Stains, Rust and Scratches: How to Clean a Cast Iron Tub

March xix, 2022

Your cast atomic number 26 tub is the focal signal of your bath, if non your entire domicile. It's timeless, luxurious and sophisticated. Y'all and your guests might just exist tempted to dip into it on a daily basis — until it gets muddy, that is.

A cast iron tub tin begin to appear stained, scratched or dirty for a number of reasons. Hither's how to the clean cast atomic number 26 properly then yous can extend the life of your unique bathtub and continue using it for years to come.

How to Clean a Cast Iron Tub

Cast iron tubs are a coveted item in the world of home renovation and design. Only when it comes to maintaining the cast iron tub through cleaning, it'due south not actually cast iron that you're dealing with. In fact, bandage iron tubs are typically coated with a layer of enamel, explains Brittney Morgan at Apartment Therapy. This ways that stains, scratches and other forms of wear and tear will really need to be removed from the blanket, non the cast iron itself.

Keeping this in mind, you lot'll accept to determine which kind of stain you're dealing with then that you lot tin can choose the proper cleaning agent.

Iron Stains

Stains that appear in shades of orange, red or brownish are likely the cause of high iron deposits in water, says Deborah Stephenson at Hunker. She adds that while these stains can be particularly hard to remove, lemon juice and salt can work wonders on removing iron from porcelain or enamel.

Iron in articulate h2o appears orange and reddish over time because it builds up and then rusts in the tub, explains the team at the Make clean Water Store. Iron is particularly prevalent in well water: At levels higher than 0.3 parts per 1000000, information technology can cause staining of fixtures and wearing apparel. "After exposure to oxygen, or after the improver of oxidants (such as chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide), this ferrous atomic number 26 will be oxidized ("rusted") to the ferric form to grade insoluble particles," the team writes.

Another sign that you lot have h2o with a high iron content is if y'all experience rust deposits or stains on freshly done clothing, according to the Minnesota-based water softening visitor Water Doctors. A metal flavour or smell in water coming from the tap is also a telltale clue that the water has high iron deposits. Call back, just 0.3 parts per one thousand thousand is enough iron to cause staining and temporary damage to your fixtures, so it's important to identify your water'due south iron content early on.

If you begin to discover these furnishings simply you aren't sure what's causing them, it might be worth getting your tap water tested so that you know how to clean your tub best.

clean a cast iron tub

Copper Stains

Yous might as well be faced with greenish or blue stains in your bath. If you run into these stains in the tub, sinks and toilet, information technology'southward likely the consequence of copper pipage. Copper pipes and fixtures leave deposits in your water that eventually undergo oxidation, which is what causes the discoloration, explains water treatment company Aquarius Dwelling house Services.

Many people associate greenish stains with mold, which tin can atomic number 82 to improper cleaning and care of the bathtub. While these stains are commonly mistaken for mold, they don't pose any threat to your wellness. Plus, they're easy to remove with the proper tools and products. The squad at Aquarius suggests using vinegar, flour and salt to remove stubborn copper stains from your cast iron tub.

"Create a paste by mixing together equal parts white vinegar, flour, and salt. Utilize this paste to whatever copper stains in your bathroom. Let it to sit down for thirty minutes, then launder it away with some soap and h2o," they write.

Gentle Cleaning with Household Ingredients

Common household products tin can work wonders when it comes to cleaning a bandage atomic number 26 tub. Baking soda is a primal item when deep-cleaning your bathtub. The beginning step in using baking soda is to sprinkle the tub liberally with the product, according to licensed contractor,  Brittany Bailey at the Pretty Handy Girl web log.

Then, she says to scrub the surface with a sponge, which helps release the deposits and rest on the tub's surface. Next, she suggests pouring vinegar into the tub and onto the sponge to loosen upwards the deposits.

Apartment Therapy'southward Ashley Poskin agrees that baking soda is a great way to clean the tub on a monthly or bi-monthly ground. She suggests using the baking soda with ammonia, however, which tin cutting through grease and remove soap scum buildup.

Another natural cleaning solution comes from Kim and Scott Vargo of the pop DIY blog, Yellowish Brick Dwelling. The couple explains how a combination of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and lemon works wonders for their enamel cast atomic number 26 sink. This aforementioned strategy tin be applied to a cast iron bathtub. Using a non-abrasive scrub pad, they suggest sprinkling the surface with blistering soda before following with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. Then, the grime will wipe away with gentle, consistent circular motions around the drain.

The lemon is a great addition because information technology acts equally a natural bleach and can freshen up both the tub surface and the drain.

Deep-Cleaning Tough Tub Stains

Using a non-annoying sponge to scrub the tub with natural methods, such as baking soda and ammonia, can remove tough stains without causing any damage to the tub.

In fact, annoying cleaners and scrubs should always be avoided when cleaning a porcelain enameled tub, explains Illinois-based company Ravinia Plumbing. "Practise not use steel wool, wire brushes or abrasive sponge pads on any part of the item, as they tin scratch or harm the surface," they advise.

For stains that are harder to remove, tougher cleaning options be. For instance, cleaners purchased from the store can also work well for cleaning tub stains. Foam cleansers are much ameliorate than powered agents because they won't take chances scratching your tub, says Enquire a Make clean Person podcast host Jolie Kerr. She stresses the importance of testing these cleansers in a pocket-sized area of the tub first, to ensure they won't have whatsoever negative reaction with the tub or cause scratching.

One rule of thumb is to opt for a cleaner with a Ph of between three and eight, says Ask the Builder'southward Tim Carter. The number indicates how acidic or alkaline that cleaner is, and getting i inside the three to eight range can ensure it won't crusade additional tub damage. These cleaners should as well exist used sparingly over time, as overuse tin contribute to unintended impairment. A deep clean should be repeated every month in order to keep mineral deposits from building up in your tub and causing discoloration.

cleaning a cast iron tub

Removing Enamel Fries and Scratches

Once y'all've removed stains and discoloration, you may all the same accept lingering fries and scratches in the enamel. These can always be filled in and repaired with the right touch-upwards strategies.

"Small chips and dings can be repaired with an inexpensive porcelain touch-up solution, available online and at dwelling-comeback centers," says abode adept, writer and HGTV personality Don Vandervort. He adds that information technology's of import to lucifer the color of the paint exactly to the tub so that yous're not faced with an uneven surface tone once the paint dries.

Before applying paint to the chip or scratch, yet, it's essential to remove any flaking or damaged paint from the area, says professional remodeling and comeback writer Lee Wallender at The Spruce.

"If a swell deal of pigment needs to be removed, use a new straight razor blade with the blade held at near apartment against the surface," he explains. And then, the expanse should be cleaned to remove any microscopic bits. Finish the preparation process by sanding down the imperfections. He suggests using at least a 600-dust wet-dry out sandpaper for this. This is because whatsoever flakes or existing chips tin get trapped in the drying paint, which can wait uneven and unsightly.

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