How to clean the bath to white at home?

Bright snow-white plumbing simply transforms the room. However, over time, aggressive in its composition tap water, frequent washing and washing, improper care do their job - a gray coating appears on the bathroom, rusty stains that cast doubt on the entire sanitation of the house. The burning question of how to clean the bath to white at home, is heard by many, because widely advertised means for cleaning bathtubs are sometimes absolutely useless, and in some cases, they can even ruin the plumbing completely. In addition, all chemicals are unsafe, especially for young children. But our grandmothers knew how to wash the bath so that it turned white, and at the same time they did not use aggressive chemicals. In the article we will tell you how to clean the bath so that it shines depending on the material of the plumbing and the type of pollution, because each type of bath requires its own special care.

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How to wash a very dirty bath from stubborn dirt at home?

Thinking about the care of plumbing is necessary even during its purchase, because different surfaces require their own special conditions, cleaning methods and products.

The following should be considered here:

1. Today's popular acrylic bathtubs need to be cleaned to snow-white only with special tools that are not so cheap.
2. Some household products are designed for gentle cleaning, so they cannot remove stubborn stains and rust, regardless of the coating material of the plumbing bowl.
3. Aggressive products that can eliminate any impurities, including washing the bath from stubborn dirt at home, can destroy the coating of the bath after 2-3 applications.

Important! The situation is similar with the use of a brush for cleaning plumbing:if acrylic or enamel plumbing can only be washed with a soft cloth or sponge, then the cast-iron bath can be cleaned with a tougher brush.

Do not use metal brushes to clean the plumbing at all, so as not to scratch or peel the coating.   

Preparation for cleaning

Before you clean the bath to white at home, you must:

• choose an effective safe tool that is suitable for the type of plumbing coating;
• Be sure to familiarize yourself with the composition and instructions for use.

Important! Remember that special acid compositions and abrasive powders are not suitable for all types of coatings. Sometimes it is better to turn to alternative folk methods and means.

How to clean a cast-iron bathtub to white at home?

Cast iron bathtubs have been manufactured for many years and are in steady demand. Of course, they are heavy, but reliable, especially old designs. The peculiarity of old cast-iron bathtubs is also that dirt is clogged very quickly in numerous microcracks, and it has to be cleaned quite often, and even with great physical effort. However, modern models of cast-iron bathtubs are less heavy, more practical, and thanks to a special coating, they are easier to maintain - any acid-containing substances are suitable to clean such a bathtub.

If you do not want to buy expensive store products or you are allergic to “chemistry”, then use simple folk methods that have been tested by time and have not lost popularity these days:

• Cleaning powders. Any cleaning powders are suitable for a cast-iron font, and even if washing is slightly dirty. Brush the powder on a damp surface of the plumbing and leave for 20 minutes. Then, in a circular motion, remove all dirt with a brush, rinse thoroughly with warm water.
• Soda. To clean the bathtub with white soda at home is easy. To do this, use soda ash and baking soda in a 1: 1 ratio. Apply a soda mixture to a damp surface and leave for 30 minutes. After half an hour, treat the surface with a mixture of powder bleach and vinegar, leave for another 40 minutes. After cleaning, rinse thoroughly and wipe dry.
• Ammonia. Prepare the following mixture: 1 tbsp. teaspoon of baking soda + 1 teaspoon of ammonia. Spread the prepared powder on the surface of the font with a sponge and leave for half an hour. Then rinse the mixture with warm water.
• Bleach. Mix baking soda with bleaching powder in a 1: 1 ratio. The resulting mixture is applied to the surface of the bath, and after 40 minutes, rinse with warm water. The coating will leave immediately after washing off the powder; no further cleaning is required.

How to clean the steel bath before white?

Steel fonts, although more practical than acrylic, but also do not like abrasive powders. Use the following simple and affordable products for cleaning:

• Liquid cleaning products. Choose a mild gel cleanser. Apply the product on the surface and rinse with warm water after 5-10 minutes. Remove dirt with a dishwashing detergent.
• Soda. Wet the surface of the font and treat with soda ash or baking soda. Rinse off immediately after cleaning. Soda also effectively removes rust, which is why this particular product is universal in order to wash the bath from stubborn dirt at home.
• Ammonia. Prepare the following solution: for 1 glass of water - 1 tbsp. a spoon of ammonia. Treat the surface with a solution and rinse with water after 10 minutes. Dirt will be removed and no additional cleaning is required.

Important! The coating of steel baths does not tolerate temperature effects. Therefore, when choosing a cleaning agent, make sure that the product does not heat up when it comes in contact with water. Work with chemicals only with gloves on, as even soda in the wrong proportions can cause a burn.

How to clean an enameled bath?

This type of font is used most often, since enameled baths can withstand temperatures up to 75 degrees, are very easy to care for and almost universal to clean.

Important! It should be remembered, like any enamel, the surface does not tolerate metal and abrasive brushes. When using coarse brushes, the enamel becomes rough and not respectable, moreover, cracks form when the coating is erased.

To rid the enameled bath of unwanted effects, use the following cleaning products:

• Baking soda. Clean the enamel with baking soda, and then rinse with water. If it is very dirty, repeat the procedure 2-3 times.
• Lemon acid. Concentrate the font surface with a concentrated citric acid solution, and rinse after 15-20 minutes.
• Laundry soap + ammonia. Grate laundry soap (0.5 cups). Soak the chips in water for 5 minutes to make a homogeneous liquid mixture. Add 3-5 drops of ammonia to the solution. Prepare the enamel with the prepared mixture. After 15 minutes, rinse with water. All dirt will be wiped off without much effort.
• Detergents for plumbing. In household chemical stores, purchase detergents for cleaning stoves and sanitary ware that can cope with plaque, grease and rust with honor. The most popular: Сif, Comet.Apply on enamel, rinse with water after 15 minutes. Contamination is best removed after thorough cleaning before rinsing. For the safety of the coating, it is better to use liquid cleaners.

Important! To preserve the enamel coating for many years, clean it regularly. With this approach, you will not only keep the coating in its original form, but also prevent the growth of bacteria.

Is it possible to wash an acrylic bathtub with soda?

The most difficult to maintain are acrylic bathtubs. When cleaning, do not use:

1. Abrasives.
2. Strong aggressive chemicals.
3. Hard brushes.

Important! All these products can forever ruin even a new acrylic bathtub.

As a rule, plaque does not accumulate on the acrylic coating, and the resulting yellowness can easily be removed with detergents. In addition, it is necessary to distinguish between different types of coatings: bathtubs from acrylic sheets and fonts with acrylic spraying:

1. Cracked bathtubs may form if improperly maintained. The spraying itself can be erased, even with aggressive cleaning agents, and not just with a rough brush.
2. Products made from molded acrylic are much more practical and it will be much easier to clean the bath to white at home from just such a material. But choosing a new model, keep in mind that the cost of an injection plumbing bowl is much more expensive.

To care for a delicate surface, use:

• Mild detergents, preferably gels. Apply the product to the surface and rinse with water after 5-10 minutes.
• You can also use a dishwashing detergent (for light pollution).

To clean the bath to white at home, use the following products:

• Lemon juice or acid. For one bath, use 2 cups of lemon juice or 1 bag of citric acid. Treat the coating with juice or a concentrated acid solution. After 10-15 minutes, the pollution will go away with the washed away water. Citric acid is practically harmless to any enamel, unlike other acids.
• Vinegar. Dampen paper towels in 9% vinegar and spread over the entire surface of the font. Leave the bath to soak for 2-3 hours, and then vinegar abundantly and thoroughly rinse with water.

Helpful hints:

1. Clean the surface of the acrylic bath no more than once every two weeks, and disinfect it once a week.
2. If you do not have a special means for disinfection, then use ordinary laundry soap. Apply soapy water to the surface of the acrylic font, and then rinse.

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How to choose a cleaning product?

On the shelves of hardware stores now you can find gels, sprays, powders for cleaning plumbing. They quickly remove plaque, rust, disinfect, and some also protect the bath from new impurities for some time.

Criterias of choice

What tools to use for plumbing depends on the following factors:

1. Type of plumbing coverage.
2. Type of pollution.
3. Security.

Important! If plumbing has not seen brushes for a long time, and the coating has darkened with time, then a simple ordinary tool is unlikely to save. In this case, a potent chemical agent containing acid is needed. If the plumbing is new and just needs regular cleaning, then you need to choose a less aggressive tool.

Types of pollution

The surface of the bath is contaminated for various reasons, in particular:

1. A simple coating is the kind of dirt that remains when washing. It is a skin discharge, particles of skin mixed with a soapy solution. To remove such a coating is quite simple - wash off the contamination with hot water and a sponge every time after taking a bath.
2. Limescale coating. If in your area there is hard water containing various salts, then over time, a yellowish or white crumbling coating will be deposited on the surface of all plumbing. It must be removed using special agents containing acids that can dissolve calcium compounds.
3. Plaque from detergents.The compounds that make up shampoos, shower gels, soaps, over time, form a gray coating on the surface of the bath. Simple means will not get rid of him. Here you have to work hard to clean the bath to white at home.
4. Rust. This pollution appears due to the increased iron content in the water. This type of plaque refers to difficult to remove contaminants, the removal of which requires special means.
5. Yellowness on enamel. This pollution settles on the surface of the plumbing, if the house has old water pipes from which various water biofilms and oxides pour.
6. Old enamel. This type of contamination is very difficult to clean, as the surface is covered with small cracks in which dirt has been eaten. Sometimes a complete bath replacement or restoration is required.
7. Specific pollution. This type includes stains from paint or other building materials that have come to the surface during repairs, as well as mold. Specific impurities must be removed with solvents and antifungal agents.

Additional factors

The type of coating also greatly affects the choice of drug. For example:

• acrylic can not be exposed to abrasive substances, you can use only gels and pastes;
• dense enameled surface is not afraid of almost all available detergents.

Important! Do not forget about safety, especially if the house has children, allergies, or just people with sensitive skin. Therefore, after using the detergent, be sure to rinse it off with a soft rag or sponge, and do not spare water for rinsing.

Application rules

When using chemical household products, observe the following rules:

1. Apply the product strictly following the instructions.
2. Do not use products more than once a week.
3. Only use gloves when handling chemicals.
4. Do not keep aggressive chemicals on enamel for too long.
5. Wipe the surface gently and carefully, applying a little effort only with deep soiling.
6. Rinse off with warm (not hot) water.
7. For acrylic bathtubs, use only special products designed for these coatings.

Important! The best cleaning product is one that does not require much effort, is easy to use, does not harm the coating and is safe for people and pets.

Popular brands

The following remedies are most effective and gentle:

1. “Cif.” Use gel - it is preferable. The cream-like “Cif Asset” will remove traces of limescale and rust. Use this product both for the care of metal parts of plumbing, as well as for mirror surfaces, as well as ceramic tiles.
2. “Comet”. Products in the form of a gel are suitable not only for plumbing, but also for all kitchen surfaces. A series of “7 days of cleanliness" is best suited for bathtubs. Such a cleaner will help get rid of complex dirt, even quickly enough to clean the bath to white at home. And the purity effect will last much longer.
3. “Cillit.” Use for regular cleaning. With a limescale, rust, this tool can not cope.
4. “Domestos”. Liquid detergent or gel products are suitable for regular care. The tool will cope with pollution of medium complexity and not particularly neglected. One drawback is the smell of chlorine. Do not use products on metal parts of plumbing covered with any kind of dusting.
5. Pemolux. Ideal for cleaning enameled baths, as the product includes soda. For regular cleaning, it can be used for old baths, as the powder slightly scratches the enamel.
6. “Sun Wedge”, “Triton”, Mr. Chister ”- are intended for acrylic-coated bathtubs. Products do not contain acids, strong aggressive substances and do not scratch the surface.

Helpful hints:

• Do not use toilet products for bathing, as these products are too aggressive.
• Do not use products that contain: hydrochloric acid, alkalis, aldehydes, oxalic acid, as these chemicals corrode enamel.
• Use mustard powder to clean contaminated enamel areas. Make a paste of the powder and wipe the contaminated surface.
• To clean the bath before the bath at home from any pollution, use the recipe for the lazy: fill the font with water and dissolve 0.5 liters of vinegar or 100 grams of citric acid in it, leave the bath overnight, and then flush the water and rinse the surface.

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How to clean the bath of limescale without damaging the enamel?

From home products, you can prepare mixtures that will help save plumbing from limescale and rust. Here are some recipes.

Recipe number 1

Mix borax (sodium tetraborate) with table vinegar in equal proportions.

Recipe number 2

Mix salt and heated vinegar until gruel forms.

Recipe number 3

Mix salt and turpentine in equal amounts.

Method of using any means:

Apply the prepared mixture to the stain, wipe off the plaque with a rag.

Important! To remove rust, use the following products:

• Ammonia. Dissolve alcohol in water and apply the solution to the problem area. Rinse with water after 10-15 minutes.
• Lemon juice. Squeeze lemon juice on the spots of rust, rinse the surface in 10-15 minutes.
• Salt + Vinegar. Wipe rust with a mixture of vinegar and salt.

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How to clean the bath at home with soda and vinegar?

Many housewives are increasingly abandoning store-bought chemicals and prefer more gentle formulations that allow the bath to return radiant whiteness and purity, because the advantages of folk remedies are obvious:

• Availability.
• Security.
• Softer effect on enamel.
• Low price.
• Ease of use.
• Lasting effect.

Of course, every housewife has her own recipe, but as a rule, all products are based on the same products.

Soda

An excellent bleaching agent is used to clean almost all contaminants except lime. Soda is absolutely harmless, has no unpleasant odor. It perfectly removes fat, yellowness, neutralizes the most persistent pollution.

Important! If you want to clean the bath to shine, then use soda ashwhich is sold in hardware stores. But be sure to protect your hands with gloves before using soda.

Application Tips:

1. To remove a slight residue, rub the baking soda on the surface of the plumbing with a damp soft sponge or brush.
2. Leave the font to soak for an hour, then rinse the product with a stream of warm water (not hot).
3. To remove strong deposits, mix soda ash with baking analog in a 1: 1 ratio and proceed as follows:
   • Take the prepared mixture and add a little water to it, until gruel forms.
   • Apply slurry to a contaminated surface.
   • Leave the font for 20-30 minutes.
   • Combine 0.5 cups of vinegar and 0.5 cups of bleach.
   • Apply the resulting composition to the soda layer.
   • Leave the product for 30-40 minutes.
   • Wipe the surface of the plumbing with a soft washcloth or sponge.
   • Rinse the bath thoroughly with water.

Important! To bleach the bath, rub the laundry soap and mix with soda. Dilute the prepared mixture with 5 drops of ammonia and 3-5 tbsp. tablespoons of water. Rub the finished solution over the surface and leave for one hour. After - rinse with warm water.

Vinegar

To defeat dirt and rust - use vinegar. However, before applying acid, be sure to try its effect on an inconspicuous plumbing area.

Use 9% vinegar as follows:

1. Dampen a large amount of napkins with vinegar.
2. Line the surface of the bath with napkins.
3. Leave the bath to clean yourself, within 3-5 hours.
4. Remove paper towels.
5. Rinse the plumbing with water.

Important! Clean the font with soda and vinegar at the same time, using the following method:

• Moisten the bath, sprinkle generously with soda ash or baking soda.
• Leave the font to soak for several hours, and then generously pour the surface with table vinegar.
• Remember that such cleaning should be carried out with windows and doors open.

This method is suitable for cast iron and enamel baths.

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Expensive and aggressive remedies will be a thing of the past if you use soda and vinegar. You will not only save money, time and effort, but also protect yourself and the household from the harm of “chemistry”. However, remember that the presented folk recipes apply only to cast iron and iron structures, and modern plastic inserts are very sensitive and can be damaged by aggressive substances. We hope that the information received, recommendations and tips will help you decide on the question of how to clean the bath to white at home, and you can maintain the perfect cleanliness and whiteness of all plumbing without using harmful chemical compounds. Good luck