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[qualityshopper]

Our cousin just bought a home with an old porcelain bathtub. The previous owners left a Rubbermaid bath mat in the tub (didn't hang up to dry after using) which has left brownish stains on the porcelain. He has tried bleach, soap, Scrubbing Bubbles, and Comet Cleanser to remove the stains, but nothing has worked. Would anyone have any suggestions on what might remove them and restore the tub back to its white color? Thanks!

[NicksmomESQ]

Gp66 Miracle Green Cleaner!! I just purchased this from the Q! It really is a miracle cleaner.Awesome stuff. I would saturate the stains full strength & let it sit for ten minutes & rinse.If need be repeat & scrub with a brush before rinsing.The stains should come out.It may leave the area looking a little dull.No worries,spray some Windex on it & you won't believe the shine!!

[sandraskates]

I hope you get some good answers.

My experience is with an older tub that had similar discolorations but they were like tiny pinprick sizes. I ended up dabbing white applicance paint over them to disguise them. I am thinking that your cousin's tub may need to be resurfaced (for a lack of a better word and assuming that is possible).

Edited to add: I like @NicksmomESQ reply better than mine. :-)

[Havarti]

You might try placing a sponge over the spot and then soaking the sponge with hydrogen peroxide - let it sit for 5 or 10 minutes (check it after 5 minutes). Then rinse thoroughly. Good luck, I hope it works.

[Nonametoday]

Porcelain tubs are so precious.  She needs to love it.  If all else fails (I have done this so I know it works), there are people who paint bathtubs.  It looks like a brand new tub.  I have had two done.  

One was in a brand new house where the tub was placed in and a hole was knocked in it.  I asked the contractor to get me a new tub.  when I went back, there was my new tub, only he explained to me it was repaired and painted.  I told him I would not have it.  He told me if it did not hold up while I lived in the house, he would get me a new one.  I lived there 8 years and had forgotten that until one day in another house,

I remembered that  when I bought a previously loved home that had stains and wear from old age.  House was about 20 years old.  I called one of those people who does the repairs and painting to tubs.  

I lived in that house 12 years and it looked great when I moved.  She can go to yellow pages in phone book or google "paint/repair bathtub."  The same people who do that are usually the ones who spray your cabinets with an enamel-like paint in their shops.  The paint is similar to a body shop paint.

[DJP]

Kaboom! It can be found in grocery stores, etc.

[software]

Barkeepers Friend

Way more gentle than Comet but cleans great.

Rinse with vinegar, also finish with Magic Eraser.

Don't get in a hurry, it may take a few times of scrubbing but it's worth it,  you don't want to damage the finish.

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@qualityshopper wrote:

Our cousin just bought a home with an old porcelain bathtub. The previous owners left a Rubbermaid bath mat in the tub (didn't hang up to dry after using) which has left brownish stains on the porcelain. He has tried bleach, soap, Scrubbing Bubbles, and Comet Cleanser to remove the stains, but nothing has worked. Would anyone have any suggestions on what might remove them and restore the tub back to its white color? Thanks!

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[SilleeMee]

I second that for BARKEEPERS FRIEND. It also makes my stainless sink shine like crazy!

[mima]

Barkeepers Friend is the BEST!  Cheap too and can be found in the Mart stores.

[ceekay]

I had this same thing happen.  Stupid mat. I tried every product you can think of and finally gave up.  Then I was digging in the laundry room and saw one of those little bottles of Carbona stain devils (for clothes) that said it was for rust.  Figured I did not have much to lose.  It worked!  Now, I only had about a half dozen or so marks on a 50 year old tub that has seen better days.  And I did let it sit for quite awhile. The only other product I had not tried was Whink which I had hoped would be my ace in the hole.  Good luck!