We decided to refinish the old, stained clawfoot tub in our beach house bathroom ourselves. Hiring a professional to reglaze or refinish it felt overwhelming (it’s heavy), so we committed to a DIY approach. It turned out to be much more straightforward than we expected and cost roughly $50 plus a lot of elbow grease. Below I’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and the exact steps we took to bring this tub back to life.
Finding an Old Tub
The clawfoot tub arrived with the beach house when we bought it, but its condition left a lot to be desired. The bathroom around it was deteriorating, and we ultimately had to rebuild one whole side of the house to make everything structurally sound. If you’re shopping for a tub, you can often find neglected clawfoot tubs at architectural salvage shops or on online marketplaces. They usually cost less than a brand-new tub, but factor in purchase and moving expenses.
We didn’t get around to refinishing the tub until months later, once the major construction was complete. When the bathroom was nearly finished, we moved the tub back in and began the restoration. Here’s the process we followed.
Materials for Refinishing a Clawfoot Tub
Most tubs need attention on both the inside and outside surfaces. The interior is primarily a cleaning job, while the exterior usually requires painting. The inside must be free of holes, severe flaking, deep cracks, or damage to the glaze that would compromise waterproofing — those problems may require professional repair.
For cleaning the interior, useful items include:
- Soft sponge
- Scouring pads
- Spray bottle
- Soft-surface cleanser (for example, a product like Bar Keeper’s Friend)
- Heavy-duty cleaning sponges or magic erasers
- Fine-grade steel wool (#0)
- Tub-and-tile refinishing kit (optional)
- Painter’s multi-tool (optional)
- Gloves (optional)
For the exterior, which is more forgiving and can be painted over, we used:
- Coarse, medium, and fine grit sanding blocks (optional)
- Rust-removing drill attachment
- Power drill
- Lead paint test kit
- Dust mask
- Clean metal primer (quart)
- Anti-rust paint in your chosen color (quart)
- Small foam paint rollers
- Chip brushes
- Paintbrush suitable for oil-based paint
- Drop cloth or cardboard to protect the floor
Step 1: Assess the Damage
We started by wiping down the tub inside and out with a sponge and water to separate surface dirt and soap scum from deeper stains. Our biggest concern was rust, since it can eat through finishes and leave pits in the glaze.
Fortunately, a surprising amount of grime came off easily, which made us optimistic that the interior could be restored without professional reglazing. That was a relief because the interior glaze needs to be durable to avoid future cracking or flaking.
There were still stubborn hard water and rust stains that required more effort, but overall we were glad to keep the tub rather than pay for professional reglazing.
Step 2: Clean the Inside with Vinegar
For lighter stains, we mixed equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and coated the interior. Using a green scouring pad and some elbow grease, we removed a lot of the surface build-up.
The difference was dramatic, though not yet pristine enough to consider the tub fully finished.
Step 3: Heavy-Duty Scrub the Inside
After trying a recommended soft cleanser, we found better results when we let the product sit longer and used heavy-duty magic erasers followed by fine steel wool. Initially the cleanser and a regular sponge didn’t remove the worst stains, but allowing the cleaner to dwell for 15–20 minutes and then scrubbing was much more effective.
Using fine steel wool was slow but satisfying — those rust streaks finally started to fade. In a few spots we carefully used the dulled tip of a multi-tool to chip off large chunks of mineral deposits, checking frequently to avoid scratching the glaze.
The result wasn’t absolutely flawless, but it was clean enough for regular use and the remaining rings will be hidden when the new drain and fixtures are installed.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of what cleaning alone achieved. Because the original glaze was in decent condition, we felt comfortable leaving the interior as-is without professional reglazing.
Step 4: Sand the Outside
The tub’s exterior had flaking paint and rust, so we sanded off loose material to create a smooth, paintable surface. First we tested for lead paint — an important safety step — and ours tested negative.
We started with coarse sanding by hand and then used a rust-removing drill attachment, which removed the remaining loose finish much faster. We followed with medium and fine grit sanding blocks to smooth the surface. We wore dust masks during this step to protect from flying dust.
Step 5: Prime with Clean Metal Primer
After wiping the tub clean, we primed the exterior with an oil-based clean metal primer designed to cover existing rust, prevent future rust, and prepare the surface for paint. We applied the primer with small foam rollers for smooth coverage and used chip brushes to reach under the lip and around the feet. The primer is drippy and strong-smelling, so protect floors and ventilate the room.
Step 6: Paint the Outside
Once the primer cured, we applied an anti-rust oil-based paint in a color we loved. We chose a richer shade to complement the patterned floor instead of a neutral gray or taupe. The paint we used is moisture- and stain-resistant and contains rust-prevention properties, which makes it suitable for a tub exterior. Small foam rollers covered large areas and an oil-specific brush handled tight spots and the feet.
We debated painting the claw feet a separate accent color, but decided a two-tone look — white interior and colorful exterior — felt most authentic for this tub. The finished exterior still shows subtle texture from the old finish, which we like because it gives the tub character and a sense of history rather than looking like a brand-new replica.
The transformation was dramatic for about $50 and a lot of time. It doesn’t look factory-perfect, but it looks intentional and beautiful — close to the high-end tubs that retail for thousands.
After the final fixtures were installed and the room finished, the tub looked settled and inviting. If you come across an old, neglected clawfoot tub, this project shows that with patience, the right supplies, and some elbow grease you can give it a beautiful second life.
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