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Advice with Cast Iron tub

6 years ago

Hello! I have just moved into my first flat, and we have a cast iron tub which is in quite a state. It's got yellow and light grey stains on the base and round the side, which I've tried to clean with so many different products and home remedies but they're just not budging. There's also a kind of hole like a paint crack on the rim on the bath.

My landlord has asked me to get quotes to have the tub re-enamled, so I put the job on 'myhammer' and a plumber says just to change the tub all together. I have a feeling the landlord really doesn't want to do this, and wants to keep the cast iron bath. I'm trying to work out whether it's really worth it for them either way and what the best option is. I don't care about it being a specific kind of tub, I just am sick of having to explain to guests that it's (hopefully) not a urine stain! Grim. Anyway, anyone who has experience with this I'd absolutely love any advice you have to give. Whether re-enameling is the right path or changing the bath altogether. I am a complete beginner to this all.

Thanks.

Natalie

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Comments (5)

writersblock (9b/10a)
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
If you are in the US, ask your landlord to get some ROG, if you aren't afraid of hard work. It's what hotels use so they don't have to constantly buy new tubs and it's quite expensive and labor-intensive but when all else fails it will sometimes clean things up.

You can't have cast iron re-enameled anymore due to EPA regulations and you would have had to pull the tub for that anyway. You can have it refinished, but that's just a fancy coat of paint. Some people have good luck with that, but most of the time it doesn't last long at all.
writersblock (9b/10a)
6 years ago
Actually, looking closer at the pics, I would say that tub has already been refinished and what you are seeing is the start of the fail of that. Your plumber is right--at this point a new tub is the best thing. Don't do the ROG on a soft surface like that.
Natalie Taylor thanked writersblock (9b/10a)
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sloyder
6 years ago
the tub should be replaced
Natalie Taylor thanked sloyder
hattysue
6 years ago
Ditto writersblock on the failed "reglazing." It comes with a zillion instructions on how to baby the new surface -- e.g., wash only with the tears of virgins -- and the things still self-destruct, even when the user is an owner, not a tenant.
kats737
6 years ago
Have you tried barkeeper's friend on the rusty spots? Make a moist paste and let it sit for awhile.

We have a refinished cast iron sink and I have to laugh about the 'tears of virgins' comment. I stand over it during my boys' bathroom routine - don't wash your hands in the sink (they have marker on them), don't leave your toothpaste spit on the sink, etc... After all my harping, fortunately we are 2 years in and it looks like new.

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