What Can Be Used to Stop Rust From Continuing to Form at the Bottom of a Bathtub?

Rust

• Rust is actually a chemical reaction between the iron found in metals and the oxygen found in water. If you have an older tub, the rust forming at the bottom of the bathtub could be caused by the iron found in the drain cover. However, since most sinks and tubs nowadays have rustproof drain covers, it could be your water that's causing the rust instead.

Hard Water Stains

• The rust could also be caused from the excess iron found in hard water. The water often accumulates at the bottom of the tub and is slower to evaporate. If you have rust problems in other areas of the home --, such as in the kitchen sink, bathroom sink and in the laundry -- chances are you do have hard water. Therefore, consider having your water tested by a local lab to see if your water has more than 0.3 ppm of iron, which is the mark where rust becomes an issue. Companies that sell water filtration systems sometimes check water for hardness too, often for free.

Prevention

• If you have an excess amount of iron in your water, consider having a water softening system installed in your home. Otherwise, after bathing or cleaning the tub, pour about 1 quart of bottled water or water from a friend's house down the drain to rinse the hard water away. Whether your water is hard or the drain is old and not rustproof, dry the drain cover with a rag after using the tub. You can also replace the drain cover with a stainless steel version or another rustproof cover. Another option is to coat the cover with a waterproof anti-rust paint.

Removal

• To remove hard water or rust stains, clean the tub and drain area with vinegar or lemon juice. Commercial products are also sold to remove rust and hard water stains and often work well. A car part lubricant, such as WD-40, also can clean rust from metal. Spray it on, then scrub the drain cover with steel wool. Do not, however, clean the rust stains with bleach. Bleach will set in the rust stains permanently.