A: Chances are drain covers will be pitted, not just discolored, due to prolonged contact with bleach or any other caustic cleaner that may have been used in the last seven decades. Try running a finger over the surface. If it’s smooth, the metal might just be tarnished. Scrubbing with baking soda and vinegar should restore the shine to brass and stainless steel.
If the metal is pitted, you may want to try a few home remedies, such as repeatedly rubbing with vinegar or a damp, wadded ball of aluminum foil. These solutions may be worthwhile if there are a few small pits on an expensive faucet, but you’ll likely get better results faster on a corroded tub or sink by installing a new ring and stopper.
For a tub drain, first identify the type of clog you have and remove it. It’s a no-brainer if your bathtub has an old-fashioned plug. Other types of caps may unscrew or pop off, and you may need to remove set screws or take other non-obvious steps to remove them. The Home Depot has a good overview of the types of plugs and how to remove them.
To achieve a like-new look, the easiest option is to cover the existing drain ring with a new one, like the Watco Universal NuFit Push-Pull Tub Stopper with Grid Strainer ($19.40 at Home Depot) . Depending on the design of your existing drain assembly, you may be able to simply screw it on or you may need to glue it to the old drain ring using the silicone adhesive included in the package.
Or you can replace the entire drain, which is usually quite simple. But, as with all plumbing repairs, tackle the project when a hardware store is open, in case you discover halfway through that you’re missing a part or tool.
To replace the drain assembly, first remove the plug. Then turn the part that includes the ring counter-clockwise by grasping the crossbars that are inside the drain. While it’s possible to use a wrench for this, it’s much easier if you have a tool like the Husky Double-Ended Tub Drain Wrench ($11.97 at Home Depot), plus a screwdriver. or an adjustable wrench to grab it and turn it. The drain key has a large end and a smaller end, with teeth on both sides, so you can slip it into different types of drains. Thread a screwdriver into the holes on the sides of the drain key or grip the top with an adjustable wrench to add torque as you turn it.
If the old drain doesn’t have crossbars inside (or if they’re so corroded they break), one solution is to get a gadget like the bathtub drain removal tool Husky ($24.78 at Home Depot). It’s basically a clog with grooves or gnarles on the outside, designed to grip the inside of the drain when you tap the clog with a mallet. Use an adjustable wrench to turn the plug counterclockwise while pressing down, and the plug should come out with the drain cover attached.
Once the old part is removed, clean the opening of the tank with a cloth. Wrap a thick cord of plumber’s putty around the back of the new drain cover, then screw the new piece into place clockwise until it is snug. Clean off the excess sealant, add the cap and you’re done. (Oatey plumber’s putty is $2.49 for 14 ounces at Home Depot.) Read the label on the putty before buying it; Standard plumber’s putty is solvent-based and should not be used if you have a plastic tub.
Replacing a sink drain is trickier and messier, but it’s still doable with a few tools. There doesn’t seem to be a stick-on solution, and with a sink drain, you’re not just replacing the ring and cover you see from the top of the sink; you also need to replace a small piece of pipe that screws in from underneath. If you have a pop-up drain with a lever, you need a replacement part of a similar design. Most residential sink drains are 1 ¼ inches in diameter, but some are 1 ½ or even 1.65 inches, so measure before buying replacements.
Cover the floor or cabinet base under the sink with an old towel and have a bucket or pan that slides under the P-trap to catch water when you unplug it. For tools, you’ll need an adjustable wrench with jaws that open wide enough to grip nuts on pipes, like Channellock’s 12-inch tongue-and-groove pliers ($21.97 at Home Depot) . For how-to instructions, videos are best. Two coupons that include instructions for dealing with pop-up clogs are at bit.ly/replace-drain and bit.ly/replace-assembly.
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