Stained cast iron bath.

[ConfusedDotty]

I have tried everything to get my white cast iron bath stain free. I bought some miracle bath cleaner some time ago which has roughened the enamel making it look permanently grubby. I do give it a good scrub with Cilit Bang which seems to do the job for a while.

Apart from a full reanamel does anyone have any ideas on what else I can use?

is it rust stain or limescale?

or is it that the glossy finish has been worn off the enamel (usually by the use of abrasive cleaners)?

how old is it?

This is why I would never have another one, it was so hard to keep clean

Have you tried bleach on a sponge?

Oops sorry I forgot I had started this thread

It's just the top coat shiny enamel. I think it's been caused by my aggressive cleaning. It's an old bath probably over 40 years old.

I have tried bleach and doesn't make much difference.

Think I will ultimately have to have it re-enamelled or get one of those plastic ones.

Thanks for your advice.

once the shine has been ground off, they do tend to hold dirt.

I have found the bathroom-cleaning sprays, and a coarse sponge or a green nylon scourer, do seem to get the ingrained dirt out. They are formulated to remove limescale and soap residues.

If you like iron baths (I don't) you can still buy them, or at a more modest price, there is a heavyweight grade of pressed steel bath. The enamel is very durable as long as you keep away from abrasive scourers. Bathroom cleaners should have a Tick on the label from the Vitreous Enamel Association

Best thing for enamel, once you have a new one, is to keep it dry - sounds stupid I know, but basically, there isn't a cleaner that is safe to use on enamel to remove limescale, so you should really empty the bath every time you use it and then dry it down once it's empty - sides included.

it's a bother but prevents the build up of limescale.

Once you hve scale, the VEA recommends you ship it offwith something plastic that won't damage or scratch the surface, I can't remember their other ideas but they have a very good website with a list of approved cleaning products, and tips on keeping enamel looking nice.

I hate plastic baths and will always have steel ones I think, wish we had softer water round here!

LOVE this site [bath geek]

We have a very long old iron bath which came with the house and was very worn and stained. I used one of the bath resurfacing companies and we were delighted with the result. It still looks like new after over ten years. It was, I believe a franchise operation but I forget which one. I am away from home at the moment but home tomorrow and will dig out the details. Much, much cheaper than a new bath and just as good.

Ooh please let us know if you find the details, I don't want to get rid of our 1930s one but it's looking distinctly jaded

amazonianwoman Just had a look and we used Colourbond, 01582 560381, which is a Luton number. He left a sticker on the inside of the bathroom cupboard, warning not to use hair dyes and, I have just noticed, to clean only with washing up liquid. I don 't know what our cleaner uses but it does not seem to have done it any harm.

Thanks winklewoman I'll give them a call to see if they have any links with northern companies.

Tubby bath resurfacing kit is a cheap and not too arduous way to re-enamel it yourself. Ours looked great afterwards.

We've got an ancient cast iron monster that has an appointment with a skip as soon as we agree on the new suite and mine was grubby so I bleached it. You need to use a proper thick bleach like domestos and leave it for 20 mins or so. Mine came up a treat but it was like a gas chamber in there