Rechroming rusty plug holes / wastes

[EezyOozy]

Hi, our house has a bathroom that looks about 50 years old and I'm currently trying to tart it up in a very affordable way whilst we save up to have it completely gutted.

Anyway, one of the things I haven't figured out how to improve yet are the very rusty plug holes in the bath and sink. It doesn't look like rust that could be removed… It looks very eroded, almost like the previous owner has been pouring caustic soda or something down the drain. Can it be re-chromed somehow? I did think there might be some kind of special paint but I don't want it flaking off when the kids are in the bath! Alternatively is there anything I can do to cover it like put some kind of removable cover over them… Any suggestions welcome, please see pics. I also thought about replacing the plug holes but I reckon the wastes underneath will be completely rusted and it will be a massive job to do this…

Also, if anybody knows how to remove little rust stains from enamel please let me know!

I replaced mine with standard stainless steel ones. It was really easy thanks to youtube

I always swear by dettol power and pure bathroom spray for getting odd stains off enamel. It removed that green stain from a leaking tap that no scrubbing would remove and the remnants of tie dye kit.

Ah thanks ! If only mine had screws through the middle, they are actually entirely threaded into the waste underneath, and it's completely rusted fast, so we would need to go under bath and replace the entire waste😭 Which I don't think it would be easy because it's all rusted, I think it would be a big plumber job which I can't afford

Nightmare I still don't think it'd be a massive plumbing job. Hacksaw through the pipe underneath where it's threaded through then install new waste.

If you don't want to have a go yourself I would consider buying a new ones and then ask when plumber comes to do something else. I have new bath taps to go on and shower filter to be cleaned for when the boiler check is done in the summer. They just charge me for time when doing any extra odd jobs as they've factored in call out fee already.

Possibly patch up the non rusty one with a sharpie in the mean time. You can get paint that goes directly on top of rust in B and Q I did a gate in it and it's still rust free years later so I think it'd survive a bath but it'd look lumpy and a bit rubbish tbh.

I think somebody has been using an acid to remove limescale. It also removes chrome.

I don't think that's rust you can see, I think it's brass, which (on the red one) has been dezinkified by the acid, leaving copper.

You can remove rust stains with phosphoric acid. wet a bit of kitchen roll with it and lie it on the stain for 10 minutes (the tissue is to prevent it running off) then rub it. you need rubber gloves, goggles etc as it will eat holes in you and your clothes.

no point trying to tart up the wastes, bin them and fit new. Yours do not have the typical central screw, so they will be retained by a big nut underneath.

Thanks pigletjohn. Looks like I'll have to replace them after all!