Deposits Can Be Stripped From Porcelain Sink, but Toilet May Be Down the Drain

Question: Our house, built in 1955, still has the original fixtures in the bathrooms. We’re having a problem with removing the water deposits in the toilets and sinks. What can be used on these older ceramic fixtures that will clean them without causing any damage?

R.R.

Costa Mesa

Answer: “Older fixtures are very difficult to clean,” says Rich Haagsma of Faucets ‘n Fixtures in Orange. “When those heavy lime deposits settle in there over time, about the only thing that will work is sulfuric acid. As the porcelain gets older it becomes etched from years of cleaning and loses its smooth finish. The deposits collect in these etchings and build up. An acid and water solution can dissolve these minerals, then wash the surface and let it dry.

“Afterward, apply a simple car wax to the porcelain, which will help seal the porcelain again. You’ll have to reapply it each time you clean the surface, but the wax will help keep the sediment from reattaching. On a toilet that old, however, you’ll have problems with water deposits clogging the holes under the rim, which are difficult to remove. At that point, when the toilet is flushing slowly, you probably need to replace the entire fixture.”

Q: Our kitchen cupboards were painted by a previous owner, and we’re still having a problem with paint odor. We removed the doors to let the cupboards air out, but once we replaced them the odor inside returned. What can we do?

J.P.

Orange

A: “By now, the paint should be dried and odor free, which makes your problem unusual. I’d try using a primer/sealer on the inside like Kilz,” says Jim Craig of Decratrend Paints in Cypress. “Afterward, you can use a latex paint, or an oil-based enamel, which will give off an odor as it dries and cures. It sounds like the problem you’re having may not be related to the paint, however. There may be something in the wood causing the odor, which should be taken care of by the sealer.”

Q: We have brown flagstone in our dining room and kitchen, and when we first moved into the house, the previous owners left a can of soft brown paste that enhanced the color and left a slight shine on them. There was no label on the can, and we haven’t been able to find anything similar. Would anything else work?

J.D.

Corona del Mar

A: “A tile wax can provide you with a sheen on most stone floors,” says Tony Beber of Centsible Tile and Installation in Anaheim. “On natural stones, you can also use a product called Natural Seal that cleans and protects. It’s easy to apply: You wipe it on and wipe it off, and you just need to try it first on an inconspicuous area of the floor to see if it provides the results you want.”

Q: Our bathroom was remodeled last year, and some of the plaster on the walls was replaced as a result. Afterward we installed an expensive brass towel rack and soap dish. However, lately we’ve noticed that the arms on the towel bar and the edge of the dish have turned black and orange and there is a white powder on spots of it. The wallpaper is clean and dry and there are no discolorations on the wall. What could be causing this?

M.H.

Newport Beach

A: “The only thing that can make brass turn black is acid,” says Phil Rice of Familian Kitchen and Bath Supply in Anaheim. “Plaster has a little acidity in it, and there could be a problem with moisture entering the wall from the roof or a leaking pipe, which is deteriorating the plaster and getting it on the fixture. Also, check your cleaning products to make sure they’re acid free. If the bathroom is subject to a lot of steam from the bath or shower, the condensation may be collecting on the brass and causing some rust and damage.”