Bleach-stained Red Bathtub Turned Sparkling White Again

Lana Jane Fox
by Lana Jane Fox
$5
30 Minutes
Easy
Now I now what you'll say. Wash your bathtub every week, instead of once every six years and you won't get a filthy bath. I know, I know. But here is what really happened... I went to clean some yellow streaks I noticed on the side of my bathtub and I decided I should probably try using bleach. Now I didnt know however what bleach will do to my old porcelain tub with a ferrous (iron) component. Now I don't know whether it was the hard water as well, or something else, but when I poured the bleach and came back a few hours later I was shocked to see my bathtub resembled a crime scene. My natural reaction was to turn the water on and scrub. I scrubbed and scrubbed to no avail. At this point I panicked and thought I permanently damaged our bathtub. I started doing research and came across hydrogen peroxide which some online users claimed it work. I got it in a spray bottle as this is the easiest way to distribute it evenly. Instant results followed!
Caution: Don't tell me I didn't warn you about this - Open the windows and DO NOT INHALE The CHLORINE GAS.
Before and After Image
The Product I Used
The Rusty Stains immediately after I sprayed them
The rusty stains 2 minutes later
The rusty stains 10 minutes later.
Lana Jane Fox
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Go
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 41 questions
  • Janie Canales Janie Canales on May 01, 2020

    So is it safe on a cast iron tub? This one is from the 50's.

  • Aprile Aprile on Apr 28, 2022

    Not sure where chlorine gas comes in? What would cause that if u r only using hydrogen peroxide

  • Srb68352288 Srb68352288 13 hours ago

    How long before the stains returned?


Comments
Join the conversation
3 of 94 comments
  • Jacqueline Williams Jacqueline Williams on Dec 11, 2022

    I use Whink to do the same thing; although Peroxide is probably less expensive. Whink works when put on rust stains on clothes too.

    • Robyn Robyn 19 hours ago

      You need to be super super careful with this stuff! I spilled some on a washer and it literally ate through the white finish. It’s great for fabrics and I used it on a laminate floor to remove rust stains from refrigerator feet that left rust “circle” stains, but I would NOT NOT NOT use it on a bathtub without calling the company to see how it will affect the finish first.

  • Worked on my bathtub. It's porcelain, and almost 50 years old but it made the rust around the bleach dispenser on my washing machine worse.

Next