Several proven ways to remove scratches on a bathtub

All kinds of damage to the bathtub bowl not only spoil the appearance of the plumbing fixtures, but also create inconvenience during operation. Therefore, any scratches, chips, or cracks that appear must be repaired in a timely manner.

Restoration is carried out in different ways depending on the nature of the defect and the coating of the bathtub. We'll tell you how to remove scratches on a bathtub in this article.

How to remove shallow damage?

Even small thread-like damage that does not reach the metal must be eliminated immediately, since dirt and microorganisms get into them, and the process of destruction of enamel or acrylic intensifies.

To restore the coating, a simple technology is used:

1. The walls, bottom, sides are thoroughly washed with a suitable cleaning agent, and the surface is rinsed. Wipe with a dry cloth or wait until it dries naturally.
2. Sand the area with fine sandpaper or a screwdriver with an abrasive disc until the surface becomes matte.
3. Apply fine-grained polish to the bowl. Using felt, rub the surface first in a horizontal direction, then in a vertical direction.
4. Polish the surface with soft wax polish. The treatment is carried out with a soft cloth until the coating becomes smooth and shiny.
5. Finally, the bath is washed with a gel or liquid foaming agent and rinsed.

For polishing, it is recommended to use lint-free cloth wipes. Suitable:

• microfiber,
• felt,
• cotton,
• flannel.

How to repair chips?

Broken areas of the bathtub require the use of special sealing methods. Suitable for this:

• making a porcelain patch;
• pouring BF-2 glue with pigment;
• sealing with putty and enamel;
• restoration with enamel.

Preparation

The final result largely depends not only on adherence to technology, but also on the thoroughness of preparation. This stage of work includes the following steps:

1. The damaged area is cleaned and degreased with soda powder, Pemolux or other cleaning agent.
2. The chip is polished using a drill with abrasive attachments. This will improve the adhesion of the mastic to the base.
3. The bath is rinsed and the treated surface is dried using a hot hair dryer.
4. The dry area is degreased with acetone, alcohol or thinner, and then primed.

The primer lays down in a more even layer and enhances the adhesion of the material if the area of ​​the bath to be treated is heated before applying it.

Making a porcelain patch

For work you will need any unnecessary or broken porcelain dishes and epoxy resin. When choosing porcelain, you should carefully select the color: it should best match the shade of the bathtub.

Repairs are carried out sequentially:

1. The porcelain is ground into a fine powder.
2. A layer of epoxy is applied to the chipped area.
3. Sprinkle the resin with porcelain powder.
4. Allow the time required according to the instructions to harden.
5. After 2-3 hours, the deep chip is again covered with epoxy resin.
6. Repeat sprinkling with crumbs and leave until hardened.
7. Polish the area with fine sandpaper.

Pouring BF-2 glue with pigment

The product known by this name contains polymer substances. They create a hard, durable but transparent patch on the surface of the chip. To ensure that it does not differ in color from the bath, pigment additives are used.

It can be:

• dry whitewash;
• dentifrice;
• crushed chalk

The repair process is as follows:

1. A small amount of pigment is added to the glue and the mass is mixed.
2. Apply white adhesive into the recess.
3. Leave the layer of glue on the bath for 24 hours.
4. If necessary, add a small amount of glue.
5. The new layer is also allowed to dry completely.
6. Polish the repaired area with the finest sandpaper.

The multilayer coating of BF-2 glue must dry for at least 72 hours.

Sealing with putty and enamel

You can remove chips on the font using automotive putty and auto enamel. These materials are resistant to water, temperature changes, and mechanical stress.

The work does not require special skills:

• putty is applied to the prepared chipped area;
• distribute the mass so that no bubbles remain;
• level the surface of the patch with a paint spatula;
• wait for the material to dry completely;
• polish the area with fine sandpaper;
• paint the frozen mastic with enamel.

Restoration with enamel

This is the least labor-intensive method. However, it does not guarantee a perfectly flat surface. To work, you must have enamel for restoration. It is made from synthetic resins. You can find such a product in plumbing stores.

This method is more suitable for fresh and small damage. In this case, it provides a long-lasting and durable coating on the bathtub.

This video will tell you how to repair chips on the bathroom surface:

How to cover up cracks?

If a through defect has formed on the bowl, due to which water has begun to seep onto the floor, it is necessary to use special repair methods. In different situations, experts offer three options to choose from.

But in each case, preliminary processing is necessary:

1. Rinsing the bathtub with a cleanser.
2. Anti-rust treatment if necessary.
3. Sanding the entire area with an abrasive attachment.
4. Expansion of the crack along its entire length.
5. Degreasing the defective area.

Abrasive treatment of the crack should cover the adjacent edges to a width of 1-2 cm.

Cold welding

Stopper holes measuring about 3 mm are made at both ends of the split. They don't have to be cross-cutting. Sometimes it is enough to perforate only one side. This measure is needed to stop the longitudinal spread of the defect.

After all the preparatory work has been carried out the crack is filled with cold welding and left for a day. For the sake of aesthetics, the top of the repaired area is covered with enamel.

Epoxy resin patch

After degreasing, the widened groove is filled with epoxy. Place a piece of fiberglass on top that fits the size of the crack and apply resin again.

After drying, these steps are repeated. Eventually you should get a patch that rises above the surface the rest of the bowl.

Sealing

This method is suitable for metal baths. First, the enamel is removed from the problem area, exposing the base of the bowl.

Further work is carried out using a soldering iron and lead-tin solder. The seam and the area around it are covered with enamel.

Sealing a crack gives a less long-term result, but can be used as an express method.

Features of repair depending on the material of the container

Plumbing fixtures can be made from different materials. Cast iron and steel containers are coated with enamel, which gives the bath an aesthetic appearance and protects the metal. An acrylic bathtub has a homogeneous layer made of a special type of polymer plastic.

Each type of material requires compliance with its own repair characteristics.

Cast iron

Restoration of the enamel coating of such a bowl depends on the scale and depth of the damage. Small scratches can be easily removed by sanding and polishing. To do this, use the standard method described above.

The preparation algorithm consists of the following steps:

1. The problem area is cleaned using special products. Surzha or Chistin Sanitary are suitable for this.
2. Deep damage is treated with oxalic acid or another potent anti-rust compound.
3. The selected product is applied directly to the metal, left for 15 minutes, then washed with water.

Acrylic

The easiest way to repair acrylic plumbing is to purchase a special repair kit. It includes:

• instructions;
• a set of waterproof sandpaper;
• polishing paste;
• acrylic reducer;
• polishing cloth.

To fill small scratches, it is convenient to use an acrylic pencil. The touch-up corrector has a thin brush that makes it convenient to apply the product. This method also requires subsequent grinding and polishing.

If, as a result of unsuccessful operation, a hole has formed in the acrylic bathtub, then it is closed using fiberglass and epoxy glue. The work is carried out using crack repair technology.

What can't be used?

When carrying out restoration work, some limitations should be kept in mind. To treat damage you cannot use:

1. Strong acids or acid-containing preparations. They can further damage the enamel and metal base of the bathtub.
2. Coarse sanding attachments. Their use can lead to thinning of the walls.
3. Acetone solvents for acrylic baths. Such compositions lead to clouding of the plastic and the plumbing fixture loses its beautiful appearance.

Additional Tips

To prevent the appearance of defects, as well as to effectively remove them, You should remember the preventive measures and repair recommendations:

1. When cleaning the bowl, do not use abrasives or rough brushes, as they can cause scratches.
2. When bathing animals, it is necessary to lay a polyurethane or fabric mat on the bottom of the bath.
3. It is recommended to protect plumbers from sharp and heavy products, the impacts of which lead to splits and cracks.

All the most important and useful information about cleaning the bathroom is collected in this section of the site.

Video on the topic of the article

This video will show you how to restore bathroom enamel:

Conclusion

There are different ways to eliminate scratches and chips on the surface of an enamel or acrylic bathtub. To remove defects use:

• grinding,
• polishing,
• covering the bowl area with special putty,
• epoxy resin,
• enamel,
• glue.

Through cracks require additional drilling and patches using glue and fiberglass. If you follow all the instructions, it is easy to restore the integrity of the bowl and continue its use.