Damaged toilet enamel: what can be done to restore this?
Overly-aggressive cleaning can damage your toilet - the shiny enamel finish can get scratched or eroded by products that are too strong or cleaning objects that are too abrasive. And when scratched, dirt and limescale adheres to the damaged surfaces more easily and more frequently - leading to a cleaning vicious circle, so to speak. So, is there a way to remedy this situation? Well, read on to find out more:
Why the enamel of bathroom fixtures gets damaged and how to avoid this happening
Marco Verch via Flickr (Creative Commons 2.0)
We all know that cleaning the toilet is never pleasant and requires patience. However, if we put this chore off for too long, dirt can become very difficult to remove. But frequent, "overly-enthusiastic" cleaning of the toilet can damage the enamel finish.
This enamel finish is a smooth and resistant surface designed to remain clean as water flows over it.
However, using abrasive or very concentrated substances to clean enamel can be counter-productive: the frequent use of bleach, vinegar or certain types of acids for cleaning will erode the enamel. And this can be exacerbated by using cleaning tools such as fine sandpaper or pumice stones.
To avoid running into this problem, just clean the toilet often and gently. Commercial toilet detergents - or a DIY one made with Marseille soap or dishwashing liquid - are recommended. Adding abrasive powders or acidic liquids to these detergents (like baking soda, citric acid or vinegar) can be done but only sporadically and in small quantities.
When cleaning, make sure to clean the inside and outside of the toilet. Two or three times a year, you should also empty out the cistern, wash it and refill it (to ensure the internal components remain in good condition).
Kits to restore the enamel on bathroom fixtures
SOTTOSopra via edilcollasnc/Ebay, Wansiven/Amazon
When the enamel is damaged, you need to determine if this is serious or not. For serious damage, you will need to get a new toilet. For less serious damage, you can use a repair kit.
These repair kits are two-component, resin-based products which harden at room temperature and covers scratches and fills small cracks/damaged spots on the enamel. The hardened resin creates a new long-lasting, waterproof and resistant potective layer over the damaged enamel finish.
These repair kits can be found in most hardware stores (some products already pre-mixed) and is sometimes know as "ceramizing resin".
Follow the instructions that come with the kit carefully: the instructions will provide you with the spreading methods required and the curing times.
Whilst these resins will work well, they will never be able to be as good as the original enamel finish. The glazing of porcelain or ceramics is a process that can only be carried out during the original production phase. Using a repair kit will buy you some time, but eventually, you will need to replace your old toilet with a new one.
