty colored drips all over the sides of my tub. I tried the hydrogen peroxide idea (put some in a bowl and brushed it on with a paint brush) and the stains disappeared instantly! Thank goodness! My husband would've gone through the roof if he saw that! Thanks Dennis!

Erin Boone
- Houston, Texas

June 21, 2008

I had used bleach on the tub for stains also and ended up with brown stains - I used CLR [link is to product info at Amazon] and they were gone in minutes.

thanks for the help

Don Taylor
- Arl, Texas

July 21, 2008

Like others, I used a commercial drain cleaner with sulfuric acid on my older bathtub drain. The fumes stained the entire tub - bottom, sides, top rim - dark brown. I scheduled a company to reglaze it (for $350) and then thought to check online. I poured some hydrogen peroxide on the stains and they vanished! Thanks to the person who took the time to post this solution. You saved me a lot of money. This is a great site.

Janet Fisher
- Newton, Massachusetts

July 21, 2008

Thanks folks. With five people reporting great success with hydrogen peroxide removing acid stains and bleach stains, I guess it's the right answer!

Regards,

Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

February 16, 2009

WOW, this was so great and helpful.

Chris O
- Birmingham, Alabama opt

March 26, 2009

Freaky but it does work! Saved us $275 on re-glazing!

Carol Wolaver
- Msqt, Texas

May 27, 2009

Thank you for the advice on how to remove tub stain . I'm very happy that the Hydrogen Peroxide work's very well and also very quick . thank you very much
Jose from Chicago

Jose Lopez
- Chicago, Illinois

August 22, 2009

The hydrogen peroxide was amazing. I bought a bottle for $1 and filled up a sprayer. The stains came off as quick as I sprayed. Thank youi so much.

Cindy Wilkerson
- Longview, Texas

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