In the past few years, acrylic bathtubs began to increasingly displace cast iron and metal counterparts. Similar modern products have several advantages. As a rule, acquiring such a novelty, good owners are immediately interested in how to care for an acrylic bath and how to clean it. Owner reviews indicate that you can put the bath in order using 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 polymeric material is ensured. After all, it is also important to know how to care for an acrylic bath and how to clean it. Its surface can be easily scratched using illiterate cleaning products and other cleaning supplies. What needs to be done so that it retains its original appearance and lasts as long as possible - read further in our article.
What is an acrylic bath afraid of?
Those products that are ideal for cast iron and steel products (creams, powders and pastes) cannot be used on an acrylic surface. The composition of such funds contains components that aggressively affect this kind of material. As a result, after application, scratches remain on the bathtub and gloss is lost.
Experts do not recommend the use of universal cleaning pastes and powders. They contain fine abrasive particles in their composition. Powders do not harm the enamel coating of metal baths, but acrylic is very sensitive to mechanical damage. Therefore, the appearance of scratches is inevitable. Such universal tools include:
- "Silite" (in the form of powder).
- "Comets."
- "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 product, 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 repair such a surface. Liquid acrylic restoration can save, but this procedure is more time-consuming. What and how to care for an acrylic bath? Next, we will consider effective tools that can be purchased at any hardware store.
Acrylan
At the moment, this tool 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, Acrylan perfectly removes dirt and disinfects the surface. The composition is able to fight even with complex and old pollution. Judging by the reviews, the product is highly efficient. It is enough to apply a small amount of substance through the spray gun, and after some time there will be no traces of rust and lime smudges on the coating. Among the shortcomings of "Acrylic" people note a pungent smell 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 grape acid. Despite the lack of chemistry, the product fights well with the removal of dirt on an acrylic surface. But this applies only to fresh pollution. Remove stubborn stains with this tool will not work.
Sanox Clean Bath
This is a budget tool from a Russian manufacturer. It is able to fight rust, lime and deep pollution. Reviews also say that the product can bleach the bath. But the gel does not work immediately. It must be applied evenly with a thin layer to the contaminated area, and then wiped with light movements. “Sanox Clean Bath” allows you to remove any stains, as well as traces of corrosion. But among the shortcomings is a big expense. This gel will require a lot. In addition, oxalic acid is included. It must be completely removed from the surface after use. And for this you need a large amount of water.
Cream "Seth"
This is a specialized cream for acrylic baths, which has a whitening composition. Due to the content of citric acid, the product is able to remove even old impurities and, in addition, give the bath a snow-white hue. The cream consists of microgranules, which after application form an active foam that can remove rust, plaque and dirt. Among the advantages, users note a low cost, among the shortcomings - the need for additional processing. How to care for an acrylic bath at home, using cream? You can not just apply and wash off the composition. You need to make an effort and grind the cream on the surface in a circular motion. Unlike liquid consistency products, Sif needs to be washed off under strong pressure of water, otherwise the coating will look cloudy.
Remove surface scratches
Over time, small defects form on any bath. Let's say we put a plastic wash basin. As a result, the surface was covered with small scratches and lost its luster. If this is a slight scuff, you can apply a piece of felt. But if there are numerous defects, it is better to use a specialized polish - Acrylic Polish. The tool costs about one and a half thousand rubles. The kit includes paste, instructions, polishing wipes, hardener, acrylic reducing agent and sandpaper. But if it's deep scratches, you need liquid acrylic. There are restoration kits on sale. Usually they include a plastic spatula and a tube of restorative. Next, the surface is polished with felt.
Perform regular disinfection
Yes, fewer microorganisms accumulate on the acrylic surface than on any other, but this does not mean that disinfection can not be performed. Some unknowingly use boiling water for this purpose. But it is harmful to the acrylic surface. Here you need a specialized solution, for example RAVAK Desinfectant. How to use it:
- The bath is filled to the top with warm water.
- Dilute in accordance with the instructions tool.
- Mix the water.
- Wait about 15 minutes.
- Drain the solution and rinse the bath.
How often to disinfect? It is recommended to perform it once every six months. In this case, you need to use latex or rubber gloves. Regular disinfection eliminates the appearance of fungus and mold, and also kills various bacteria.
Get rid of limescale
If you do not take care of the bath for a long time, limestone may form on the surface. It can not be cut with a knife, since it is possible to destroy a fragile coating. 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 bathtub is filled 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.
- Left for 12 hours.
- Washes off.
During this period, the lime will dissolve, and the bathtub will regain 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 Acrylan cleaning agent.
Acrylic bathtub with hydromassage
Here you also need to carry out regular disinfection. How is it performed:
- The bath above the nozzles is filled with warm water.
- Two liters of a 7% bleach solution are added.
- The system turns on for 15 minutes.
- Water drains, and the tank is filled again.
- The bath turns on and the remnants of the product are washed.
But in addition to mold, limescale can also accumulate on the surface of such a bath. This is especially true for those who have excessively hard water. How to care for an acrylic bath at home with a hydromassage? To do this, add the same 7% solution of citric acid or 2 liters of vinegar to it. Next, the unit turns on for 10 seconds (this is necessary so that the water is mixed). Then you should wait 12 hours and thoroughly rinse the surface.
Cooking cream for yourself
If desired, you can make a similar cream on your own. To do this, we need to take:
- 500 milliliters of hot water.
- 20 grams of baby soap.
- 100 grams of soda.
- Aroma oils.
So, on a fine grater we rub the soap and fill it with water. We are waiting for several hours for the solution to infuse. Then we mix it with soda and add a couple 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. Using a sponge or soft cloth, wipe the surface thoroughly. It is important to treat all contaminated areas. Then we leave the bath in this form for half an hour, and then we 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.
note
Any acrylic bathtub (with or without hydromassage) is poorly resistant to any chemical fluid. Also, do not put metal objects on the bottom of the bathtub . If there is such a need, use a rag rug or use a rubber lining. A metal object can significantly scratch the surface. The same applies to hand washing things in the bath. Zippers, clasps and metal buttons can damage the surface of the polymer material. Another caveat is the temperature of the water. It should not be too hot, as it destroys the coating. The bath becomes more porous and coarse. And so that there are 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 eliminate small scratches with emery fine-grained paper.
Reviews
Due to the wide variety of cleaning products, it can be difficult to figure out which is best for delicate surfaces. It is worth paying attention to what users focus on in their reviews, how to care for an acrylic bath: whatever the means, the durability of the surface still depends on regular and proper care. You can not wait until a decent raid appears on it - it is better not to allow this.
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 bathtub at home, do not ignore an event such as disinfection. Thanks to it, it is possible to prevent the accumulation of spots and other contaminants on the surface. Knowing how to care for an acrylic bath, you can significantly extend its life. After 10 years, such a surface will not lose its attractive appearance.