Rust
Lime
Scum
If you’re prone to bathroom neglect—or you
have stubborn stains seemingly beyond your control—don’t throw in
the towel. We’ll show you how to dissolve three frustrating, yet common,
water-caused deposits: rust stains and mineral buildup in the toilet bowl,
hardened mineral deposits on faucets, and layered soap scum on shower wall
tile.
The key to removing tough stains is selecting the right
cleaner. See “Cleaners that Work” (below) for a general guide. You
won’t have to do much scrubbing; the cleaner will do the
work.
We’ll show you how to remove stains on china
(toilets), metal, tile and grout. Read the product labels, however, when
cleaning fiberglass, stone or other plastic surfaces. Use products specifically
recommended for those surfaces.
If you want to save hours of cleaning time per month,
check out “Tips That Reduce Cleaning Time,” below. To begin, save
time by keeping all bathroom cleaning tools and products in one bucket. Store
it in or near the bathroom and out of children’s reach.
Stock the bucket with chemical-resistant rubber gloves,
non-scratch nylon scrubber brush, grout brush, old toothbrush, clean soft rag,
large sponge, glass cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner and one all-purpose soap
scum/mildew/lime deposit cleaner.
It’s
the Water
The cause of these bathroom-cleaning challenges is the
natural abundant minerals found in hard water, particularly calcium, magnesium
and iron. The particles attach to and form a hard scale on practically every
surface. And despite filters/systems that “soften” water by
removing a majority of these particles, 9 out of 10 homes host some degree of
hard water.
Rust-colored stains form when air combines with iron
particles. That’s why you see stains below dripping faucets. White crusty
scale on faucet spouts and screens is a common buildup of calcium and
magnesium. Gray scum layers in the shower area result when soap combines with
calcium and magnesium salts and body oil to form a sticky soap
curd.
Remove
Rust From Toilet
To make your toilet bowl clean again, start with a dry
bowl so water won’t dilute the cleaner. To tackle difficult rust stains,
skip your discount-store toilet bowl cleaner and head to the hardware store for
a product containing diluted hydrochloric acid (also listed on product labels
as hydrogen chloride, HCL or muriatic acid). This is a common active ingredient
in such brands as The Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner and Santeen De-Limer &
Toilet Bowl Cleaner (see Buyer’s Guide). And make sure you
don’t use a bleach-containing product on rust—it will set the
stain.
Be sure to use a toilet brush with stiff nylon bristles in
a plastic base. Those old wire brushes scratch the bowl. Once the bowl surface
becomes scratched or worn, stain removal becomes next to
impossible.
Two cautions when cleaning with diluted hydrochloric acid.
First, if you use an in-tank cleaner that contains bleach, remove it and flush
multiple times to remove bleach residue. A combination of bleach-containing and
acid-containing products (toilet cleaners) produces deadly
vapors.
Second caution: Scrub slowly because droplets that
splatter outside the bowl can harm carpet, tile, vinyl and your skin. Keep a
rag and a bucket of water handy to wipe up spatters. Same goes for setting the
bottle down on these surfaces—don’t. And make sure you flush and
rinse the bowl immediately.
Remove
Faucet Scale Deposits
To remove tough mineral scale buildup on chrome faucets,
use a product such as Lime-A-Way according to label
directions.
For weekly cleaning, an all-purpose cleaner such as Comet
Bathroom or Scrubbing Bubbles will work fine.
To ensure your crusty faucet will shine again, aside from
giving it a vigorous toothbrush scrubbing, Apply and remove the proper cleaner
as directed on its label.
If scrubbing doesn’t remove hardened mineral
deposits on the aerator screen, unscrew the spout tip by turning it
counterclockwise. Soak it overnight in vinegar, then scrub it with the
toothbrush and flush with water before reinstalling.
Buyer’s Guide
Santeen Products: (952)
935-4500 or www.santeen.com.
Makers of Santeen brand cleaners
Limeosol Co.: (800) 448-5281
or www.limeosol.com.
Makers of The Works product line
Remove
Soap Scum From Tile
Numerous cleaners are available to remove soap scum from
tile. But if you face layers of soap scum buildup, stick with an effective
bleach-containing, nonabrasive product (see list below).
Scum cleaners commonly contain bleach (sodium
hypochlorite), which effectively cuts through soap scum and kills mildew. Be
sure to read the product label and match it to the material (tile, fiberglass,
etc.) being cleaned.
Cleaners
That Work
Here are a few examples of recommended effective products
based on our research and experience. Granted, there are many products
available and you may have your own favorites or remedies.
Toilet Bowl
Chrome Faucet
Ceramic Shower Tile
Caution
Before cleaning, turn on vent fan and/or open window and put
on chemical-resistant rubber gloves and eye protection.
Tips
that reduce cleaning time
Whole Bathroom
Toilet
-
Take 10 seconds each day and brush the
entire toilet bowl. You don’t have to apply a cleaner (zero stain growth
= fast and easy weekly clean)
-
Close lid before flushing (keeps mist of
bowl contents from exiting the bowl)
Shower/Tub Area
-
Take a moment to squeegee water off
walls after each shower (less scum and mildew buildup)
-
Blot water off fixtures with soft cloth
(fewer water spots)
-
Switch to Zest, Ivory or any liquid soap
to reduce soap scum formation
Fixtures
Caution
Read and follow the label to make sure the cleaner is safe to
use on both the faucet surface and the tub, tile or sink surfaces. Do not use
abrasive cleaners. Do not use all-purpose cleaners on marble or other natural
stone surfaces. Buy a special stone cleaner.
Chemicals That Work
There are five basic types of cleaning
chemicals: surfactants, alkalis, acids, solvents and disinfectants. Develop a
basic understanding of these and you can pick the right cleaner for any
job.
Surfactants, found in almost every
cleaning product, help carry the ingredients into tiny cracks and pores. They
also help loosen, emulsify (disperse in water) and suspend soils for
removal.
Alkalis, which have a pH higher than 7,
are best at removing (neutralizing) acidic soils, which have a pH less than 7.
Alkalis chew up acidic fats and oils (from hamburger grease to body oil to
plain old mud), breaking them into smaller particles that can be washed away.
Alkaline cleaners range from mild liquid dishwashing detergent and glass
cleaner to strong lye (sodium hydroxide) drain openers and
degreasers.
Acids work best on neutralizing alkaline
soils (tough water stains), such as lime scale, soap deposits, rust and more.
Acids break stains into small particles to be washed away. Acidic cleaners
range from mild (vinegar, lemon juice) to heavier cleaners such as phosphoric
acid (found in toilet bowl and tub/tile cleaners) and hydrochloric or sulfuric
acids (found in toilet bowl cleaners).
Solvents such as mineral spirits work by
dissolving soils rather than neutralizing them like alkalis or acids.
They’re distilled from petroleum or plant products and are mostly used on
oily and greasy soils.
Disinfectants, such as quaternary
ammonium or pine oil, are added to cleaners that tout anti-bacterial power.
They kill germs that smell, cause disease, stain clothes and spoil
food.
1. Close the water shutoff
valve by turning it clockwise until it stops. Flush the toilet and plunge out
as much water as possible.
2. Pour an aggressive cleaner
(one containing hydrochloric acid; see text above) on a plastic toilet brush
and spread it over the entire bowl surface.
Click image to enlarge.
3. Force the brush tip back and
forth, especially along the toilet jets (holes under rim), around the water
line and on visible stains. Scrub until stains are gone, reapplying cleaner as
necessary, then flush twice.
Click image to enlarge.
4. Soak the entire faucet
surface from base to tip with an all-purpose bathroom cleaner, or use a
lime-removing product if the buildup is extremely thick and
crusty.
5. Scrub the surface with an
old toothbrush, pushing bristles into crevices on the end of the spout (aerator
and screen) and on the handles, as well as at the base of the
faucet.
6. Once all deposits have been
removed, rinse the cleaner off immediately by wiping the entire surface down
with a dripping wet sponge. Dry and polish with a soft cloth.
7. Coat the entire tiled
surface (grout, caulk and all) with an all-purpose cleaner that attacks soap
scum. Wait 5 to 10 minutes to allow the product to work, which saves your
scrubbing elbow.
8. Remove remaining visible
scum and deposits by applying light pressure with a non-scratch nylon scrubber.
Reapply product to difficult areas and scrub until clean.
9. Remove stains and deposits
on grout or caulk by lightly scrubbing back and forth with a grout brush or old
toothbrush. Reapply product as needed.
Click image to enlarge.
10. Rinse the entire tiled
surface thoroughly with a dripping wet sponge. Push it back and forth across
the top of the wall so rinse water streams to the bottom of the wall. Repeat
until all cleaner is removed. Then, start at the top of the tile with a
bathroom squeegee and move downward to remove as much water as
possible.
