How do you get brown sulfuric acid stains out of a porcelin bath tub?
Question:I used sulfuric acid to clean out the drain in my tub. It was very clogged. The drain runs fine now, but I have brown stains virtually all over my tub now. I don't even know how it really happened because I tried to be careful to just get the acid in the drain only. Is there a way to remove the stains? I've tried normal cleaners and S.O.S pads. So far nothing has helped.
Answers:
Sulfuric acid is very caustic.This is usually a last resort for a bad clog.I hope you ran alot of water down the drain after you were done.Don't let it sit in there too long or it could eat away at the plumbing.It will also "etch" the porcelain on a tub if not rinsed immediately.
The spots probably came from the (clog)reaction and gurgled back up the drain hole onto the tub.Kind of like using a blender with the top off.
There is a product called "Whink" or "CLR" for stains which may or may not work.You could also try Mr Clean Magic Eraser.
Sorry to say,if the porcelain is etched from the acid nothing will remove the stains because the acid "eats into" the tub finish.You can have the tub refinished or lined,or replaced.
Could be you burned the porcelin. Nothing will remove that. You could try the porcelin cover paints. Otherwise you may be to get a tub insert. (I did the same thing to a sink..stainless steel. Bought a new sink..a lot cheaper than anew tub or insert, sorry)
Don't play with sufuric acid....I hate to think what you did to the pipes......
If it is just a surface stain then you may want to try a pumice stone(not the foot stone, but the one found at walmart on the cleaning isle). I have used it on all porcelain surfaces, especially the toilet. Just wet stone then gently rub back and forth, keeping stone wet till the stain disappears.
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