Hi,
My bathtub is cast iron and 62 years old. The previous owner was elderly and wasn't able to clean very well. It has quite a bit of calcium, lime, soap scum and rust deposits. From reading this group and various other sources I know I need to clean it with acid I'm just not sure which would be better - phophoric or oxalic acid (aka wood bleach). I know oxalic is poisonous and phosphoric is little easier to deal with but I want the best results possible. Refinishers do an acid cleaning before they refinish a tub. Anyone know what they use? I would appreciate any info you may have regarding acid use for cleaning a tub with these kinds of stains.
Also, after cleaning does it make any sense to use a polishing compound to buff out the tub? I'd like to restore whatever luster or life it has left in it and I don't want to resurface. I was thinking of a buffing compound such as what is used on cars after they are newly painted. I believe this has a componenet similar to a very very fine grit wet/dry sand paper. Aren't tub paints similar to what are or used to be used on cars?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Please e-mail direct to snipped-for-privacy@sbcglobal.net
Thanks very much.