How to Remove Rust Stains in a Bathtub

LESLIE: Mary in North Carolina is having a water issue at her money pit. How can we help you?

MARY: Yes. I have well water – well, I don’t anymore – but it’s been run over the several years. And the tub is porcelain and the tiles are not porcelain but they are stained with iron and I don’t – I have tried CRL, everything to try to get it out and I just can’t.

TOM: CLR, you mean.

MARY: Yes.

TOM: OK.

LESLIE: Hmm. And that’s usually the one that’ll do the trick. There’s one that’s called The Works, which is pretty much hydrochloric acid disguised in a clever cleaning bottle but it supposedly really tackles the toughest of rust stains. And I know people have used it with hard water or well-water stains and they say it’s the greatest. We don’t have that issue at our money pit but I know a lot of people lean to this. You just need to be very careful with the directions.

MARY: OK. Now, The Works is just a pump bottle. I’ve used that, also.

LESLIE: Wow, really?

TOM: Yep. I think you might be looking at some elbow grease here, Mary. I think you’re going to have to use some sort of an abrasive like a pumice, to get down in there.

MARY: OK. OK.

TOM: And listen, if all else fails, the other option is to add a tub liner.

MARY: A tub liner.

TOM: And a tub liner basically drops into the existing tub and surrounds the whole thing.

LESLIE: It’s like a bath surround.

MARY: OK.

LESLIE: One of them is Bath Fitter. You know, there’s so many different companies that do it.

MARY: What about the tile around the tub, though?

LESLIE: The liners – the surrounds – they’ll have wall surrounds and wall liners. You can even add in handy, little soap-dish holders and shampoo holders.

MARY: Oh, OK.

LESLIE: But that really just surrounds everything that’s there, so you never see it again.

MARY: And the pumice cleaners are just – do you have any by name or anything?

TOM: No. As long as – you can search for pumice cleaners online. You’ll find a whole bunch of options.

MARY: And would you try that first?

TOM: By this point, I would try it next.

MARY: OK. OK.

TOM: Alright, Mary?

MARY: OK. Well, thank you so much for having me on.

TOM: You’re welcome, Mary. Good luck with that project. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.