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Cleaning Up:  Suggestions for lifting stains from a tub?  |
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Lyndell
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Leah
Richwood
Ohio
USA
61 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 11 2012 : 1:05:06 PM
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Okay ladies, I'm in need of some help. I moved in with my partner earlier this year, and we live in an area that has VERY hard water. In addition, before I moved into the house he had only been cleaning the tub on a semi-regular basis. Which isn't to say that he wasn't cleaning it, only that he would wait until it got pretty bad or he had enough free time before tackling the project... you know how it is. So, the end result is that our tub/shower has some stains that I'm having a super tough time lifting. I can get rid of the bright orange rust stains no problem, but I'm still left with some unsightly discoloration. I've tried your typical all-purpose cleansers and abrasives--even the magic eraser--to no avail. I'm not extremely worried about it since we will be remodeling the bathroom in the future, but if anyone knows any cleaning tricks I'd be glad to hear them!
Here are a couple pictures of what I'm talking about:
^ See the drippy streaks? They're actually stains.
^May be a little hard to see in the photo, but there are streaks and spots all over the floor of the tub. The funny fish outlines are from where I peeled up some non-slip bathtub stickers that came with the house!
http://foxgloveandfolksongs.blogspot.com
Farmgirl Sister #4236 |
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2012 : 1:44:37 PM
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clorox outdoor bleach will clean it. It is a bit harsh, but will clean it and then you can maintainit. I moved into a house that was way worse than that and it made it look new, so white. But again harsh,wear a mask.
Teri
"There are black sheep in every flock"
White Sheep Farm
www.whitesheepfarm.com |
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Lyndell
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Leah
Richwood
Ohio
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2012 : 6:14:43 PM
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If I use bleach, will it affect the color of the tub? It may be hard to see in the photos, but the tub is actually an almond color and not white.
http://foxgloveandfolksongs.blogspot.com
Farmgirl Sister #4236 |
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Annette Kath
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Annette
Carlock
IL
USA
198 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2012 : 8:54:28 PM
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Have you tried Barkeepers Friend?
Annette |
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Lyndell
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Leah
Richwood
Ohio
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - Sep 12 2012 : 07:37:23 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Annette Kath
Have you tried Barkeepers Friend?
That's primarily what I use. I love that stuff!
http://foxgloveandfolksongs.blogspot.com
Farmgirl Sister #4236 |
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Neecerie
Farmgirl in Training
31 Posts
Denise
Kirkland
WA
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - Sep 12 2012 : 08:11:16 AM
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The other thing you can do if it is discoloration and not say an actual hard water stain.....is fill the tub up and dump a few scoops of oxy clean in it...let it set for as long as you can do without that tub for.
Its a lot less harsh then bleach and will not turn the rest of the tub white, just lighten the stains
The world's only Art Deco farmgirl?
#4509 |
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nut4fabric
True Blue Farmgirl
885 Posts
Kathy
Morgan Hill
CA
USA
885 Posts |
Posted - Sep 12 2012 : 08:14:27 AM
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Bleach won't hurt the color of the tub as the color is IN the fiberglass or porcelain.
Kathy |
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one_dog_per_acre
True Blue Farmgirl
1572 Posts
Trish
Sandpoint
ID
USA
1572 Posts |
Posted - Sep 12 2012 : 2:38:07 PM
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Pasty borax, or maybe leave a vinegar rag over it overnight.
“It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.”-Charlie Brown |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Sep 12 2012 : 3:17:57 PM
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Make a paste with Barkeepers Friend. Rub it into the area and let it set for about 10 to 15 minutes. Come back and scrub the area good. Rinse.
I love that stuff.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Sep 12 2012 : 6:20:15 PM
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| If you have a septic tank, you shouldn't use Clorox. White vinegar would be my first choice. I agree with Trish about the method to use: saturate some towels with it and leave them there. |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Sep 12 2012 : 6:31:09 PM
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| Thanks to those who've recommended Bar Keeper's Friend. I looked it up online and it sounds like really good stuff. I'll look for it next time I go shopping. |
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hialtfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
72 Posts
Terri
WA.
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - Nov 20 2012 : 03:39:58 AM
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"Lemon shine" is a citric acid based scrubber....I dont know if you like chemicals or not, but, a toilet cleaner will work too...
"LOVING" life at 4000 feet..."LOVE" is a very splendid thing... |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2013 : 9:26:59 PM
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I have hard water, also. I make a paste with Bar Keepers Friend. Let it set a while, then scrub it off.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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princesspatches
True Blue Farmgirl
431 Posts
arttie
iron mountain
michigan
USA
431 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2013 : 03:39:31 AM
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I have found this tub and bathroom cleaner at Home Depot. It is ZEP. It is in a blue spray bottle. Sometimes you just need a little chemical warfare.
I use it in our rentals to get everything spotless. The last renter worker in a steel factory. And never cleaned the shower. I got it clean with this stuff.
Works great. Pretty cheap. Like $3-4 a bottle. Spray it on an let it sit for 15-20 min and scrub it off.
Good luck.
Arttie |
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Cleaning Up: Suggestions for lifting stains from a tub? |
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Suggestions for lifting stains from a tub?
