Impossible bathtub ring... time to give up?

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

I have a bathtub with a dark ring I cannot get off, or even lighten. I'm looking for inspired ideas OR some sense knocked into me about letting it go as a mystery of the universe, because the days (truly) I've lost to trying to clean it with no progress have just about driven me mad.

About the bathtub/usage/water:

Enameled steel (based on look and the fact that it's magnetic)
I'm the first tenant in my new construction apartment and the only person using the tub. It's been just over a year of use.
I take baths semi-frequently but never with bath bombs or oils, just bubble bath
I do not use bar soap, just shower gel
Until recently I only cleaned the tub every couple months at best (oops...)
I live in NYC. We have soft water with somewhat high levels of naturally occurring iron. Recently when I fill the bathtub the water looks green from it, but that typically comes and goes.

I have tried, in order:

Kaboom Shower Tub & Tile Cleaner
Hot soak of OxiClean for 60+ mins
Paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, applied to ring and left to sit for 30-60 mins
Soft Scrub
Bon Ami scouring powder
CLR diluted to 1:1 product to water as instructions indicate
Toilet bowl cleaner left about 20 mins
1:1 mixture of hot white vinegar + blue Dawn dish soap left to sit 30-60 mins
Shower gel left to sit 30-60 mins
Easy Off Fume Free oven cleaner (blue can, no lye) left to sit over 3 hours
1:1 mixture of hot white vinegar + blue Dawn dish soap left to sit overnight

I'm not exaggerating when I say I've seen zero improvement with any of the above. But the tub was not like this when I moved in; it developed the dark ring over time. I was scared to try anything with vinegar or the oven cleaner because some sources said it could damage the finish but I got desperate. I haven't noticed finish damage as yet but running your fingers across the dry tub wall it's not as slippery as it is on the outside of the tub anymore, so that's either finish damage or a build-up I can't get off. At this point I'm afraid it's enamel wear and I'm seeing the steel show through the white coating somehow, but I can't fathom how that would've happened in a year of normal use. The only cleaner I ever used prior to trying to tackle the ring was the Kaboom, and not very often.

It proved pretty difficult to get a true-to-life photo, so hopefully this gives you the idea.

If anyone has any ideas, or even theories about why none of the above are working, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Featured Answer

Babar

7 years ago

mr clean magic eraser has worked for me on some things when cleaners failed

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Comments (12)

Nancy in Mich
7 years ago
Are you talking about the line of vague grayness toward the bottom of the tub?
djscurvy22
Original Author
7 years ago
Yes, in the photo it almost looks like a shadow but in person it looks like a dark ring, wider/darker in some spots than others. I'll see if I can get better photos, it's been hard to capture for whatever reason.
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Brittney E
7 years ago
Doesn't sound like you tried any bleach based cleaners???
djscurvy22
Original Author
7 years ago
That's right, everything I've read said that anything acidic (bleach) would hurt the finish on this type of tub. That's why I was afraid to even try vinegar. The more I look at it, the more I think I *have* dulled the finish now but I'd rather it look white and dull than shiny and stained.

I took some more pictures adjusting the lighting on my camera:

It doesn't seem like the tub could be dirty at this point, after all the cleaners I've put on it. I am just really frustrated because I can't figure out what even caused this marking and that it seems to be permanent.
hcbm
7 years ago
Bleach is not acidic it is a base. Please stop trying to clean the tub till you figure out if the tub is acrylic, fiberglass or porcelain tub. Unfortunately baking soda, Bon Ami and Soft Scrub are all abrasives and used aggressively or on the wrong finish cause damage. The dullness is damage and I am not sure if you can get the ring out. Please stop and only use something appropriate for the type of tub you have. Bleach based is probably fine. Your landlord will not be happy if you scratch that tub even more. And by the way I too live in NYC. The green you see in the water and the green stains you see occasionally on sinks from drips is actually copper from the pipes. Iron is brown and usually only found in our water when the pipes are galvanized or a water main has been disturbed. Good luck.
Laura Grosmaire
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
As hcbm said, bleach is basic. Vinegar (diluted acetic acid) is acidic. . .
djscurvy22
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks to everyone for the responses, and pointing out that bleach is not acidic. I tried bleach today diluted 1:1 with water. I tried soaking for 20 minutes as well as scrubbing the solution onto the ring with an old toothbrush. There was zero improvement.

That said, I think it is a finish issue with the enamel, not dirt. I don't think there is a solution other than refinishing the tub which is out as a renter. I'll have to learn to live with it unfortunately.
Laura Grosmaire
7 years ago
Candles are your friend. . .
christine 5b
7 years ago
Soaking for only 20 minutes is not long enough, I'd let it soak for a few hours
hcbm
7 years ago
Magic Eraser is also abrasive and should not be used on anything that says no abrasives it will scratch.
Olychick
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Do you think it could be one of those bath liner things like Bath Fitters (I think they are called?) where they install an acrylic liner to a steel tub. You'd then have it pass the magnet test but are dealing with a more delicate acrylic surface. I don't have familiarity with those liners, but I googled bathtub liner problems and one seems to be mold growing behind the liner. Could it be that?

https://www.doityourself.com/stry/eliminating-water-behind-a-bathtub-liner