How and with what to carefully and effectively clean an acrylic bathtub at home?
An acrylic bathtub is lightweight, inexpensive and practical. However, like any other plumbing fixture, it tends to get dirty.
You need to care for it correctly, choosing gentle detergents.
Read the article about how to clean an acrylic bathtub from rust, soap and lime deposits, and yellowness without damaging it.
Content
Available means
To clean an acrylic bathtub, you do not always need to buy expensive compounds. You can remove simple stains using available means.
Lemon acid
Citric acid works great against limescale. Use it as follows:
- The bathtub needs to be filled with hot water. The maximum permissible temperature is 60 degrees.
- Pour 2 bags of acid into the water and stir until completely dissolved.
- Leave the product to act for 2 hours.
- Rinse the bathtub with clean water, remove the residue with a dry cloth.
If the stains are not extensive, then citric acid is dissolved in a glass of water and applied to the stains with a sponge. After an hour, the solution is removed.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste whitens yellowness well and removes rust. Instructions for use:
- squeeze a small amount of paste onto the stain;
- spread it over the surface and leave for 15 minutes;
- Gently scrub the bathtub with an old soft-bristled toothbrush;
- rinse off the paste with water.
Ammonia
You can eliminate dark and yellow stains using ammonia and hydrogen peroxide.
Use the composition as follows:
- Mix alcohol and peroxide in equal proportions.
- Soak a sponge in the solution.
- Apply the composition to the contaminated areas and gently rub with a soft brush.
- Rinse the surface with clean water.
Soda
You can remove limescale and soap deposits using a soda solution. Mode of application:
- dilute baking soda with clean water until a paste forms;
- apply it to contaminated areas;
- leave for 15 minutes;
- rub with a sponge, rinse with water.
Apple vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a safe way to remove simple stains. Use it as follows:
- Soak the sponge in vinegar.
- Apply it to the contaminated area.
- Leave to whiten for 15 minutes.
- Wash off the product with warm water.
Special formulations
To clean an acrylic bathtub, you can use the following store-bought products:
Cinderella emulsion
This composition is intended for processing acrylic. After its use, a protective film is formed on the surface, and the bath acquires a characteristic shine. The composition is based on anionic and nonionic surfactants.
Before use, the bottle must be shaken thoroughly. To remove stubborn stains, leave the product on the surface for 10 minutes. The price of the bottle is 80 rubles.
Spray Unicum
It can be used to combat:
- rust,
- mold,
- soap and limescale deposits.
The use of the product gives the bath its original shine and leaves behind a protective layer. Price – 200 rubles.
Sanfor gel Acrylight Professional
This gel effectively removes rust, limescale and soap deposits., copes with unpleasant odor. Its formula is enhanced with citric acid and surfactants.
The product has an antibacterial effect. Price – 150 rubles.
The listed compositions can be purchased in retail stores, in departments with household chemicals, as well as in online markets.
Video about using the Sanelit cleaning product for cleaning acrylic bathtubs:
Can brushes be used?
To remove dirt from an acrylic bathtub You can use brushes, but they must have soft bristles.
Features of removing various contaminants
Depending on the type of contaminant, different compositions must be used. This allows for increased cleaning efficiency.
Limescale
You can get rid of limescale using citric or acetic acid.. For processing, do not use an overly concentrated solution. If the layer is old, then for 1 glass of water you will need 1 packet of citric acid or 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
Apply the product to the stains and leave for 20 minutes. During this time, contaminants must be periodically moistened. Wash off the product with warm water. If necessary, repeat the procedure. If it was decided to use household chemicals, then it should contain citric or oxalic acid.
Soapy
You can get rid of soap scum using baking soda, vinegar and water. They are used as follows:
- Soda is diluted with water to form a paste and applied to the stains.
- Mix table vinegar and water in equal proportions in a spray bottle.
- The resulting solution is applied to dried soda and rubbed with a soft brush.
- Wash off the product with clean water.
If you don’t want to use improvised means, then you can purchase any universal composition that is designed for caring for acrylic bathtubs. All of them are able to remove soap scum.
Mold
Hydrogen peroxide helps fight mold. Use it as follows:
- soak a sponge with peroxide;
- treat areas where mold has appeared with it;
- leave for an hour;
- carry out repeated processing;
- wash off the composition with hot water.
Yellowness
To get rid of yellowness, you can use the following means:
- A mixture of soda ash and baking soda. They are combined in equal proportions, applied to the yellow areas and filled with table vinegar. After an hour, the product is washed off.
- Ammonia. It will take at least half an hour to have an effect. All this time, the door to the bathroom must be open.
- A mixture of washing powder with bleach and grated laundry soap. The components are diluted with water to a paste-like state and applied to the yellowed areas for an hour.
- Hydrogen peroxide. It has pronounced whitening properties.
Yellow rust stains
You can get rid of rust with Coca-Cola.This unique product will not damage acrylic, but will perfectly dissolve rust.
Use it as follows:
- the bath is rinsed with water and dried;
- apply cola to a rag and apply it as a compress to rusty stains;
- As the rag dries, it needs to be moistened;
- After 3 hours, the bath is rinsed with clean water.
During this time, the rust will dissolve and be easily washed off from the surface being treated.
What can't be used and why?
For cleaning an acrylic bathtub You cannot use tools such as:
- Acetone. It can lead to thinning of the acrylic layer and rapid wear of the bathtub.
- Abrasive substances. This applies not only to cleaning powders, but also to regular soda. It can only be used in diluted form. The use of abrasive compounds contributes to the appearance of scratches.
- Highly concentrated acids, for example, vinegar essence.
- Paint thinners, gasoline.
- Boiling water. To prevent acrylic from cracking, the water temperature should not exceed 60 degrees.
- Chlorine and cleaning products based on it. Its use leads to the formation of pores, which reduces the service life of the product.
- Formaldehyde. These substances are not only toxic, but also completely incompatible with acrylic.
Helpful information
Care Tips behind the acrylic bathtub:
- When using any chemicals, rinse with cool, not hot, water. At high temperatures they increase their activity and can cause damage to acrylic.
- Before using a detergent, you should carefully study its composition. It should not contain components that can destroy acrylic.
- You cannot mix several formulations at once unless indicated in the recipe. Multicomponent substances can accelerate the deterioration of the product.
- When washing the bathtub, you need to take care of the safety of the skin of your hands by protecting them with gloves.
All the most important and useful information about cleaning the bathroom is collected in this section of the site.
Conclusion
You can wash an acrylic bathtub using available products and specialized household chemicals. The stronger the contamination, the more effort you will have to make. In order for the bath to last as long as possible, you should avoid using prohibited caustic substances and abrasive compounds.