How to Get a Dull Enamel Finish Shiny Again
How To Clean an Old Porcelain Enamel Bathtub or Sink
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Cast-atomic number 26 bathtubs and sinks are a common fixture in older homes, and at present 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 ane discolored and dingy tub or sink. Here are a few tips to keep the porcelain on your antiquarian fixture looking side by side-to-new.
Bandage-fe 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 end. If you use the wrong products, you volition accelerate the degradation of the surface, so let's begin by talking well-nigh what non to use. Abrasive cleaners such every bit scouring powders, white vinegar (or other cleaners with a high acidic content), and steel wool should all be avoided, as they can impairment 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.
Materials and Tools
- liquid dishwashing soap
- ammonia
- blistering soda
- lemon oil
- tabular array salt
- a lemon
- a bucket
- soft (nylon) sponge
- cleaning rag
How to clean your porcelain fixtures weekly:
Like anything else in your bathroom, your charming bathroom fixtures need weekly cleaning. Hither's a routine we recommend:
- Mix one gallon of hot water with 2 tablespoons of dishwashing lather (anything with a grease cutting amanuensis volition work)
- Utilise a soft rag or sponge to dip into the soap mixture and scrub the tub or sink
- Rinse well
How to deep clean your porcelain fixture:
Weekly cleaning with hot h2o and dishwashing lather is great, merely for deep cleaning, we recommend blistering soda and ammonia. Endeavour this routine if you have a brand new fixture that needs a deep clean (when moving into a new home or cleaning up a newly purchased vintage tub or sink), and keep it up at least once a month or every other month:
- Pour warm water into a saucepan and mix ¼ cup of baking soda and ¼ cup of ammonia (While blistering soda is slightly abrasive, it'southward mild and generally safe to apply on porcelain. The ammonia is great for cutting grease and removing soap scum buildup.)
- Soak a non-annoying sponge in the baking soda/ammonia solution and scrub the surface of your porcelain bathtub or sink, paying particular attention to stained areas
- Dip the sponge in the solution, scrub and echo until you're satisfied
- Rinse well
- After rinsing, wipe thoroughly with a clean rag or the blistering soda will leave a white movie behind
How to remove rust stains from porcelain tubs and sinks:
If y'all have a rust stain (or any other marks or filth that the in a higher place techniques tin can't touch on) yous tin can try this method equally a last resort:
- Comprehend the stain with table salt
- Take half of a lemon and squeeze the juice over the common salt
- Scrub the table 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 hr or and then, and then squeeze more than lemon juice on the stain and attempt scrubbing the stain once again
- Rinse and wipe clean
To shine and add together a protective coating:
As a finishing touch on, here'southward how to requite your porcelain bathroom fixtures a fiddling sparkle. The lemon oil will help repel soap scum and other dirt to keep the sink/tub clean longer (and it smells good, too):
- Squeeze a small amount of lemon oil onto a clean rag
- Rub the lemon oil into the sides of the porcelain bathtub or sink, fugitive the bottom of the tub to prevent slipping
Boosted Notes:
- Bathtub rings can usually be blamed on oily bathroom products or a clogged drain. Keep the drain clog-complimentary, and if you use a bath oil production, brand sure to do a quick cleaning later.
- It's always wise to test a small-scale subconscious section kickoff to ensure that the cleaner will non cause whatever agin effects to the surface of the porcelain.
- If none of these suggestions piece of work and your tub or sink still looks a bit lackluster, it might exist 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 normally shoddy and do not last. Unlike fiberglass or acrylic, your cast-iron fixture can stand up the exam of time, so it's well worth the expense to hire a specialist for the job.
Edited from an original post published on i.20.11 past Kimber Watson – TW
Source: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-an-old-porcelain-enamel-bathtub-or-sink-137148
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