A snow-white bathroom is the dream of many housewives. I'll tell you how to achieve it without spending a lot of time and effort. In most cases, the object of increased attention is the bath itself. Any plumbing fixtures can suffer from rust, yellowing, limescale and ingrained dirt if not properly maintained. The material of manufacture is not particularly important.
Preparing the bath for cleaning
Before you start cleaning the bathtub, you need to find out what it is made of so as not to make an irreparable mistake.
- It is the material of manufacture that is very important in the choice of cleaning products. What is suitable for one bath may not be suitable for another.
- Under no circumstances should you use brushes with hard bristles, namely metal ones. Small cracks that remain after such cleaning will lead to the appearance of larger ones in the future. Even if you manage to clean the bathtub white in this way, you will most likely end up shortening its service life. The process of coating destruction will begin.
- It is not recommended to use cleaning products that contain sebaceous acids, especially if the bathtub is made of acrylic.
- Be sure to rinse the surface with warm water after each bath to wash away traces of soap and shampoo.
Finding out the cause of blockages
Any blockage is formed as a result of violation of the established rules for sewerage operation. In multi-storey buildings, the blockage can be local - within one apartment, or general, when the common sewer line is clogged.
The cause of a clogged pipe in the bathroom may be:
- settling on the walls of mud lumps formed from particles of small debris and hair;
- layering of fatty deposits on the pipes;
- insufficiently maintained pipe slope during installation;
- deterioration of the sewer system as a whole.
Household members cannot always keep track of what settles on the drain grate. Animal hair, fabric fibers and long hair, along with waste water, flow into the drain hole and get stuck in it.
If the fibers are not removed in time, then with the next portion of drained water they fall into the sewer pipe, where they gradually layer, forming a lump that delays the passage of water
The choice of the optimal method for eliminating a local sewer blockage within an apartment depends on the size of the mud “plug.” The general blockage will most likely have to be eliminated using professional equipment.
How to clean a cast iron bathtub?
In old apartments that have not been renovated for a long time, you can find a cast iron bathtub. Previously, they were used everywhere, and still, many families prefer this material. Old cast iron bathtubs were distinguished by the fact that over time, dirt clogged into the cracks that formed. Nowadays they are made from more modern materials, which has made them more practical. The latest generation cast iron bathtubs are coated with a special composition that is not afraid of temperature changes and, therefore, the appearance of cracks can be avoided.
In a household chemical store, you can purchase any oxygen-containing product to clean a cast-iron bathtub from stubborn dirt. However, many formulations can be prepared at home, which will significantly save the family budget.
Special powders
To clean a cast iron bathtub from yellowness, you can use regular laundry detergent.
- a small amount of powder is applied to the surface of the bath;
- Using a brush dipped in water, the applied powder is brought to a foam state and left in this state for 15-20 minutes;
- after time, the applied composition is washed off with warm water;
- If there is heavy dirt on the surface, you can remove it with a brush.
Soda ash mixed with baking soda
A mixture of soda ash and baking soda works well to remove yellowness on the surface of the bathtub.
- In a small container, two bulk substances are mixed in equal proportions.
- The bath is doused with warm water to wet the surface.
- Sprinkle soda mixture on top.
- Half an hour after application, the surface of the bath is treated with a solution of vinegar and bleach and left for 50 minutes.
- After time, the composition is washed off with warm water.
- To make the surface shiny, it must be thoroughly wiped with a woolen rag.
Ammonia
You can get rid of traces of yellowness by preparing the following cleaning solution.
- in a container, mix one tablespoon of baking soda and one teaspoon of ammonia;
- Using a sponge or brush, apply the prepared mixture to the entire surface of the bath and leave for half an hour;
- When the allotted time is over, rinse off the applied solution with warm water.
Using this prepared solution, you can wash even stubborn stains.
Soda with bleach
Strong and old traces of yellowness can be easily removed using the following solution:
- In a small container, mix baking soda and any bleach in equal proportions.
- The prepared solution is applied to the surface and left for 40-50 minutes.
- After time, the mixture is removed with a stream of warm water. No additional manipulations are required, since all the dirt easily comes off on its own.
Care and prevention
With proper care, the guaranteed service life of a cast iron bathtub reaches 25 years or more. To truly appreciate the reliability of such products, you should take into account the rules of their operation:
- After each use, rinse the bath with cold tap water - it contains fewer impurities than hot water.
- It is advisable not to allow water to dry out on the surface for a long time. To do this, it is recommended to wipe the bathtub dry after each use.
- Monitor air quality: high humidity promotes the formation of rust on plumbing fixtures. It is advisable to organize forced ventilation in the bathroom and keep the room doors ajar more often.
- Eliminate leaks in taps, mixers, and shower hoses in a timely manner: dripping water gradually forms yellow or rusty streaks on surfaces.
- Periodically change the position of the gander in the bathroom so that the water does not constantly flow to the same place.
- Make sure that the shower head is completely empty: after use, there is often water left in it, which can drip down in drops for up to several hours. After a few days, traces of these drops will appear in the form of yellow streaks, often with a limescale deposit. Most modern faucets have a function for draining water from the shower head (often this can be achieved by setting the switch to the neutral position).
- When making repairs, you cannot use the bathtub to drain consumables. It can be very difficult to clean a product after repair, so the surface should be protected from glue, sealants and mortars.
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Liquid detergents
You can remove yellow marks from a steel bathtub using various detergents. The main condition is the absence of aggressive components in the composition. Even mild stains can be removed with dishwashing detergent.
- the substance is applied to the surface of the bath, foamed with a sponge and left for half an hour;
- After the allotted time, the product is washed off with warm water.
Lightly ingrained stains can be removed using quite ordinary means; it is not necessary to use strong chemicals for this.
Siphon cleaning
Male owners don’t think long about how to clear a clog in the bathroom. As a rule, they immediately begin cleaning the siphon. This procedure allows you to get rid of debris accumulated in pipes and unpleasant odors in the room.
Cleaning procedure:
On the floor directly under the siphon you need to lay a rag that absorbs moisture well.
Place a basin on top of the fabric. This simple measure will prevent dirty water from getting on the floor.
The bolt nut must be unscrewed very carefully. After this, you need to remove the flask.
Immediately after this, the water that formed the water seal will flow into the basin.
The siphon itself should be thoroughly rinsed with water and all plaque removed from the walls.
Such cleaning can also act as a preventive measure. For this purpose, the siphon is cleaned every 2-3 months.
Soda
You can remove traces of water and rust using soda, and both regular food soda and soda ash cope equally well with the task.
- Soda is applied to the wet surface of the bath.
- A few minutes after application, it can be washed off with warm water, as it begins to act very quickly.
If there are old stains on the surface of the bath, then the exposure time of the soda can be increased to 15-20 minutes, after which it should be washed off with water.
Cable
Plumbing cable is a thick twisted wire, rolled into a small spiral. For convenient rotation, there is a handle with a wooden or plastic attachment at the end.
This device is actively used to remove sewer blockages. Moreover, we are talking mainly about metal pipes.
Application:
The end of the cable must be carefully inserted into the drain hole.
It is best to do the work together. So, one person slowly rotates the handle, and the other carefully pushes the cable forward.
When the cable is twisted, accumulated debris is removed from the pipes, that is, the blockage is destroyed.
As soon as the tension in the pipes decreases, you need to pull the cable back and forth several times.
The cable is carefully removed, washed and stored.
If the procedure is ineffective, it is repeated.
What to use when cleaning an enamel bathtub?
The most popular bathtub model has an enamel coating. They, as a rule, serve well and for a long time, are not afraid of high temperatures and are easy and quick to clean. It is for this large list of positive qualities that many families choose them.
An enamel bathtub does not tolerate cleaning with rough brushes, and in the household chemicals store you can find special aerosols that will extend the life of the surface. If serious stains appear on the bathtub, it is recommended to use non-hard sponges to wipe them off.
But you can prepare a product that can be used to clean the surface at home.
Baking soda
Traces of yellowness are easily removed from the surface of an enameled bathtub using soda.
- The bath is pre-drenched with warm water.
- Baking soda is applied on top and left for 10-15 minutes.
- After the allotted time, the soda is washed off with warm water.
- If the desired result was not achieved the first time, the procedure can be repeated.
Citric acid
To remove contaminants, you can use a concentrated solution of citric acid.
- the granular substance dissolves in water;
- using a sponge, apply to the surface of the bath and leave for 20-30 minutes;
- When the time is up, the surface is additionally wiped with a sponge, after which the solution is washed off with warm water.
One procedure, as a rule, is enough to return the bathtub to its previous appearance.
A solution of laundry soap with ammonia
If you have severely ingrained yellow marks on your favorite bathtub, you can prepare the following cleaning solution to remove them.
- Rub laundry soap into a glass of clean water and stir thoroughly until completely dissolved.
- 4-5 drops of ammonia are added to the liquid and everything is mixed.
- Use a sponge soaked in the prepared solution to walk over the entire surface of the bath, paying special attention to heavily soiled areas.
- 15 minutes after application, the bath is doused with warm water.
Additional manipulations are not required, since the dirt is easily washed off along with the solution.
Detergent sanitary products
You can use the same products to clean the bathtub as you use for the sink and stove. It is desirable that it has a gel consistency. The product is applied to the surface of the bath and left for 15-20 minutes. After time, especially dirty areas should be wiped with a sponge to achieve maximum results. Finally, the product is washed off with warm water.
Household chemicals for removing yellow deposits from the bathtub
Professional household chemicals, which are available in a wide range on store shelves, will help you deal with yellowness on your plumbing fixtures. When choosing a product, carefully study its composition and make sure that it is suitable for your bathtub and will not damage the coating.
When working with household chemicals, follow safety precautions: wear gloves and, if necessary, a respirator, turn on the hood or open a window.
The most popular bath cleaning products:
- Cif - effectively removes contaminants of various natures. The Ultra White series is especially popular.
- Cillit Bang is a good product for preventative cleaning, but it copes quite poorly with serious and outdated stains.
- Domestos - removes yellow and white limescale, traces of rust, and mold. A significant drawback of the drug is the pronounced smell of chlorine.
- Comet is a cleaning product that is suitable for both everyday care and general cleaning.
Household chemicals will help you quickly and effectively get rid of various contaminants on your plumbing. However, when working with it, observe the recommended safety measures and strictly follow the instructions.
Procedure for using household chemicals:
- Carefully read the instructions for use and additional recommendations.
- Apply the mixture to the surface that needs cleaning.
- Wait for the time specified in the instructions.
- Rinse off the composition and dirt with running water.
- Wash the surface with an alkaline solution to neutralize the acid and protect the enamel from corroding.
- Dry the bathtub.
How to clean an acrylic bathtub?
When choosing an acrylic bathtub, you should remember that caring for them is the most difficult. To clean them, you cannot use hard brushes, aggressive chemicals or abrasives. Failure to follow the recommendations will result in the bath becoming unusable.
What should you strictly not use?
An acrylic bathtub is very demanding to maintain. In order not to lead to the fact that it will have to be replaced, you should remember once and for all what products should absolutely not be used to clean it:
- Ammonia.
- Acetone.
- Formaldehyde.
- Chlorine-containing substances.
- Abrasive substances.
At the same time, if you decide to give preference to an acrylic bathtub, then it is better to immediately choose the most durable model. So, on the market you can find two types of bathtubs: with acrylic coating and made of acrylic sheets. The former are very susceptible to cracks, so caring for them becomes a whole problem. While the latter are much stronger.
Chemical solution
If yellow stains appear on the acrylic bathtub, then there is no need to experiment too much. To clean them, it is best to use specialized products:
- acrylan is a chemical product specially created for cleaning acrylic bathtubs. Its soft composition does not damage the delicate surface and allows the bath to last as long as possible. You can purchase this product at any household chemical store;
- Bass is a cleaner for acrylic surfaces. Great for both bathtubs and showers;
- hyphae is a universal bathroom cleaner, suitable for acrylic surfaces.
An important condition for using chemicals is that they must be washed off especially carefully and only with warm water.
To ensure that your bathtub always looks like new, be sure to treat it with a special polishing compound after cleaning.
Video: how to clean a bathtub from yellow deposits at home?
General recommendations
When cleaning a bathtub, you have to deal with typical contaminants: grease residues, soap stains, limescale and rusty streams.
If the product is new and without defects, the main principle of care is not to damage the enamel surface. Most mistakes are made due to ignorance or carelessness. In order not to spoil the coating, manufacturers categorically do not recommend the following for washing enamel bathtubs:
- metal and fiberglass brushes and scrapers;
- abrasive powders;
- aggressive acids;
- concentrated chlorine-containing compounds.
Note: The resistance of enamel to chemical influences depends on its thickness, number of layers and application technology. Domestic and inexpensive Chinese baths are covered with enamel in an outdated way - in drying chambers (hot drying method). The surface of such products is fragile and often uneven. Bathtubs made in Spain, France and Germany are coated with ultraviolet-curing powder enamels, which greatly increases their wear resistance. But such products have a high price and are not always available to the average consumer.
Expert advice
Experts recommend:
- Purchase and install high-quality and reliable plumbing fixtures from trusted manufacturers. Such products do not retain debris well; they will not be destroyed during the cleaning process.
- When carrying out emergency work on a clogged drain, do not use excessive force to avoid damaging it.
- Do not use motor fuel or concentrated acids for cleaning. These substances are toxic and corrode plastic, metal and rubber.
What to pay attention to before cleaning a pipe
Before starting repair work, it is necessary to determine the location of the blockage. In most cases, it is formed in a siphon. This device has a narrow cross-section, joints and bends. You can find the traffic jam using a flashlight.