Fighting methods, or how to clean limescale in the bathroom at home

Water with a high concentration of potassium and magnesium salts causes housewives a lot of trouble. It dries the skin, increases the consumption of detergents, forms sediment that is deposited on the walls of the pipes, and damages the heating elements.

When a bathtub comes into contact with such water, it becomes covered with limescale. To combat it, a soap solution and a rag are not enough.

We'll tell you how to clean limescale in the bathroom at home in this article.

How to remove using folk remedies?

To clean limescale, you don’t have to buy expensive concentrates and sprays. Effective remedies can be found in the kitchen or medicine cabinet.

Vinegar

Table vinegar (9% solution) copes with plaque, removes dirt of any nature and complexity, fungus, mold. Used for disinfection.

Mode of application:

1. Mix water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio.
2. Apply to the surface using a sponge or spray bottle.
3. Leave for 15-20 minutes.
4. Rinse off with clean cool water.

The product works well when paired with baking soda or citric acid. The powdered components are mixed with water until a paste forms, applied to the bowl, a vinegar solution is sprayed on top, and then washed off.

A thick layer of plaque breaks down more slowly, so some housewives use vinegar essence. When working with liquid, you should remember its high concentration and personal safety measures.

Soda

A universal cleaner that can be used on almost all surfaces. To remove it you need:

• add 2 tbsp. spoons of soda to 200 ml of liquid detergent;
• apply the solution to the bottom and walls of the bathroom;
• treat with a sponge;
• rinse thoroughly with running water.

Lemon acid

The product effectively fights plaque, has a pleasant smell, and does not irritate the upper respiratory tract.

Mode of application:

1. Thoroughly dissolve 1 tbsp. l citric acid in 200 ml water.
2. Apply to the bowl with a soft sponge or spray bottle.
3. Leave for 15-20 minutes.
4. Treat the surface with a sponge.
5. Rinse off with running water.

The product is safe even for acrylic surfaces.

Ammonia

Ammonia will help remove plaque. To do this you need:

• 3 tbsp. Dilute spoons of the product in 200 ml of water;
• distribute the liquid over the affected surface;
• leave for 10-15 minutes;
• Rinse off with clean water using a cloth or sponge.

To simultaneously remove rust, add 1 tbsp to ammonia. l industrial bleach in a 1:1 ratio.

Salt

Dry crystals can leave damage on the surface, so they can only be used in dissolved form. To remove it you need:

1. 1 tbsp. dissolve l salt in 200 ml of warm vinegar (heat in a steam bath).
2. Apply the solution to problem areas.
3. Leave for 20-30 minutes.
4. Thoroughly rinse off the softened plaque.

How to remove with special compounds?

It is easier to choose ready-made concentrates and solutions of household chemicals, since the manufacturer indicates on the label for the surfaces what material they are made of. Housewives recommend:

1. Bagi Acrilan – universal spray foam for baths made of any materials based on surfactants and citric acid. Effectively fights lime deposits and pollution of any degree and nature.

   Simply apply to the surface and rinse with water. No additional sponging is required. Price for 400 ml – 400 rubles.

2. Clean Home – gel for cleaning the bathroom based on anionic surfactants, suitable for all surfaces. Removes lime deposits, rust, unpleasant odors, disinfects. Does not cause allergic reactions. Price for 800 ml – 200 rubles.
3. HG – concentrate for baths and toilets, effectively removes plaque and rust in a few minutes. Can be used on any surfactant-based surfaces. Price for 500 ml – 450 rubles.

Taking into account the coating material

Different materials require an individual approach to combating limescale. Before the process you must:

• read the manufacturer's recommendations,
• carefully study the labeling and instructions on the packaging of the industrial product,
• take into account the properties of the surface when preparing a home remedy.

Acrylic

Bathtubs made of polymer materials attract buyers with their light weight, low price and variety of shapes. They are easy to clean due to the absence of pores on the surface and are less susceptible to contamination.

For regular cleaning, a soap solution and a sponge are sufficient.. If the moment is missed, the bowl of the product is covered with lime deposits, it is necessary to use industrial sprays and gels with special markings (Cif Cream, Acrylan, Sun Klin) or a home solution based on citric acid or lemon juice.

Enameled

The enamel coating, according to GOST, has a number of features:

• resistant to alkali (sodium hypochloride, chlorine-containing bleaches, soda);
• tolerates cleaning with industrial abrasive detergents (Comet, Pemolux);
• does not allow prolonged contact with inorganic acids (contained in “Toilet Duckling” products, some types of Cillit Bang).

Prolonged contact with strong acids destroys the enamel, the surface loses its shine, color, and becomes rough.

Steel

Bathtubs are more resistant to mechanical damage, which can lead to rust, than cast iron.

They do not tolerate high temperatures well. It is unacceptable to wash a steel bowl with hot water., this will lead to cracking of the enamel.

The choice of means for removing plaque from such a product is quite wide: from cleaning and bleaching agents to concentrated gels and solutions. Mandatory condition: in tandem with a soft foam sponge.

Cast iron

Bathtubs made of cast iron are durable, stable, not subject to corrosive processes and retain heat well.

To keep the enamel coating clean Regular detergent and a soft sponge are sufficient after each use.. If plaque does form, you can use both powdered products and liquids containing chlorine, alkali and weak acids for removal.

Cleaning tiles

The tiles in the bathroom are constantly exposed to high temperatures and high humidity, so plaque forms on it. The use of household chemicals with an aggressive composition only aggravates the situation - the surface becomes dull and loses its original shine.

To avoid making a mistake when choosing a detergent, You need to pay attention to the material from which the tiles are made:

1. Ceramics have a smooth surface and are easy to clean. The simplest way: dilute 100 g of citric acid in a glass of water, apply to the surface with a spray bottle, and after drying, rinse with clean water.
2. The glass coating is also easy to maintain; the best results are achieved with an industrial ammonia-based glass surface cleaner. The liquid must be sprayed onto the surface, rinsed off after 5 minutes and wiped dry.
3. Acrylic is a capricious material. Professional products are recommended for this. Acrylan from Bagi, a foam product that will clean tiles even without using a sponge. It must be applied to the surface, then rinsed thoroughly with clean water.

To prevent the formation of limescale on the tiles, it is enough to wipe the tiles dry every time after taking a bath or shower.

We fight old deposits

It will not be possible to completely remove a thick layer of lime deposits using gentle means; you will have to resort to the help of aggressive components.

A mixture prepared according to the following recipe works effectively:

• add a little water to the cleaning powder and stir until a paste forms;
• add 1 tbsp. l “Whiteness”, 2 tbsp. l vinegar (9% solution);
• apply the product to the affected areas using a spatula;
• leave for 15-20 minutes, as soon as the plaque begins to collapse, proceed to the next stage;
• treat the surface with a sponge;
• thoroughly rinse off the product with the destroyed plaque;
• remove moisture with a dry cloth.

What is not recommended by manufacturers?

Application for acrylic bath products:

1. Powdery and abrasive. Microdamages remain on the surface, due to which over time the surface will become dull and acquire a gray tint.
2. Chlorine-containing. The bath bowl becomes cloudy, the structure of the coating is damaged, and it becomes porous.
3. With acetone, solvent, ammonia. They destroy the surface, the bath loses its shine and darkens.

For the same reasons, long-term contact with chlorine, gasoline, and alcohol is contraindicated for acrylic products.

For steel and cast iron products coated with enamel, there are restrictions:

1. The use of products containing strong acids (sulfuric, hydrochloric, oxalic, etc.).
2. Prolonged contact with chlorine-containing solutions.
3. Using metal, hard brushes and sponges.

All of the above can damage the protective layer of enamel or destroy its structure. This will affect the appearance of the bowl and intensify the process of deposition of dirt and plaque on the surface.

Tips from housewives

Industrial solution “Belizna” is popular among housewives, it effectively whitens surfaces, disinfects and does not cause significant damage to the budget.

Liquid based on sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) is not contraindicated for treating enamel surfaces in diluted form.For cast iron products the ratio of “Whiteness” and water should be 1:2, for steel - 1:3.

It is necessary to fill the bowl with water (temperature 25-30 degrees), add 2 bottles of “Whiteness”, after 15 minutes drain the water and rinse the surface thoroughly.

It is not recommended to use the product for acrylic bathtubs, to avoid restoration or complete replacement of the bowl.

All the most important and useful information about cleaning the bathroom is collected in this section of the site.

Conclusion

You can defeat limescale deposits on the surface of a bathtub made of any material using household chemicals or homemade solutions.

In order not to harm the product and your own health, you must follow safety measures, manufacturer’s recommendations and avoid prolonged interaction of active components with the surface. Important to remember, Plaque formation is easy to prevent; it is much more difficult to clean.