Cleaning and other household issues...

[MarciKS]

I don't know if you all can see it but, that dark ring around the sink drain...I can't ever get rid of that. The sink is flat on the bottom like a box so the water sits right there 24/7. Any ideas on how to get rid of it? Do you think I could keep it gone if I wiped the sink out after every use? I'm not interested in hearing about whether there's already another thread on this. If there is then I'm sorry.

 

[CinnamonSugar]

Is your water heavy in minerals like lime? You can spritz with "Lime Away," let it sit a few minutes and see if it comes up easily with a damp rag or old tooth brush. Just a suggestion

 

[Aunt Marg]

It won't come out, Marci.

The porcelain under the ring is exposed and porous... not sealed by glazing, so whatever rust coloured water and/or dirt and debris has made it's way in and around the unglazed area, has stained the porcelain.

You can try a little bleach from time to time, which I suspect would help lessen the darkness, but aside from that the staining is there to stay.

 

[MarciKS]

It was brand new when the landlord rented me the place. I don't know if he realized it would do that. I'll see what I can do with these suggestions. Thanks.

If anyone else has any household issues feel free to participate. No reason why we can't help each other out while we're on here.

 

[MarciKS]

It won't come out, Marci.

The porcelain under the ring is exposed and porous... not sealed by glazing, so whatever rust coloured water and/or dirt and debris has made it's way in and around the unglazed area, has stained the porcelain.

You can try a little bleach from time to time, which I suspect would help lessen the darkness, but aside from that the staining is there to stay.

You don't wanna see the tub drain. LOL

 

[win231]

Do I detect a bit of frustration in your post?
I have that same issue with a couple of sinks & also a water ring in the toilet bowl that I can't get rid of. It probably has something to do with the mineral content in the city's water, which I have no control over. I wouldn't try too hard to get rid of it; you might damage the finish & it will look worse.

 

[Aunt Marg]

You don't wanna see the tub drain. LOL

Ours are bad, too, Marci.

We have older sinks and tub in our bathrooms, so the rust staining is really bad. We're hoping to redo our bathrooms in the next few years, and what a welcome that will be.

 

[Llynn]

Become one with the ring.....and have another Manhattan.

 

[MarciKS]

Do I detect a bit of frustration in your post?
I have that same issue with a couple of sinks & also a water ring in the toilet bowl that I can't get rid of. It probably has something to do with the mineral content in the city's water, which I have no control over. I wouldn't try too hard to get rid of it; you might damage the finish & it will look worse.

I use a glove and scrubber on the toilet because those brushes don't do squat.
I want to make it look nice without wrecking it. Our water has so much buildup the faucets get slimy where the screen is and I can't even get it off to clean it. And make this pink/orange colored stuff in the tub and sink. It causes mold in the toilet.

 

[Aunt Bea]

Try a paste of Barkeepers Friend and a nylon scrubber pad.

 

[RadishRose]

It may not be the porcelain but the drain itself is rusted. Maybe this will help.

 

[Aunt Marg]

It may not be the porcelain but the drain itself is rusted. Maybe this will help.

That's ours, but only worse.

 

[RadishRose]

Try a paste of Barkeepers Friend and a nylon scrubber pad.

This may work, but it is lightly abrasive and can degrade the porcelain finish over time, but it is SO great on stainless steel sinks, as is Cameo.

 

[win231]

Try a paste of Barkeepers Friend and a nylon scrubber pad.

I use that on stainless steel pans - it's great. But I wouldn't use it on a surface that has a coating.

 

[MarciKS]

It may not be the porcelain but the drain itself is rusted. Maybe this will help.

Between that and the mold that develops with our water that's probably it. I will have to discuss this with the landlord. I doubt he'll care but, maybe. Thanks.

 

[MarciKS]

It won't come out, Marci.

The porcelain under the ring is exposed and porous... not sealed by glazing, so whatever rust coloured water and/or dirt and debris has made it's way in and around the unglazed area, has stained the porcelain.

You can try a little bleach from time to time, which I suspect would help lessen the darkness, but aside from that the staining is there to stay.

I went around it with my fingernail after drying it. There's a seal there but, I think part of the issue is that the sink isn't curving into a bowl shape enough to allow that excess water to drain and it's causing it to muck up around it.

 

[MarciKS]

I used Comet on it. Maybe if I keep at it and make sure to dry that excess water up each time maybe that will help.

 

[jujube]

You can scrub a sink, bathtub or toilet with a piece of brick or a pumice stone (like what you buff your feet with) with no damage to the porcelain as the pumice/brick is harder than the lime deposits but softer than the porcelain. I've been doing that for years.

 

[MarciKS]

You can scrub a sink, bathtub or toilet with a piece of brick or a pumice stone (like what you buff your feet with) with no damage to the porcelain as the pumice/brick is harder than the lime deposits but softer than the porcelain. I've been doing that for years.

But will it get around the edges of a drain?

 

[jujube]

Well, the pumice wears down fast so you might be able to shape it to fit.

 

[Keesha]

Plain undiluted vinegar

 

[In The Sticks]

There's already another....

Barkeeper's Friend says it's OK for porcelain sinks & tubs.


Here's a pumice stick made for what you're trying to to:

I think I got mine at Lowe's. Walmart sells this but does not seem to stock it, at least in my region.

Then there's the Mr. Clean Magic Erase things. I've never used them.

 

[MarciKS]

I've used magic erase on white sneakers. That's all. LOL

Very interesting. Thanks for all the responses!

 

[In The Sticks]

One more thing...Lava hand soap has pumice in it. That might work.

My Walmart stocks it in the automotive aisle, not with the other soaps.

 

[C'est Moi]

I occasionally plug up my bathroom sinks and pour a little clorox in and let it soak for a couple of hours. We also have hard water, so using vinegar or bleach (NOT AT THE SAME TIME) works wonders.