Acrylic is used to create modern plumbing quite often. This is due to certain advantages of this material compared to cast iron or steel counterparts. Firstly, an acrylic bathtub weighs several times less than bathtubs made from other materials. Secondly, such a surface is perfectly flat and smooth, so it will last a very long time. But this is provided that the plumbing will be properly looked after and washed. Only a properly selected means for washing an acrylic bath will allow you to save it for many years.
Acrylic Properties
You should start with the fact that acrylic is a polymer. The operational properties of this material are pretty good. Although in many respects the quality also depends on the manufacturer. Acrylic does not rust and does not exfoliate, which cannot be said about cast-iron bathtubs.
The acrylic bath is not afraid of light mechanical stress, unlike its steel counterparts. This polymer is not afraid of hard, dirty and very hot water.
The degree of contamination of acrylic bathtubs
Based on the listed properties of such bathtubs, it is possible to distinguish the main types of pollution that their owners will ever encounter.
- Simple dirt. It can be easily washed off with plain water, and in dried form it can be eliminated using a liquid means for washing an acrylic bath and a sponge. In order not to scratch the coating, it is better to wash such dirt with a rag.
- Dried mud should be washed in the same way, only after soaking it. To do this, you can collect a full bath of hot water and wait a bit so that the dirt gets wet. The side of the bath can be washed from dried mud by first putting a wet rag on it for several minutes.
- Persistent contaminants, such as clay or sand, can be removed with a liquid detergent composition. For this purpose, a specialized means for washing an acrylic bathtub is best suited.
- But what if the bathtub is stained with stucco, lime or wood tar? It is harder to wash such dirt, especially when you consider that the use of simple household chemicals is not suitable for acrylic bathtubs, and it is forbidden to use non-household ones at all. In cases where simple sponging does not help, a special tool with a chemically active medium is required. To do this, the owner of an acrylic bath should have such folk remedies as vinegar or citric acid in the arsenal .
It should be remembered that these products in direct contact with the bath will have a devastating effect on it. To make a detergent for washing an acrylic bath, you must dissolve vinegar or citric acid in water. The solution will be safe for the surface of the bath and in terms of its cleaning effect it will be compared to expensive formulations sold in stores.
The choice of cleaning agent
Today you can find many different bath detergents. It’s not difficult to choose a suitable cleaning agent for acrylic surfaces. For example, the Bass remedy is very popular among housewives. It is also great for showers. To wash the bath, you need to take a little money, apply it on a soft rag or sponge and evenly distribute it on the surface of the plumbing. After a few minutes, the product should be carefully removed with a sponge and rinsed with water. To give the surface a shine, you can wipe it with a napkin previously moistened with polish.
If you want to know how to wash an acrylic bath, pay attention to Cif. Using it, you can wash the entire bathroom. The product does not contain abrasive substances, and it can clean any dirt. In addition, “Cif” is quite inexpensive. The product is sold in the form of a spray or cream.
Choosing how to wash plumbing, you can give preference to unusual means. For example, it may be “Acrylan” - a special foam designed for cleaning showers and acrylic bathtubs. It excellently removes various types of dirt, including soap stains, fungus, mold, rust, limescale, etc.
Among the other most affordable means are Triton, Ravak and Delfi. All of them perfectly clean the surface of the bath and do not damage the acrylic, preserving its whiteness.
What can not be washed
What means for washing acrylic bathtubs are strictly prohibited? Do not use non-household chemicals: gasoline, acetone and a solvent. They contain chemically active substances that will harm the acrylic coating until it dissolves.
Do not clean the bath with a stiff brush, metal sponge and objects with an abrasive surface.
Nuances and recommendations
Today it has become much easier to choose the right product from the whole variety of detergents. Since specialized means for washing acrylic bathtubs began to appear in stores: liquids, pastes, foams.
But bath manufacturers are not far behind. They are not limited to the production of single-format bathtubs, but produce products of various colors and even with a pattern. Such bathtubs practically do not differ from traditional ones. The only difference is the presence in the polymer of dyes that require special cleaning methods.
So, how to wash an acrylic bath, how to care for it? To wash a color bath is somewhat more difficult than white. After all, in order to maintain brightness and color, you will have to abandon chlorine detergents. For liquid acrylic baths, only liquid detergents for polymer plumbing are suitable.
Folk methods
Are there folk remedies and how to wash an acrylic bath? The home method of cleaning is quite simple: for it you need to prepare a solution from improvised products that are in almost every home. Ammonia (100 ml) must be mixed with hydrogen peroxide (50 ml). The components mix well, moisten the fabric with the resulting solution and wipe all contaminated places with it. It is better to wash a surface in rubber gloves. After 15 minutes, the composition is washed off with clean water.
Withered stains can be removed with wine vinegar and salt. 100 ml of vinegar will require 2 tablespoons of salt. The mixture is heated in the microwave to approximately 65 degrees. Contaminated places are wiped with a warm composition and left for 20 minutes, after which the bathroom is rinsed with warm water and a sponge.
Which remedies are better - home or store?
Now that it has become known how to wash an acrylic bath, the question arises: "What are the best products - bought at the store or made by yourself?" Everyone should decide for himself. Folk remedies usually cost less and are often not inferior to store ones in efficiency. In addition, using home remedies, you can be sure that they are safe, especially for young children. After washing the bath with a specialized product, rinse it thoroughly with water.
In any case, the bathroom will last longer if it is regularly looked after, properly and promptly washed with suitable cleaning products.