Q Using vinegar, I removed brown stains from my white enamelled bath, but the glaze has come off, leaving a surface that’s difficult to clean. How can I get the gloss back?
A Depending on how worn or damaged the bath is, you should be able to have it repolished. This involves grinding away the dull top layer of enamel before sanding with a series of coarse and fine discs, ending with a lamb’s-wool mop to restore shine. It’s not cheap (around £175) and is suitable only for light-coloured, cast-iron baths in reasonable condition (badly damaged or worn baths, pressed-steel or darker baths will need to be resurfaced, which costs around £250). Companies offering this service include Bath Renovation (020-7935 6590; www. bathrenovationltd.co.uk), which operates around the M25; M&CT (01744 737274; www.vitreous-enamel.com), in the North West; or Renubath (0800 1382202; www. renubath.co.uk), nationwide.
In future, if you get a limescale build-up, dilute the vinegar 50:50 with water and, even then, take great care. Use a soft cloth or soft toothbrush to rub the solution into the limescale a little at a time. Avoid getting vinegar on the surrounding enamel surface and rinse the whole area often with clean water. It may take a couple of goes to shift everything. But the best cure is prevention: dry the bath and taps after use to stop it forming in the first place.
For everyday cleaning, avoid products with anti-limescale ingredients, which may dull the enamel. Look for the “V” logo of the Vitreous Enamel Association (01543 450596; www.ive.org.uk) on cleaning products or visit its website for a list of cleaners that are safe for enamel baths.
Q Where can I buy an all-purpose metal polish called Wenol? It used to be sold in John Lewis and was distributed by a company that has since been bought up. I think it’s the best metal polish ever.
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A There are several UK companies that sell 100ml tubes of Wenol Metal Polish on the internet. Try Direct Cutlery (01763 248008; www.direct-cutlery.com), £4.35 plus £3.50 p&p, or Pattersons (0117 929 3801; www. pattersons.co.uk), £3.72 plus £5 p&p.