Michigan State University Extension
Home Maintenance And Repair - 01500389
06/24/03

Removing Blue Stains on Bathroom Fixtures:


Blue, green or other unusual colored stains, can be
caused in old, badly worn bathtubs and sinks, from
cleansers not rinsed off thoroughly. When harsh abrasives
(such as most scouring powders) are used regularly on
these porcelain enamel surfaces, over several years they
wear down the smooth surface, leaving it rough. Dyes used
to encapsulate the cleaning particles in scouring powders
or other colored cleansers can get into the crevices of
such worn surfaces, and if not rinsed off, and allowed to
stay and harden for days, can be almost impossible to
remove. A strong chlorine bleach solution may lighten the
stain, but will also further dull or discolor the
porcelain surface. So one may have to live with the
stain.

This article was written by Anne Field, Extension
Specialist, Emeritus, with references from the Porcelain
Enamel Institute.

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