Remove clothing dye from bathtub?
November 3, 2018 7:31 PM Subscribe
I let some newish black clothing dry on my shower curtain rod, and they dripped dye on to the bathtub which has now left resistant black and blueish stains. Any tips on getting it out?
Things I have tried to no success: standard eco cleaner, Scrubbing Bubbles (which has never failed for me with hair dye stains), vinegar & baking soda soak, Vim. I don't know what kind of bathtub it is or how to check but it's an older building and doubt it's been replaced recently.
Things I have tried to no success: standard eco cleaner, Scrubbing Bubbles (which has never failed for me with hair dye stains), vinegar & baking soda soak, Vim. I don't know what kind of bathtub it is or how to check but it's an older building and doubt it's been replaced recently.
Bleach would probably work.
posted by pintapicasso at 8:01 PM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by pintapicasso at 8:01 PM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
you can just get that old fashioned comet bleach powder in the green can and mix it with enough water to make a thick paste, and leave the paste on the stains for however long it takes to disappear them. i would just smear it on and leave it overnight but if you want to be cautious you could do it in 15 minute intervals for as long as it takes.
posted by poffin boffin at 8:03 PM on November 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 8:03 PM on November 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
If your clothing is made of wool or some other animal (protein-based) fibre, then it was dyed with an acid dye and you should try an alkaline substance to remove it (like straight baking soda, but washing soda would be better). If your clothing is made from cotton or another plant-based fibre, it was dyed with a basic (alkaline) dye and you can try acidic substances to remove it (straight vinegar). If neither of those work, try an oxygen-based bleach product (Oxy-Clean) or maybe peroxide.
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 8:09 PM on November 3, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 8:09 PM on November 3, 2018 [10 favorites]
Bleach or Comet with bleach should do it, yep. Also a Magic Eraser pad is great. But is your tub fiberglass or acrylic? I know you said you don't know what it is, maybe you could take a pic. It's most likely either fiberglass, cast iron, acrylic, or porcelain. You should really know before treating it. Using abrasives like Comet or Magic Eraser on it could either scratch it or take off the "gloss", and your landlord could be unhappy with that. Bleach is corrosive as well, although fine for cast iron or porcelain tubs.
posted by the webmistress at 8:10 PM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by the webmistress at 8:10 PM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Magic Eraser would be my bet.
posted by danceswithlight at 8:20 PM on November 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by danceswithlight at 8:20 PM on November 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
I dye in my tub a lot, bleach will work. You don't need a ton - a few glugs. Fill the tub with water, add the bleach, let it sit for a bit.
posted by ProtoStar at 8:22 PM on November 3, 2018
posted by ProtoStar at 8:22 PM on November 3, 2018
Zud, before any nail polish remover or magic eraser.
posted by kellyblah at 4:03 AM on November 4, 2018
posted by kellyblah at 4:03 AM on November 4, 2018
I strongly recommend trying the bleach alone, as ProtoStar recommends, before even considering an abrasive like Magic Eraser or Comet.
The abrasives will affect the finish of the bathtub, invisibly, and make it take up stains more easily -- like, the bathtub could just start looking dingier and you won't know why. If you have a really old, porcelain bathtub, that's worth preserving (newer ones are worth not destroying also...not saying abrasive would immediately destroy it, but it's a factor).
Yes, as it's older, someone might have used a harsh abrasive on it before -- but also, maybe it's survived all these years because people have treated it well, and it would be a shame to change that.
posted by amtho at 4:48 AM on November 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
The abrasives will affect the finish of the bathtub, invisibly, and make it take up stains more easily -- like, the bathtub could just start looking dingier and you won't know why. If you have a really old, porcelain bathtub, that's worth preserving (newer ones are worth not destroying also...not saying abrasive would immediately destroy it, but it's a factor).
Yes, as it's older, someone might have used a harsh abrasive on it before -- but also, maybe it's survived all these years because people have treated it well, and it would be a shame to change that.
posted by amtho at 4:48 AM on November 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Comet with bleach in the shakey can is cheap as hell and remarkably effective. People don't like it because they'd rather be spraying expensive Tub & Tile products optimised for soap scum and anyway elbow grease is haarrrdd, but honestly a dollar can of Comet will last longer and clean more stuff more effectively at the expense of a couple minutes of work per application, which, for a one time stain, is nothing.
posted by seanmpuckett at 11:20 AM on November 4, 2018
posted by seanmpuckett at 11:20 AM on November 4, 2018
If you haven't found a solution already, I've seen Goo Gone recommended for a hair dye stained bathtub, might be worth a shot.
posted by gennessee at 11:51 PM on November 8, 2018
posted by gennessee at 11:51 PM on November 8, 2018
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posted by littlesq at 8:01 PM on November 3, 2018