In the arsenal of any housewife must necessarily be effective methods and tools that contribute to the effective fight against limescale and rust on the bathroom. How to clean the bath from rust, what means to stock up on and how much effort to put in order to achieve a spectacular white surface, read on.
How to clean different surfaces of bathtubs
Getting started, it is worth preparing, wearing gloves, long-sleeved clothing, taking the necessary washcloth and choosing the right tool. But in this case, not everything is so simple, because the essence is what and from which surface you want to remove. Features of cleaning baths are as follows:
- The enameled cast-iron coating must not be rubbed with a metal washcloth or a hard brush (sponge). This leads to the formation of scratches on the surface, and the enamel layer becomes thinner over time. Aggressive chemicals with a high chlorine content are also not recommended.
- When cleaning the enameled steel bath, do not turn on hot water, as sudden changes in temperature 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 abrasives, detergents, alcohol emulsions, acetone, gasoline, chlorine to clean the bath from rust. As an option, a soft sponge and a special cleaning agent 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 each time after taking water procedures. This plaque is easy to remove if you rinse the bath every time with warm water after using it.
With a soapy coating a little more difficult, but still, such a cleaning does not require special equipment. Conventional baking soda is useful here, which is diluted in a separate tank, pouring out the powder and adding so much water to achieve a pasty 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 salts. As a result of their subsidence on plumbing, a white coating forms, which is harder to remove than soap. Here you can use one of the folk recipes, tips on how to clean the bath of rust, plaque, dirt.
Method 1. A solution of soda and vinegar. Ingredients:
- baking soda - ½ tbsp .;
- water - ½ tbsp .;
- vinegar - ¼ tbsp.
Mix all the ingredients and wipe the bath with the prepared mixture, leaving for half an hour. Then wipe with a mild detergent sponge and rinse with water.
When processing the surface of an acrylic bath, replace the soda with lemon juice. By the way, if you are interested in how to clean the shelf in the bathroom from rust, then you can safely use this method. He, according to those who have tried such a cleaning method, is quite effective and efficient.
Method 2. Lemon solution with the addition of soda. Ingredients:
Mix soda with water until a paste forms. The resulting slurry is applied to the surface of the bath and leave for a few minutes. Take another portion of water and add 1: 1 citric acid. With the prepared solution, wipe the bath over a dried soda layer. After cleaning, rinse the bath with water. Those who are faced with such a problem respond positively to this option for cleaning enameled coatings.
We remove the yellow plaque with a bath
Many people ask “How to clean the bath from rust?”, Which is often taken as a yellow coating. It is formed not only on the surface of the bath, but also tiles, as well as other plumbing in the bathroom. The reason for this phenomenon is hard tap water of poor quality or old rusty pipes through which it flows into houses.
From home remedies for cleaning the bath of 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. Having prepared the pasta, wipe it with a bath, let it dry and rinse with water. Such a paste, as people say, does an excellent job with its goals.
Please note that chlorine- containing bleaches negatively affect the condition of enamel, up to its destruction. So if you are interested in how to clean the rust in the bathroom, note that this method is not suitable for the surfaces of acrylic bathtubs.
How to clean rust from a bath using effective recipes
The formation of rusty streaks on the surface of the bathroom is the result of using hard water coming 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
In your first-aid kit there will definitely be ammonia and peroxide. To prepare, you will need 100 ml of ammonia and 50 ml of hydrogen peroxide, which must be mixed well. Cover the problem areas with a thin layer of the mixture, using a cloth and for 10-15 minutes, and rinse with water.
Method 2: Lemon
On 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 the rust in the bathroom with lemon juice? All that is needed to remove the yellow spot 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 clean the surface of an old product with damaged enamel
As a result of active and prolonged use, the bath loses its external attractiveness: microscopic cracks appear on the surface, it becomes rough. In the presence of minor damage, dirt and dust accumulate in them, and when in contact with water it fills microcracks even more densely, which makes the aesthetic appearance of the product not too pleasant. The easiest way to deal with the problem is through constant cleaning of the plumbing and regular rinsing.
Soda paste eats out accumulations of dirt, the recipes for surface treatment of which are described above in several variations. The same methodology can be followed if you do not know how to clean the shelves in the bathroom from rust.
If there are too stubborn stains, use soda ash with a more pronounced alkaline effect. They treat the surface with such a tool, as in the case of ordinary soda, having prepared the pulp and wiped it with contaminated places. This tool copes well not only with dirt, but also with fresh yellow spots of rust.
If your apartment is still inhabited by an old cast-iron bath, take vinegar and dry bleach mixed in equal proportions to clean it. This is the best tool for enameled surfaces.
Rules for the use of household chemicals when cleaning a bath
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 a gel, paste or powder:
- Examine the composition of the selected product and consider the type of bath.
- Try to buy only environmentally friendly household chemicals, although it is expensive.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations.
- Ensure proper ventilation in the room, especially when using caustic compounds.
- All work is carried out with gloves.
Popular bath cleaners and reviews
“How can I clean the rust in the bathroom using a purchased product?”, You ask. The best option will be one that does not require special efforts in applying and washing off, does not adversely affect the condition of enamel, human health and domestic animals.
Of the number of the most effective and at the same time sparing means, those are listed below:
- Cilit Bang is suitable for regular bath care, but it may not be able to cope with excessively complex dirt.
- Cif is a gel-like cleaner for cleaning various surfaces. A series of products belonging to Ultra White, has earned special attention of buyers.
- Comet-gel is characterized by versatility, as it is used to clean any kind of plumbing and kitchen surfaces. According to customers, the best effect is shown by the 7 Days of Purity product line, which even copes with complex pollution.
- Domestos liquid or gel - the best option for regular care of the bathroom, sink and toilet, that is, all the plumbing that is in your home. The only drawback of this powerful product is its pungent chlorine odor.
- Pemolux is the best of its kind in cleaning enameled surfaces, as the component composition includes soda. For a bath just bought, it’s better not to take such a product, since you risk scratching a smooth surface, but for an old enameled one it will do.
- If you have a spacious bathroom and the area allows you to place a comfortable and voluminous spa bath, then you definitely can’t do it without SunClean, Triton, and Mr. Chister. If you still think how to clean the acrylic bath from rust or plaque, then these funds are best suited.
Effective Bath Whitening Tips
If the bathtub is new and expensive, then I 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 are useful:
- Do not use hard washcloths and brushes, fiberglass sponges.
- Do not scuff or scratch the bathtub with foreign objects (stainless pot pan, knife, screwdriver). So you can not only damage the surface, but also chop off certain sections of the coating.
- Using a powerful tool, do not use a hard brush to clean the surface - drops of acid can scatter all over the room, getting on the surface, and sometimes even in the eyes and skin, which can cause burns.
- When choosing a plumbing care product, focus on the type of dirt and type of bath, that is, the material from which it is made. Indeed, sometimes for whitening it is necessary to use acidic agents that are contraindicated in work, for example, with acrylic.
- Do not try to tear off a bath at a time. It will not get its original appearance, because water and operation, especially long-term, negatively affect 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 the procedure is carried out regularly, then in a couple of months the result will be noticeable.
- Using the same means as for cleaning the toilet in the care of the bathroom is wrong, but for some reason most housewives adhere to this trend. It is worth abandoning such “convenience” if only because an aggressive environment can easily damage enamel.
- Note that in addition to regular washing after each use, experts recommend not being too lazy and try to introduce, as a rule, rubbing the surface of the bath with a microfiber cloth, because rust does not appear on a dry surface.
- When choosing cleaning products, try to abandon:
- washing powder;
- abrasive pastes;
- emulsions and other alcohol-containing agents;
- gasoline;
- acetone;
- chlorine.
How to prevent rust on the surface of the bath
Before rust forms on the enameled surface, yellowish spots appear on it. They are formed where water often accumulates (around the drain and overflow openings, etc.). The sooner you notice that spots have appeared on the surface, the easier it will be to clean the old bath from rust.
The main reason for such pollution is poor water quality, a tightly closed tap, and constant moisture.
How often to clean the bath
The frequency of cleaning is determined as necessary and the degree of contamination of the bath. As a rule, this is no more than one cleaning in two weeks, and besides this, regular washes and wipes, which will have to be repeated every day. Only in this way will you preserve the aesthetic appearance of the bath and extend its life.
When darkening the acrylic coating, you can try to return it to its natural shine by rubbing the surface with wax polish or replacing it with a special tool that is included in the restoration kit.
So, now you know how to clean the bath from rust 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. An incorrect cleaning approach can lead to damage to the product and, therefore, to unplanned expenses for the purchase of a new bathtub.