Keep Your Bathtub Looking Wonderful

At the end of a hard day, especially in the middle of winter, chances are you'll want to complete the day with a wonderful hot bath. Nowadays it is a bit of a treat because baths use lots of water and you are more than likely saving it up for a special occasion and having a shower most other days.
But on the night you've decided to have a bath, the last thing you have is to find a problem with your bath. Nonetheless, these things do tend to happen occasionally and it is best to keep an eye on your bathtub every so frequently so you can do the necessary repairs before you've got a major problem and water is leaking everywhere.
If you have a fibreglass bathtub, you'll find it is usually covered in a polyester gelcoat. The good news is that you can easily buy a repair kit for gel coats from your plumbing or local hardware store. If you follow the instructions with care, you'll be able to complete the repairs yourself.
You may have a scratch on your acrylic bathtub. There is a chance that you adore your bathtub and you will not want to leave the scratch looking ugly in your bathroom. The easy solution is to use a car polish and apply carefully just as you would on a car, without using something abrasive.
Small chips on your acrylic bathtub can be repaired using a two-part car repair filler. Mix the filler as per the guidelines for applying to a car and mix in a small amount of acrylic paint so that it matches the color of your bathtub. Apply the filler and when it has hardened, rub it down with fine wet and dry sandpaper. It is important to keep it wet as you sand.
If you have a big chip in your acrylic bathtub, it is best that you call a specialist. These are not easy to fix all by yourself.
If you have an enamel bathtub, you'll find that the surface is like glass. It is usually very hard, but if it is hit, you'll find it can chip. For a small chip you can use nail polish. If the chip is bigger, you can use an epoxy resin repair kit, which is available from your local hardware store.
To do this, you must first clean the area and look for rust. If there is rust, then use a rust converter or remover. Then you can use a small amount of epoxy resin filler according to the guidelines. Use a spreader or plastic blade to apply it to the chip and then wipe off any excess straight away. The filler will take anywhere from twenty to sixty minutes to set, and once it has done this, smooth it with a fine sandpaper wrapped round a block of wood. It is important to not scratch any of the other enamel.
When you have fixed either the small or the bigger chip, you can use a suitable enamel paint. You might have to apply several coats, in which case, gently sand the set paint in between each application, once more taking care not to scrape any of the other enamel.
If you have youngsters living in the home, there is the possibility that over some time your enamel bathtub may become extensively damaged or stained. If this is the case, it is best to get a contractor to resurface your bathtub if you are not experienced at this sort of task. The contractor may finish the task onsite at your home. This is preferable because it means you don't have to remove the wall tiles and sheeting that can be expensive and time consuming, especially as you have to put them back up once more later. Or else the contractor will take the bathtub away to their factory where they will resurface it.
If you feel confident that you can do it yourself, you have to mask and cover all the adjoining surfaces and taps. If you have dripping taps, and you haven't got time to fix them yourself, which is clearly preferable given the amount of water that's unnecessarily going down the drain, you'll have to put plastic bags over the taps so that the water doesn't drop on the bathtub surface.
At first, give the bathtub a light sand and then wipe the surface with a cloth that has been dampened with mineral turpentine to get rid of any residual soap or body oils.
When the surface is completely dry, paint the surface, brushing up the sides from the bottom in a sweeping motion. Wipe up any wet runs straight away and work fast to keep a wet edge. If you're confident using a spray gun, use this with several light applications to give you a professional finish.
Then leave the room and close the windows and doors for twenty-four to minimise as much as possible the insects and dust. Then do not use for another two days, and even longer in cold weather, as the steam will have an affect on the paint.
If you have a spa bath in your home, the most effective way to look after it is to frequently wash it with warm soapy water or liquid cleaner using a soft rag. Do not use any sort of abrasive cleaner. If you have stubborn stains, you can use a fine cutting agent or toothpaste. To clear out the residue in the pipes and jets, add some dissolved nappy soaker powder to the spa with clean water and operate the spa for 15 minutes. Then flush the pipes and jets with disinfectant to rid them of bacteria. And if you like to use essential oils, check them first to see if they stain the spa bath.
Delimited Author Bio Resource Box
Scott Rodgers is a recently retired Los Angeles plumber and is dedicated to helping you keep your bathroom looking wonderful and working well. For more useful plumbing tips and information, visit Scott’s website: http://eLocalPlumbers.com

Article Source: http://www.urarticles.com

Scott Rodgers is a recently retired Los Angeles plumber and he loves to share his many years experience of baths and www.elocalplumbers.com/resources/supplies.php”>plumbing supplies. For more useful tips and information, visit Scott’s website: eLocalPlumbers.com

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated