Clean enamel bath

[Graham Wilson]

We are going to fit a new bathroom suite next year. However, in the
meantime, I wanted to try and clean the bottom of our existing enamel
bath.

I have tried various cleaners, but none make any difference. I suspect
that I would need to try a powerful type acid cleaner.

Are there any commercial cleaners (perhaps available from a builders
merchants) that might do the trick.

Thanks,
Graham

 

[Ian Waddell]

Have you tried "Barkeeper's friend" available in most DIY stores &
supermarkets. I am told it is almost magical and cleans almost anything
(read the label though).

If you're in a hardwater area, use Lime Lite on it to remove any limescale
deposits.

HTH

Ian

 

[BigWallop]

We are going to fit a new bathroom suite next year. However, in the
meantime, I wanted to try and clean the bottom of our existing enamel
bath.

I have tried various cleaners, but none make any difference. I suspect
that I would need to try a powerful type acid cleaner.

Are there any commercial cleaners (perhaps available from a builders
merchants) that might do the trick.

Thanks,
Graham

Dry the bath with a towel and get a dry cloth with toothpaste on it and rub the
marks with it. Toothpaste is a very mild abrasive and it works wonders on
enamel and glass surfaces. I think it also contains a small amount of a bleach
type substance which helps to remove stubborn stains.

 

[John Stumbles]

We are going to fit a new bathroom suite next year. However, in the
meantime, I wanted to try and clean the bottom of our existing enamel
bath.

I have tried various cleaners, but none make any difference. I suspect
that I would need to try a powerful type acid cleaner.

Are there any commercial cleaners (perhaps available from a builders
merchants) that might do the trick.

Just cleaned the limescale[1] off our old cast iron bath quite effectively
with a wet J cloth dampened with brick cleaner: hydrochloric acid. Rubber
gloves are good to wear when doing this

Be very careful with chrome though: it's amazing how quickly HCl can turn Cr
black


[1] tidemark where bath doesn't drain properly because it's not level:
unfortunately it must have been vimmed there in the past and the enamel is
going through so the bath's in line for a wacking and replacement .. when I
get that Round Tuit

 

[BillV]

We are going to fit a new bathroom suite next year. However, in the
meantime, I wanted to try and clean the bottom of our existing enamel
bath.

I have tried various cleaners, but none make any difference. I suspect
that I would need to try a powerful type acid cleaner.

Are there any commercial cleaners (perhaps available from a builders
merchants) that might do the trick.

Just cleaned the limescale[1] off our old cast iron bath quite effectively
with a wet J cloth dampened with brick cleaner: hydrochloric acid. Rubber
gloves are good to wear when doing this

Be very careful with chrome though: it's amazing how quickly HCl can turn Cr
black

And eat through the enamel on modern baths...
K-rock jel works for me.

 

[Timothy Murphy]

And eat through the enamel on modern baths...
K-rock jel works for me.

This reminds me - on my enamel baths the enamel has been "eaten"
where the bath is supported on metal legs underneath,
with the metal under the enamel slightly corroded.
Is there any simple way of treating this?

Assuming this is possible, does one need special enamel
for "touching up" enamel baths?

 

[BigWallop]

This reminds me - on my enamel baths the enamel has been "eaten"
where the bath is supported on metal legs underneath,
with the metal under the enamel slightly corroded.
Is there any simple way of treating this?

Assuming this is possible, does one need special enamel
for "touching up" enamel baths?


Timothy Murphy

Once this problem starts it's difficult to get rid of as it needs specialist
treatment and I've never heard of a DIY solution for it. There are companies
that can resurface the bath with chemical treatments, but as to their long term
effectiveness, I couldn't say.

A web search for the phrase "Bath Resurface" brings up a lot of hits, so this
might help you further.


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[Timothy Murphy]

Once this problem starts it's difficult to get rid of as it needs
specialist
treatment and I've never heard of a DIY solution for it. There are
companies that can resurface the bath with chemical treatments, but as to
their long term effectiveness, I couldn't say.

A web search for the phrase "Bath Resurface" brings up a lot of hits, so
this might help you further.

Thanks, I'll try that.

I wonder what the cause is - some kind of electrical reaction? -
and if there is something the plumber should or could have done
(20 years ago!) to avoid the problem?

 

[BigWallop]

Thanks, I'll try that.

I wonder what the cause is - some kind of electrical reaction? -
and if there is something the plumber should or could have done
(20 years ago!) to avoid the problem?


Timothy Murphy

There isn't really anything that I know of to prevent this from happening, other
than a sacrificial anode fitted to the base of the bath. Boats have them fitted
to slow down the process of corrosion to the metal parts, but if it where a
common thing in baths I'm sure the makers would have fitted them as par for the
course. It used to be that the bolts holding the feet on to the bath where
tinned in lead solder before fitting, but whether this helped enormously or not
I don't really know. Seemingly it must have in certain situations, but it is
one of those wonders that really can't be proven unless tried out. )


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[Mary Fisher]

There isn't really anything that I know of to prevent this from happening, other
than a sacrificial anode fitted to the base of the bath. Boats have them fitted
to slow down the process of corrosion to the metal parts, but if it where a
common thing in baths I'm sure the makers would have fitted them as par for the
course. It used to be that the bolts holding the feet on to the bath where
tinned in lead solder before fitting, but whether this helped enormously or not
I don't really know. Seemingly it must have in certain situations, but it is
one of those wonders that really can't be proven unless tried out. )

Our Victorian cast iron bath is on its original cast iron legs with no such
device - but no moisture comes into contact with the outside of the bath or
the legs. There needs to be moisture for an electrolytic action - and
different metals. If the legs are the same metal as the bath it shouldn't
happen.

Mary

 

[Graham Wilson]

Dry the bath with a towel and get a dry cloth with toothpaste on it and rub the
marks with it. Toothpaste is a very mild abrasive and it works wonders on
enamel and glass surfaces. I think it also contains a small amount of a bleach
type substance which helps to remove stubborn stains.

Tried it. Made no difference. Bath smells minty though.

Graham

 

[Graham Wilson]

K-rock jel works for me.

What's that? Where can you get it?

Graham

 

[Andrew Gabriel]

We are going to fit a new bathroom suite next year. However, in the
meantime, I wanted to try and clean the bottom of our existing enamel
bath.

Bare in mind that enamel is not as indestructable as it might
at first appear. In particular, a number of the descaling acids
can destroy the polished surface, leaving it rough and far more
suceptable to getting dirty.

 

[Dev Null]

In particular, a number of the descaling acids
can destroy the polished surface, leaving it rough and far more
suceptable to getting dirty.

I'll second that, having, in desperation, tried lavatory descaler on
my old enamel bath. Left quite perceptable grooves in the enamel
which 6 months later are only starting to lose their edge.

However it is now *white" rather than the dirty grey with blue and
yellow streaks below the taps that it was.

I blame washing machines ... when the weeks laundry was done in the
bath I suspect the bath was much cleaner!

DN

 

[Mary Fisher]

I'll second that, having, in desperation, tried lavatory descaler on
my old enamel bath. Left quite perceptable grooves in the enamel
which 6 months later are only starting to lose their edge.

However it is now *white" rather than the dirty grey with blue and
yellow streaks below the taps that it was.

I blame washing machines ... when the weeks laundry was done in the
bath I suspect the bath was much cleaner!

You could still wash your clothes in the bath ...


Mary

 

[Owain]

| > I blame washing machines ... when the weeks laundry was done
| > in the bath I suspect the bath was much cleaner!
| You could still wash your clothes in the bath ...

I use clothes washing liquid for cleaning the bath anyway. It's also quite
good on cooker grease.

Owain

 

[Mary Fisher]

| > I blame washing machines ... when the weeks laundry was done
| > in the bath I suspect the bath was much cleaner!
| You could still wash your clothes in the bath ...

I use clothes washing liquid for cleaning the bath anyway. It's also quite
good on cooker grease.

It is. I tend to use washing powder at home, liquid only when camping. The
powder is excellent for grese too. It also cleans paintbrushes - don't know
about rollers

Mary