# How the heck do you get a stain out of..... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 4, 2001, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-get-a-stain-out-of/74931 "2001-08-04T22:09:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Patricinus\_Scriblerus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@Patricinus\_Scriblerus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patricinus_Scriblerus)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-get-a-stain-out-of/74931/1 "2001-08-04T22:09:07Z")
I recently bought an 80 year old character house. Along with the squeaks I also got a big claw-foot tub. The only problem is that it has some stains on it (from what I have no idea, nor do I want to know) Is there an efficient way to clean the enamel in a claw-foot tub WITHOUT getting the whole thing refinished?? It doensn’t need refinishing as the enamel is in relatively good shape (the stains are at the bottom of the tub). Please help before my wife makes me go swirling down the drain. ---
**Author:** ![xcheopis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xcheopis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xcheopis)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-get-a-stain-out-of/74931/2 "2001-08-04T22:24:38Z")
My kitchen sink is enamel and stains quite easily. I’ve found that spraying the sink with regular **Easy-Off Oven Cleaner** and leaving it on overnight removes the worst of the stains. Lighter stains then come off with a bit of scrubbing. If you should choose this method, then be sure that the area is well ventilated before spraying. Spray an even layer of foam and leave on for at least 8 hours. Rinse and scrub with cold water. ---
**Author:** ![bare](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bare/32/471_2.png) [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-get-a-stain-out-of/74931/3 "2001-08-04T23:51:58Z")
If you are looking at brown rusty stains, it is probably simply a matter of hard water. If that is the case Just stick the plug in and pour vinegar in, let it soak and use a scrub brush to work it around a bit occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-get-a-stain-out-of/74931/4 "2001-08-05T14:48:59Z")
Its probably just lime. Go to the store & get something to get rid of lime stains. You can use vinegar but its not as strong. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-get-a-stain-out-of/74931/5 "2001-08-05T15:37:47Z")
If vinegar doesn’t work…try CLR cleaner…get it at any hardware store. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-get-a-stain-out-of/74931/6 "2001-08-05T22:52:54Z")
Youll have to do it several times too. The strongest stuff I have used is this legal sulfuric acid drain cleaner that comes in a white plastic bottle that our local hardware store has. Costs about $7.00 I got some on my lime stains once & it cleared it off in no time. However, that stuff fumes like crazy so pour it & run & be very careful. ---
**Author:** ![Patricinus\_Scriblerus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@Patricinus\_Scriblerus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patricinus_Scriblerus)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2001, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-get-a-stain-out-of/74931/7 "2001-08-08T17:41:51Z")
It’s not lime or rust… It’s not by the drain it’s in the middle of the tub. To be honest I don’t really WANT to know what it is I just want it to go away. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2001, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-get-a-stain-out-of/74931/8 "2001-08-08T18:40:42Z")
Try a mixture of cream of tartar (it’s in the spice section at the grocery store) and hydrogen peroxide. Make a paste and spread it on the stains; leave for a couple of hours and then rinse. It’s supposed to work miracles on those stubborn tub stains. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2001, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-get-a-stain-out-of/74931/9 "2001-08-08T21:31:06Z")
Our old tub was horribly stained when we moved in this house. Mostly rust. The well and service pipes were rusting badly and the rust has only one way to go. I tried everything I could buy and finally found a product,I’ll have to ask my wife what it was called, that removed the rust. The problem was it also removed the top enamel surface. The under surface is porus and now it stains from everything and looks dirty all the time. I wish I had waited and asked a profesional before I used that stuff. Be back soon with the product name. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2001, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-get-a-stain-out-of/74931/10 "2001-08-08T23:11:09Z")
Use phosphoric acid if it’s only rust. It will be in the hardware section in a jar labeled rust remover. It’s a pink gel. It’s not extremely caustic, so it shouldn’t damage the surface finish. They also add it to most pop, yum yum. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-heck-do-you-get-a-stain-out-of/74931/11 "2001-08-09T02:15:25Z")
She says she thinks its called “The Works” for tubs.