In the arsenal of any housewife, there must be effective methods and means that contribute to the effective fight against limescale and rust in the bathroom. How to clean the rust from the bath, what tools to stock up on and how much effort to make to achieve a spectacular white surface as a result, read on.
How to clean different surfaces of bathtubs
Getting started, it is worth preparing by putting on gloves, long sleeves, taking the necessary washcloth and choosing the right product. But in this case, not everything is so simple, because the point is what and from what surface you want to remove. Bathtub cleaning features are as follows:
- Enamelled cast iron coating should not be rubbed with a steel wool or hard brush (sponge). This leads to the formation of scratches on the surface, and the enamel layer becomes thinner over time. Aggressive chemicalproducts with a high chlorine content are also not recommended.
- When cleaning an enameled steel bath, do not turn on hot water, as sudden temperature changes lead to cracking of the coating. As in the previous case, hard washcloths and brushes will not work here.
- Do not use too hard sponges and abrasive products, washing powders, alcohol emulsions, acetone, gasoline, chlorine to clean rust from the bath. Alternatively, a soft sponge and a special cleaner with a gel or paste texture are suitable for an acrylic surface. From home or folk remedies, only gentle methods are suitable.
How to remove small dirt from the surface of the bath
Microscopic skin particles and soap deposits remain on the surface and walls of the bath every time after taking water procedures. This build-up can be easily removed by rinsing the tub with lukewarm water after every use.
With a soapy coating a little more difficult, but still such cleaning does not require special equipment. This is where ordinary baking soda comes in handy, which is bred in a separate tank, pouring out the powder and adding enough water to reach a paste-like consistency. The prepared composition is applied to the wet surface of the bath and left for 30 minutes. After that, the bath is wiped with a sponge and washed off with warm water.
How to get rid of limescale
Hard water has a high content of Mg and Ca s alts. As a result of their settling on plumbing, a white coating is formed, which can be removedharder than soap. Here you can use one of the popular recipe tips on how to clean the bath from rust, plaque, dirt.
Method 1. A solution of soda and vinegar. Ingredients:
- baking soda - ½ cup;
- water - ½ cup;
- vinegar - ¼ tbsp
Mix all the ingredients and wipe the bath with the mixture, leaving for half an hour. Then wipe with a sponge and mild detergent and rinse with water.
When treating the surface of an acrylic bath, replace baking soda with lemon juice. By the way, if you are interested in how to clean rust from a bathroom shelf, then you can safely use this method. It is, according to those who have tried this cleaning method, quite effective and efficient.
Method 2. Lemon solution with the addition of soda. Ingredients:
- water;
- soda;
- citric acid.
Mix soda with water until a paste forms. Apply the resulting slurry to the surface of the bath and leave for a few minutes. Take another serving of water and add citric acid in a 1:1 ratio. With the prepared solution, wipe the bath over the dried soda layer. When finished cleaning, rinse the tub with water. Those who have encountered such a problem respond positively to this option for cleaning enamelled coatings.
Remove yellow plaque from the bathroom
Many people ask "How to clean the rust from the bath?", which is often mistaken for a yellow coating. It is formed not only on the surface of the bath, but also on the tiles, as well asother plumbing in the bathroom. The reason for this phenomenon is poor quality hard tap water or old rusty pipes through which it enters the house.
From home remedies for cleaning the bath from plaque, dry bleach diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1 is suitable. The result should be a mixture of consistency resembling thick sour cream. After preparing the paste, wipe the bath with it, let it dry and rinse with water. Such a paste, as people say, does a great job.
Please note that bleaches containing chlorine negatively affect the condition of the enamel, up to its destruction. So if you are wondering how to remove rust in a bathroom, please note that this method will not work on acrylic bath surfaces either.
How to use effective recipes to clean the rust of the bath
The formation of rusty streaks on the surface of the bathroom is the result of hard water entering through rusty pipes or damage to the enamel on the surface of the product.
In this case, the best option would be to eliminate the cause of the unaesthetic picture, but some housewives use effective, but temporary ways to fix the problem.
Method 1: ammonia and peroxide
Your first aid kit will definitely contain ammonia and peroxide. To prepare, you will need 100 ml of ammonia and 50 ml of hydrogen peroxide, which must be mixed well. Cover problem areas with a thin layer of the mixture, using a cloth for this and, after waiting 10-15 minutes, rinsewater.
Method 2: Lemon
In the household, every woman has citric acid. Many people like to drink tea with lemon or just make lemonade. Do you know how to clean bathroom rust with lemon juice? All that is needed to remove the yellow stain is the juice of half a lemon, which must be treated with a contaminated area, leaving for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse with running water.
How to properly clean the surface of an old product with damaged enamel
As a result of active and prolonged use, the bath loses its visual appeal: microscopic cracks appear on the surface, it becomes rough. In the presence of minor damage, dirt and dust accumulate in them, and upon contact with water, it fills microcracks even more densely, which makes the aesthetic appearance of the product not very pleasant. The easiest way to deal with the problem is through constant cleaning of plumbing and regular rinsing.
Soda paste eats away accumulations of dirt, the surface treatment recipes of which are described above in several variations. The same technique can be followed if you do not know how to clean the rust off the bathroom shelves.
If there are too ingrained stains, use soda ash, which has a more pronounced alkaline effect. They treat the surfaces with such a tool, as in the case of ordinary soda, by preparing a gruel and wiping the contaminated places with it. This tool does an excellent job not only with dirt, but also with freshyellow spots of rust.
If your apartment still has an old cast-iron bathtub, use vinegar and dry bleach mixed in equal proportions to clean it. This is the best product for enamelled surfaces.
Rules for the use of household chemicals when cleaning the bathtub
Not finding how to clean the bath from yellowness and rust from folk methods, pay attention to more professional products from a number of household chemicals.
Before you start working with gel, paste or powder:
- Review the composition of the selected product and consider the type of bath.
- Try to buy only environmentally friendly household chemicals, even though they are expensive.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations.
- Ensure proper ventilation in the room, especially when using caustic compounds.
- Do all work with gloves.
Popular bath cleaners and reviews
"How can I clean the rust in the bathroom using a store-bought product?" - You ask. The best option will be one that does not require much effort in applying and washing off, does not have a detrimental effect on the condition of the enamel, human and pet he alth.
From a number of the most effective and at the same time sparing means, those presented below are distinguished:
- Cilit Bang is suitable for regular bath care, but may not be able to cope with too complex dirt.
- Cif - Gel Cleanerdifferent surfaces. A series of products belonging to Ultra White has earned special attention from buyers.
- Comet-gel is characterized by versatility, as it is used to clean all kinds of plumbing and kitchen surfaces. According to buyers, the best effect is shown by a series of products "7 days of cleanliness", which copes even with complex pollution.
- Domestos liquid or gel is the best option for regular maintenance of the bathroom, sink and toilet, that is, all the plumbing that you have in your home. The only downside to this strong cleanser is the strong chlorine smell.
- "Pemolux" is the best of its kind in cleaning enameled surfaces, as the component composition includes soda. For a newly purchased bath, it is better not to take such a product, as you risk scratching a smooth surface, but for an old enamel one it will do.
- If you have a spacious bathroom and the area allows you to place a comfortable and voluminous hot tub, then you definitely can’t do without SanKlin, Triton, MisterChister in caring for it. If you are still thinking about how to clean an acrylic bath from rust or plaque, then these products are best.
Effective bath whitening tips
If the bath is new and expensive, then you want to clean it so as not to damage the coating. Therefore, for those who are faced with such a problem, a couple of tips will come in handy:
- Do not use hard washcloths and brushes, fiberglass sponges.
- Don't fight anddo not scratch the bathtub with foreign objects (stainless steel for pots, a knife, a screwdriver). So you can not only damage the surface, but also chip off individual sections of the coating.
- When using a strong cleaner, do not use a hard brush to clean the surface - drops of acid can fly around the room, falling on surfaces, and sometimes even in the eyes and skin, which can cause burns.
- When choosing a plumbing care product, be guided by the type of dirt and the type of bath, that is, the material from which it is made. After all, sometimes you have to use acid products for bleaching, which are contraindicated in work, for example, with acrylic.
- Don't try to scrub the bathtub all at once. It will no longer get its original appearance, because water and operation, especially long-term, negatively affects its condition. Get ready for the fact that in order to clean the bath from rust and plaque, you will have to spend a little time. If you carry out the procedure regularly, then in a couple of months the result will become noticeable.
- Using the same products as for cleaning the toilet in bathroom care is wrong, but for some reason most housewives adhere to this trend. It is worth giving up such “convenience”, if only because an aggressive environment can easily damage the enamel.
- Note that in addition to regular rinsing after each use, experts recommend not being too lazy and trying to introduce, as a rule, wiping the bathtub surface with a microfiber cloth, because rust does not appear on a dry surface.
- Choosing fundsfor cleaning, try to refuse:
- washing powder;
- abrasive pastes;
- emulsions and other products containing alcohol;
- gasoline;
- acetone;
- chlorine.
How to prevent rust on the surface of the bathtub
Before rust forms on the enameled surface, yellowish spots appear on it. They form where water often accumulates (around the drain and overflow holes, etc.). The sooner you notice that stains have appeared on the surface, the easier it will be to clean the rust from the old bathtub.
The main reason for such pollution is poor water quality, a leaky faucet, constant moisture.
How often to clean the tub
The frequency of cleaning is determined by the need and the degree of contamination of the bath. As a rule, this is no more than one cleaning every two weeks, and besides this, regular washes and wipes that will have to be repeated every day. Only in this way will you maintain the aesthetic appearance of the bath and extend its service life.
When darkening the acrylic coating, you can try to restore its natural shine by rubbing the surface with wax polishing or replacing it with a special tool included in the restoration kit.
So, now you know how to clean the rust from the bath at home. For these purposes, you can use special or folk remedies and processing methods. The main thing is to consider the type of bath. The wrong approach to cleaning canlead to damage to the product, and, therefore, to unplanned expenses for the purchase of a new bathtub.
