Ok, so not nearly as dramatic as the topic claims. Also, sorry for a second bath related discussion . Anyhow recently my mother came to visit and during one of her notorious "Oh my god I can't believe the dirt in this place" moments she decided to give our bath an unscheduled clean. Before I go on, it didn't need it honest . Unfortuantely for us we had a pot of seelut bong (missspelt in case of being sued) hanging around. My wife uses it to get the lime scale off the taps. Anyway I believe that is what she used as I only actually saw the liquid running down the bath when I went to find her. So, mum sprays the bath and it all runs down and collects at the bottom. She then cleans the bath and moves away humming happily. However as our bath is (was) a nice cast iron enamelled bath (50's in age) it now has large matt patches where once the finish was shiny. I haven't told her what she has done, and don't intend to, as she didn't mean any harm. Does anyone know what I can do to remedy the problem? I have read that you can get enamel touch up sprays and paints, but I have heard they do not always match the colour well (white in my case). Are there clear coats that can spray on to cover the now matt surface? The other problem is that the affected areas are now turning darker. Have read that hair bleach would remedy this.
Cheers for any help Druzil

Don't use any kind of bleach!
I'd suggest cream cleaner and elbow grease to try and get the shine back.

Really honestly do not waste your time and money on enamel patch kits. It will be much 'whiter' than your bath and will stick out like a sore thumb - much worse than a matt patch. We used a kit to renovate a small patch in our lovely little enamel bath, and it practically glows in the dark and makes the rest of the enamel look dingy. (We are going to have to buy a new bath )

Do you have a plumber's merchant nearby? If so I would go there and ask their advice, you don't want to do anything that will make it worse!

You will have to tell your mother too, if only to make sure it doesn't happen again.

The forementioned cleaning product scares me to death. The fact it is a 'general' cleaner and yet is marked as being hazardous (or corrosive, i forget which as i never buy it), was enough to put me off.

A bleach will only remove the colour from whatever it is that is staining the matt patches brown, i wouldnt use it myself in this instance as it will seep through further still and eventually begin to rust.

I know it is closing the door after the horse has bolted BUT for future, when using cleaning spray, you should dampen the area to be cleaned and spray from the BOTTOM upwards, cleaning in 'stages' from bottom to top, thereby reducing runs. The trouble will be telling this to your MIL who know doubt knows all there is to know about cleaning after all these years

quote:

Originally posted by bertie_boo:
The forementioned cleaning product scares me to death. The fact it is a 'general' cleaner and yet is marked as being hazardous (or corrosive, i forget which as i never buy it), was enough to put me off.

Agreed! Can you IMAGINE what it's doing to the environment?

Ah well, re: the environment, i have to admit my own opinions there are somewhat controversial.

quote:

Originally posted by SpampMan:
You will have to tell your mother too, if only to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Bang and the bottle is gone. From the bathroom that is. No real point in telling Mum, she is one of those capable women who doesn't really listen to reason much, as her own ideas are already entrenched. I don't really want to upset her as she does help us out so much, and she did not mean to cause a problem. Also I don't think it likely that she will ever have an enamel bath herself. Mostly this is because nowadays the remaining examples are not really perfect looking. I however prefer their heat retaining and size qualities over their plastic rivals.
Thanks Bertie for your advice. I had heard that hair bleach would remove the stain, but didn't know the lasting effect it might have.
Cheers Druzil

It isn't actually a 'stain' though is it? The product has taken the top finish off.

Don't give up hope though, I once borrowed one of those 'moisture mats' that you put under plants to 'water' them while you're on holiday, I put the mat plus plants in bath. When I got back a week later and removed it, I discovered the colour had leached out of the mat and left a pale green stain on the enamel, it looked hideous and immoveable. However with repeated washing (with mild bath cleaner type chemicals) it gradually disappeared. I think in your case Spamp's suggestion of how to try to regain the shine might work if you keep at it.

quote:

Originally posted by Druzil:

quote:

Originally posted by SpampMan:
You will have to tell your mother too, if only to make sure it doesn't happen again.

No real point in telling Mum, she is one of those capable women who doesn't really listen to reason much, as her own ideas are already entrenched.

That's exactly why I agree with SpampMan....

But of course it is up to you.