In the past few years, acrylic bathtubs have increasingly replaced cast-iron and metal counterparts. Such modern products have a number of advantages. As a rule, acquiring such a novelty, good owners are immediately interested in how to care for an acrylic bathtub and how to clean it. Owner reviews indicate that you can put the bath in order with the help of specialized tools. However, they should not be aggressive.
The household chemicals market offers a huge selection of detergents. Buying the best of them does not mean that the durability of the polymer material is guaranteed. After all, it is also important to know how to care for an acrylic bathtub and how to clean it. Its surface can be easily scratched by using illiterate means and other cleaning accessories. What needs to be done so that it retains its original appearance and lasts as long as possible - readlater in our article.
What is the acrylic bath afraid of?
Those products that are ideal for cast iron and steel products (creams, powders and pastes) cannot be used on acrylic surfaces. As part of such tools there are components that aggressively affect the material of this kind. As a result, after application, the bath remains scratched and gloss is lost.
Specialists do not recommend the use of universal cleaning pastes and powders. They contain small abrasive particles in their composition. Powders do not harm the enamel coating of metal bathtubs, but acrylic is very sensitive to mechanical damage. Therefore, scratches are inevitable. These universal remedies include:
- "Silit" (in powder form).
- Komet.
- Domestos.
How to care for an acrylic bath at home? Reviews about the quality of household products are different. But in any case, when choosing a remedy, you need to pay attention to the composition. The following components should be excluded:
- acetone;
- chlorine;
- oxalic acid;
- formaldehydes;
- ammonia.
All of the above components corrode acrylic, making it porous and destroying the gloss of the coating. If the damage is serious, it is difficult to restore such a surface. Restoration with liquid acrylic can save, but this procedure is more time-consuming. What and how to care for an acrylic bath? Next, we will consider effective means thatavailable at any hardware store.
Acrilan
At the moment this product is one of the best for the care of acrylic bathtubs and hydromassage systems. As part of a balanced selection of components. At the same time, "Acrilan" perfectly removes dirt and disinfects the surface. The composition is able to deal even with complex and old pollution. Judging by the reviews, the product is highly effective. It is enough to apply a small amount of the substance through the spray gun, and after a while there will be no traces of rust and lime smudges on the coating. Among the shortcomings of "Acrilan" people note a pungent odor and high cost. When working with such a tool, it is advisable to ventilate the room. Also, you need to work with him only in protective rubber gloves.
Frosch Green Grapes
This cleaner is suitable for both bath and shower. It has a safe composition and a pleasant smell. It also contains tartaric acid. Despite the absence of chemistry, the product fights well with the removal of dirt on the acrylic surface. But this applies only to fresh pollution. It will no longer be possible to remove stubborn stains with this tool.
Sanox Pure Bath
This is a budget tool from a Russian manufacturer. Able to fight rust, lime and deep pollution. Also, reviews say that the product can whiten the bath. But the gel does not work immediately. It must be applied evenly with a thin layer on the contaminated area, and then wipedlight movements. "Sanox Clean Bath" allows you to remove any stains, as well as traces of corrosion. But among the shortcomings - a high expense. This gel will take a lot. In addition, the composition includes oxalic acid. It must be completely removed from the surface after use. And this requires a large amount of water.
Cream "Sif"
This is a specialized cream for acrylic baths, which is distinguished by its whitening composition. Due to the content of citric acid, the product is able to remove even old dirt and, in addition, give the bath a snow-white tint. The cream consists of micro-granules, which, after application, form an active foam that can remove rust, plaque and dirt. Among the advantages, users note the low cost, among the disadvantages is the need for additional processing. How to care for an acrylic bath at home using a cream? You can not just apply and wash off the composition. It is necessary to make an effort and rub the cream over the surface in a circular motion. Unlike liquid consistency products, "Sif" must be washed off under strong water pressure, otherwise the coating will look cloudy.
Removing scratches from the surface
Over time, small defects form on any bathtub. Let's say we put a plastic basin for washing. As a result, the surface was covered with small scratches and lost its luster. If these are small scuffs, you can use a piece of felt. But if there are numerous defects, it is better to use a specialized polish for this.- Acrylic Polish. The tool costs about one and a half thousand rubles. The kit includes paste, instructions, polishing cloths, hardener, acrylic restorer and sandpaper. But if these are deep scratches, liquid acrylic is needed. There are restoration kits for sale. Usually they include a plastic spatula and a tube of restorative agent. Next, the surface is polished with felt.
Perform regular disinfection
Yes, acrylic surfaces tend to harbor fewer micro-organisms than any other surface, but that doesn't mean you can skip disinfecting. Some unknowingly use boiling water for this purpose. But it is harmful to the acrylic surface. Here you need a specialized solution, such as RAVAK Desinfectant. How it is used:
- The bath is filled to the top with warm water.
- Dilute the product according to the instructions.
- Stir the water.
- Waiting for about 15 minutes.
- Drain the solution and rinse the tub.
How often to disinfect? It is recommended to perform it every six months. When doing this, use latex or rubber gloves. Regular disinfection eliminates the appearance of fungus and mold, and also kills various bacteria.
Get rid of limescale
If the bathtub is left unattended for a long time, limestone may form on the surface. It cannot be cut with a knife, as the fragile coating can be destroyed. What to do in this case and how to care for an acrylic bath? Experts recommend dissolving limestone with vinegar and citric acid. This is done as follows:
- The tub fills with warm water.
- A solution is made from a package of citric acid and 1 liter of vinegar.
- The composition is mixed until completely dissolved in the bath.
- Leaves for 12 hours.
- Flushed out.
During this period, the lime will dissolve, and the bath will again acquire a snow-white color. But for the full effect, it is recommended to rinse the surface with clean water and wipe dry. If washing did not help, additionally use the Akrilan cleaner.
Caring for Acrylic Whirlpool Bathtub
Here, too, you need to carry out regular disinfection. How it is done:
- The tub above the jets is filled with warm water.
- Add two liters of 7% bleach solution.
- The system turns on for 15 minutes.
- The water is drained and the container is filled again.
- The bathtub turns on and the remnants of the product are washed out.
But in addition to mold, limescale can also accumulate on the surface of such a bath. This is especially true for those who have extremely hard water. How is an acrylic bathtub taken care of at home with hydromassage? To do this, add the same 7% solution of citric acid or 2 liters of vinegar to it. Then the unit turns on for 10 seconds (this is necessary for the water to mix). Then you should wait 12 hours and rinse the surface well.
Cooking your own care cream
If you wish, you can make a similar cream yourself. To do this, we need to take:
- 500 milliliters of hot water.
- 20 grams of baby soap.
- 100 grams of soda.
- Aromatic oils.
So, rub the soap on a fine grater and fill it with water. We are waiting for several hours for the solution to infuse. Next, we mix it with soda and add a couple of drops of aromatic oil (for example, tea tree) for aroma. Now it remains to understand the essence of how to care for an acrylic bath with a more gentle product that does not have caustic components. Wipe the surface thoroughly with a sponge or soft cloth. It is important to treat all contaminated areas. Then we leave the bath in this form for half an hour, and then wash everything off with clean water. As a result, we get a clean surface, which, in addition, also smells good. This tool is absolutely safe for acrylic, and you can work with it without gloves.
Pay attention
Any acrylic bathtub (whether with or without hydromassage) is poorly resistant to any chemical liquid. Also, you can not put metal objects on the bottom of the bath. If there is such a need, use a cloth mat or use a rubber pad. A metal object can significantly scratch the surface. The same applies to hand washing things in the bath. Zippers, fasteners and metal buttons can damage the surface of the polymermaterial. Another nuance is the temperature of the water. It should not be too hot, as it destroys the coating. The bath becomes more porous and rough. And in order to have less harmful impurities in the water, it is recommended to use a fine filter. In the event of an accident in the water supply, the filter will protect the surface from particles of sand, clay and other contaminants.
By the way, you can remove minor scratches with fine-grained sandpaper.
Reviews
Due to the wide variety of cleaning products, it can be difficult to figure out which is best to use on delicate surfaces. It is worth paying attention to what users focus on in their reviews, how to care for an acrylic bath: whatever the product, the durability of the surface still depends on regular and proper care. You can't wait for a decent coating to appear on it - it's better not to let it happen.
Conclusion
So we figured out how to care for an acrylic bathtub. As you can see, there are many care products. If you have an acrylic bath at home, you should not ignore such an event as disinfection. It is thanks to it that the accumulation of stains and other contaminants on the surface can be prevented. Knowing how to care for an acrylic bathtub can significantly extend its lifespan. After 10 years, such a surface will not lose its attractive appearance.
