OK, GRM Know-it-alls, I need bathroom help

My house has tremendously hard water , and despite having a good softener the tile in the shower stalls ends up being rust coloured. I'm diligently scouring each individual tile with those green 3M scouring pads until clean. At the rate I'm going I'll be a very old man before I'm done. My shoulders are arthritic anyway and this isn't helping. Has anyone done a similar job with a power tool of some sort? I'm trying to find a suitable pad to put on a 4" grinder at the moment, but that seems like overkill and could lead to a whole bath renovation if I'm not careful. Any experience or ideas appreciated.

Try some CLR from the local hardware store? http://www.jelmar.com/CLRbasic.htm

Brown flush it down...Yellow let it mellow.

What?

Replace tiles with already rust colored tiles? Maybelline one of those small steamers?

Replace tiles with already rust colored tiles? Maybelline one of those small steamers?

stuart in mn wrote: Try some CLR from the local hardware store? http://www.jelmar.com/CLRbasic.htm

I agree with the chemical warfare suggestion. CLR does well with the jobs for which I use it.

Something like this?

https://www.acklandsgrainger.com/AGIPortalWeb/WebSource/ProductDisplay/globalProductDetailDisplay.do?item_code=CGW53242

They work great removing oxide on aluminum and leaving a brushed finish, that is all I have ever used them for.

Or you could try fine roloc style surface prep discs in a die grinder.

I've tried CLR before. It doesn't do much.
EvanB, I'd be worried that disc might be too aggressive and take the finish off the tile. I think I have a box of extra tiles someplace, so I might be able to test it first though.

You know, the title of this thread left open all sorts of possibilities regarding the subject question...

I would try a paste in the ratio of 1 cup distilled white vinegar to 1/2 cup baking soda. Use a stiff nylon bristle brush to work it onto the area and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before rinsing it off. If you need a little more cutting power, a little salt in the paste should help.

WildScotsRacing wrote: You know, the title of this thread left open all sorts of possibilities regarding the subject question...

It was carefully crafted to create traffic knowing that only 1 response in 4 would actually be of some use. I've been on this forum for a while.

Fiber. Lots of fiber.

Have you tried clorox toilet bowl cleaner yet?

I have not tried it in the shower yet, but it does wonders at getting the ring out of my toilets. I've also used a pumice stone in the past, but it may be too abrasive for your application.

Some other ideas: barkeeper's friend, vinegar, or maybe muriatic acid

A car buffer and a mild cutting compound with a little vinegar?

In reply to TRoglodyte:
Hmmmm....I've got some Meguiar's compound and a buffer. I'll give that a try.

In reply to pinchvalve:
I'll be looking for one of these at Lowes or Menards tomorrow. Didn't know they existed.

In reply to asoduk:
I've done the Barkeeper's and vinegar before and still ended up scrubbing manually.

When was the house built? The reason I ask is, all the softening in the world won't help if there are cast iron pipes somewhere. Water softeners aren't good at ionizing iron out of water since it is such a stable molecule. I had that issue with my Pittsburgh house. The water was pretty soft, but the line in from the well was cast iron. The whole house was copper.

I solved my problem by ripping out the tile and installing a plastic shower surround.

Bedliner. Added grip, its already black so you never have to clean mold.

Just don't get it on your hootus.

In reply to curtis73:
1991. The line from the well is plastic and everything inside the house is copper. The unsoftened water is hard enough that you can't let a lawn sprinkler spray the house. Several homes in the subdivision have visible rust stains on the siding.

lime a way toilet cleaner. it's gel like. ventilate the area well, put on rubber gloves, squirt it on and use a sponge or scrubber to get the entire surface wet with it. come back 20 minutes later and wash it away. use a respirator too. crap's nasty, that is why it works,

my parents have horribly irony well water with zero softener and a white tub. it used to get dark brown, and that is how i cleaned it. since i moved out, it's brown now for good.

pinchvalve wrote:

I came to post the black and Decker scrubber that pinch valve posted

I came to see if this was about those dang three seashells.

(+1 vote for CLR)