Hard water stains are a common problem in bathrooms. Step 1 Squirt 1 tbsp. 4. How to Remove Hard Water Stains from a Bathtub. Did you know you can read premium answers for this article? Once you’ve scrubbed away the stains, rinse your tub down with fresh water. Don’t ever mix any cleaning products. Take off the showerhead and soak it in white vinegar for 3-6 hours or overnight. Have you tried the 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water or a paste made from baking soda and white vinegar? Helpful. Hard water contains minerals that can react with soap, namely calcium and magnesium. (You could substitute vinegar here if you would rather not use bleach.) Cleaning your tub every time you bathe can help, but what do you do when hard water stains won’t budge? This might be enough to loosen the deposits. If you don’t own a dedicated scrubbing brush, you can use the rough green side of a kitchen sponge. Use … Last Updated: September 3, 2020 Never use steel wool or any similar material to scour a porcelain tub. ", "Thanks for all your great tips on cleaning. Only buy cleaners that have been approved for use on enamel-coated bathroom surfaces. The cleaner won’t be as effective if it’s too thin. Continue rinsing until the tub is clean. We have a very old tub in a rental. This really, "I went to see how the Coke would clean/clear out the stains in the toilet. Step By Step Process To Remove Rust Stains From Bathtub. Be sure to rinse the tub thoroughly after cleaning to remove product residue. Rinse. Once your solution has had time to dissolve and loosen the limescale, it’s time for some elbow grease. What ONE thing quickly removes rust stains from bathtubs, toilets and sinks? I recently read this and tried it. Mix a paste of equal parts of baking soda and white toothpaste. Actually, that crusty white stain I’ve been battling around my faucet it excess calcium and is usually nothing more than mineral deposits, but can be very frustrating to remove. While commercial cleaners are good for removing hard-water plastic bathtub stains, you can use simple cleaners made from household ingredients to save money and reduce your usage of chemicals. The best way to clean tough stains from your bathtub depends on what it's made out of. If you notice stains, rub half of a lemon over the stains until they lift. Spray the whole area where the hard water stains are, then let it sit and do its work. Hard water is alkaline in nature (3). Spray the mixture liberally over the surface of a clean tub or shower after each use, to prevent soap scum build-up and stains. This article received 14 testimonials and 80% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. The easiest ones have been mentioned below: Method 1: Using Vinegar. Most bathtub stains are the result of germs that create a filmy residue as they accumulate. Of course, you’ll want to do a spot check before you scour the entire tub with a powdered cleaner. How To Clean Hard Water Stains In Your Toilet. When cleaning an acrylic bathtub, stay away from harsh astringent powders such as Comet and Ajax, as well as harsh chemicals like bleach. As an extra measure, spray it down with an acid and water solution once a week to prevent limescale buildup. For especially troublesome spots, sprinkle a little baking soda onto the vinegar as it soaks. Answered. If you live in an area that also has ferrous iron in the water, you might see reddish brown stains as well (2). Powdered cleansers contain chemicals known as surfactants which have mild abrasive properties. You don’t need strong acids either; mild ones that you can find around the home can do the trick, for example lemon juice or white vinegar (5). Though they can be a nuisance to remove, the process is quite simple. With constant exposure to moisture, bacteria and mold can collect on the walls of your tub, creating a mess that’s both unsightly and unsanitary. Clean a really dirty plastic bathtub using mild solutions to prevent damage. One method we’ve had success with is a mixture of oxygen bleach and hot water — Helga can create a paste from these ingredients and spread it … To remove hard water spots, prepare a 50/50 mixture of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. You can use the paper towel method we mentioned above to soak stains away with these cleaners. on Jan 19, 2016. try zud in the scouring department. Just like vinegar, lemon juice is an acidic substance containing citric acid. If you need to remove lime and hard water stains you are going to love this easy solution too. Other times, these tough stains are actually mineral deposits that are left behind from hard water. Soak your rags with straight white vinegar and line the toilet bowl with them. Your kitchen and bathroom can be otherwise clean, but these stubborn marks cling on, spoiling the appearance of surfaces like shower surrounds, tubs, sinks and faucets. Scrub the hard water stained areas of the bathtub. Turn off the water to your toilet. No, I am not talking about making the margarita! Spray the undiluted vinegar over the surface of the fiberglass tub. Hard water is alkaline in nature . Any other vinegar you have at your home won't remove these tight spots. How can I tell if my bathtub is porcelain, enamel or acrylic? How to Remove Bathtub Discoloration. ", "You just basically confirmed what I knew, but wasn't sure. Keep a stash of essential cleaning supplies in or near the bathroom so you’ll always have some on hand. unlocking this staff-researched answer. Always choose cleaning products that are safe to use on the type of material your bathtub is made with. For this method to work, you will need regular white vinegar. Hard water stains are caused by the deposits of calcium and magnesium that are left on a surface. Leave the door to the bathroom open while you work to allow fresh air to circulate. Pour 1 1/2 cups of vinegar in the toilet bowl. For hard water stains, place a paper towel soaked in full-strength white vinegar on the stain for one to two hours. If you're having trouble tracking down Castile soap, hydrogen peroxide will make an acceptable substitute. Removing Hard Water Stains from a Tub Pour a cup of liquid laundry detergent, fill tub with water. Hard water can result in some unpleasant stains on your bath and shower fixtures, turning previously white tile and ceramic orange with rust. Fill a bucket with water and pour it over the tub to rinse away the baking soda and dirt. How to Replace a Bathtub Faucet the Right Way, How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain (3 Ways to Keep It Clear). Pour some on a cloth and place it over the stain or simply mix it with regular table salt and scrub it into the surface. Lemon and salt have some amazing cleaning properties that can remove rust stains from your bathtub. Acrylic is a soft material and is therefore easily damaged. How to Remove Hard Water Stains from a Bathtub. We remove a lot of shower doors and see this kind of residue all the time, so we do have some ideas that may remove the stain once and for all. Ninety percent of websites said to use vinegar to remove hard water build up. For hard water stains, place a paper towel soaked in full-strength white vinegar on the stain for one to two hours. Test stain removal measures on small, inconspicuous areas of your tub before getting down and dirty so you don't risk damaging the finish. Started to apply it and the brown stain immediately dissolved. The best way to keep bathtub stains at bay is regular cleaning and by using a daily shower spray. I consider this wasted space and want to transform the tub into a viable storage area. This is a guide about cleaning rust stains from a plastic bathtub. From trying to move around in the small space to inhaling the toxic fumes from the commercial cleaning products that are used, cleaning a bathroom can be challenging. How can I keep a bathtub clean without much trouble? How to Remove Hard Water Stains from a Bathtub. They are particularly easy to see on plastic windows since they create a cloudy film over the clear plastic. Using the toilet brush, swish the solution around the bowl to ensure that it covers the entire bowl, including above the water line. Iron water stains can appear on your clothes as well, especially whites, making them look yellow and dingy. The above-mentioned soap and water method can be followed by the vinegar treatment for curtains with heavy hard water stains. 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