Stain Deposit Removal for a Porcelain Tub

Powdered Alum

• Powdered alum, available at grocery or drugstores, can be mixed with water to make a paste for cleaning a porcelain tub. For harder stains, make a paste using the alum and lemon juice, rub it onto the stained surface, let it dry and then rub it again with lemon juice before rinsing it off thoroughly.

Baking Soda

• Baking soda, whether used as a paste or in a solution of warm water, can be used for general porcelain cleaning. Baking soda cleaners may prove most effective at removing built-up soap scum and soil. A paste can also be made by combining baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Rub this mixture gently onto the porcelain with a soft cloth before rinsing and drying. Another scouring paste option suitable for removing hard water deposits and other stains is a combination of equal parts salt and baking soda mixed with enough water that it becomes a paste.

Vinegar

• Vinegar solutions can be utilized to remove deposits caused by hard water. Make a solution that contains equal parts vinegar and warm water and use a suitable scouring pad or cleaning cloth to rub the deposits off. Warmed vinegar can also be used to remove decals or other sticky materials from porcelain.

Removing Rust

• There are commercial rust removers for porcelain but you can also try homemade solutions. Scrub the stains with a salt and lemon juice mixture. If necessary, dip a cloth in the mixture and lay it over the stain for several hours. If this fails to remove the stain, a mixture that contains one part oxalic acid for every 10 parts water combined with enough cornmeal to create a workable paste may be more effective. Apply this paste to the stains and let it sit for three hours before rinsing it off with water.