How to clean a cast iron bathtub at home (how to remove yellowness)

Despite many modern alternatives, the cast iron bathtub has been and remains one of the most popular types of plumbing fixtures.

This popularity is largely due to the durability and increased strength of cast iron. The material can withstand severe loads, is resistant to temperature changes, has high heat capacity and good sound insulation properties.

However, the operation of such products has its own nuances, which mainly relate to the handling of the enamel coating. In the absence of proper care and prevention, it quickly loses its aesthetic appearance.

To preserve the original color and shine of the bowl, you need to know how and with what to wash a cast iron bathtub without damaging the enamel. We'll talk about this in our article.

How to clean such plumbing

First you need to figure out what to wash with without damaging the enamel of the cast iron bathtub. The fact is that not all products are suitable for such coverage. So, it is strictly forbidden to use substances that contain chlorine, abrasive components or acids for this plumbing. They are suitable for other types of bathtubs, for example, for acrylic ones, but not for cast iron bathtubs.

What products can be used for such plumbing? More cleaning products that are easy to use at home are quite suitable for it. These include turpentine, vinegar, soda, citric acid and some other means. Let's look at these in more detail.

Types of pollution

The enamel, which is used to coat cast iron products during the production process, is a powder; it is applied to the surface of the bowl using the electrostatic method and then baked in a heat chamber. To clean but not damage a cast iron bathtub, you need to know what types of contaminants are found on it and what you can use to wash them:

Limescale. A whitish coating appears on the surface of the bath due to hard water, which contains a large amount of mineral salts (calcium, magnesium). To remove it at home, it is recommended to use a solvent for oil paints or turpentine.
Yellowing. After many years of use, the once white enamel becomes covered with a yellowish coating, which occurs due to the poor quality of water and the high content of impurities in it (chlorine, metal salts). If you wash the bathtub with a weak vinegar solution, the bathtub can be cleaned, returning its whiteness and shine.
Rust. Old water pipes, high iron content in water, chipped enamel and metal fittings lead to the appearance of red stains on the surface of the bowl. It is not recommended to clean a cast iron bathtub with abrasives and acids, so you can wash such stains at home with a mixture of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide in a 1:2 ratio.

Method 1 – baking soda and vinegar

This is one of the most powerful means for returning enamel to its original appearance. Thanks to cleaning with soda ash and vinegar, it is possible to get rid of not only fresh, but also old plaque. It is recommended to use this product as follows:

To begin with, you should take two spoons of table soda and soda ash. These ingredients are mixed and filled with water until a paste is formed.
After this, the resulting mass must be applied to the enamel and left for a third of an hour.
Then take half a glass of vinegar and ordinary bleach, mix these ingredients and apply it to the enamel over the previous composition.

After this, the bath is washed with water and wiped with a soft cloth to make it shine. Usually one such treatment is enough for plumbing fixtures.

Method 2 – citric acid

This is the most economical option that will help you tidy up your old cast iron bathtub. Here you will need to act like this:

To begin, take a packet of citric acid and dilute it in one glass of water, thoroughly mixing the solution.
Take a regular sponge and use it to spread the solution over the walls of the font. Leave everything for 25 minutes.
After this, rinse the bathtub and wipe it with a clean sponge.

Video: homemade cleaning recipes:

This method will allow you to remove even old stains in a matter of minutes. Use it if you don't know how to clean the hot tub with other means. You definitely won’t damage the enamel with citric acid.

Helpful information

Tips for caring for a cast iron bathtub:

the safest means for caring for cast iron bathtubs are alkaline compounds, for example, laundry soap;
You need to wash and dry the bathtub after each use - this will avoid its premature damage;
When working with caustic substances, it is necessary to protect the skin of your hands with gloves, and your respiratory organs with a mask or respirator.

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

Method 4 – turpentine

Turpentine-based gruel will help you get rid of rust quickly and easily. Use it like this:

To begin with, you will need to take 100 grams of ordinary table salt and 35 ml of turpentine. These ingredients should be mixed until a homogeneous paste is formed.
The resulting product should be applied to problem areas of your bathtub and left on the walls for a quarter of an hour.
After this, you will need to wash your font from the remnants of such a product and dry it very well.

If the first time you did not manage to wash the font white in this way, you can try other compositions after the enamel has completely dried. Don't worry, you will be able to achieve a good result the second or third time.

The Best Store-Bought Cleaning Products

Specialized household chemicals contain effective reagents, microelements and substances that work well against various types of stains to which enamel is prone.

There are many cleaning products on the market with paste, gel, and powder consistency. Before buying any of them, you need to check whether it is suitable for enamel, study the instructions and become familiar with the composition.

Let's consider several effective means that have worked well in practice and are most popular among housewives.

Remedy #1 - whiteness in various forms

The most commonly used product used to clean cast iron bathtubs is plain white. It is inexpensive, produced by numerous manufacturers, but regardless of this, it has an almost identical composition.

The average cost of a 1 liter bottle is 50-80 rubles. The product is available in gel and liquid form. The first option will cost an order of magnitude more.

Whiteness helps restore the original color of the coating, removes grease, fresh paint stains, destroys bacteria, mold, and mildew thanks to its powerful disinfecting and disinfecting properties. However, it is not suitable for emergency coating resuscitation: it is unlikely to be able to remove either rust or limescale deposits.

In addition to the enamel itself, it is recommended to use the substance to clean bathroom tiles, joints, corners located above the bowl, and drain areas.

It is necessary to wash the container with whiteness with a moderately hard sponge without metal fibers. It is advisable to use it not in its pure form, but to dilute it with ordinary water, maintaining a 1:2 ratio. You can also add 100 ml of the mixture to a bath filled with liquid, mix well and leave overnight.

Product #2 – Mister Muscle for baths

Cleaning composition of the famous brand MR. MUSCLE is also suitable for more serious stains. Unlike white, it is much easier to use. It does not contain aggressive components, so it is used in its pure form.

The operation process itself is made easier thanks to the convenient sprayer. The average price for a 0.5 liter bottle is about 220 rubles.

Mister Muscle is an excellent option for disinfection, care, and treatment of damaged surfaces. A spray with a creamy formula penetrates deeply into the structure of the stain, completely destroying it in a short time

The substances included in its composition effectively clean the enamel from existing rust and, subject to regular, correct use, prevent corrosion. The product copes well with lime deposits, soap scum, dirt deposits, and kills all kinds of microbes.

The cylinder is used in two modes, which are changed by turning the spray tip. The first mode is intended for application over a large area, the second - for spot treatment of narrow crevices.

After use, wipe the coating with a sponge and rinse off the composition with plenty of water. If necessary, the procedure is repeated several times.

Remedy #3 – Comet-gel for plumbing

Comet gel is a universal product for cleaning various types of coatings on plumbing fixtures. It is available in several versions - “Up to 7 days of cleanliness”, “Expert”.

The last of them - Expert - is endowed with a stronger composition designed to work with limescale and rust. The average price of a plastic container with a 0.5 liter dispenser is 150-200 rubles.

The product gives a slight whitening effect, serves as an excellent disinfectant, breaks down fatty deposits, and removes stubborn stains. The composition does not contain silicate abrasive, so it does not scratch the enamel coating

To clean the bathtub from rust, apply the gel and leave it on the problem area for 10 minutes. After this, you need to wipe the bowl with a sponge and rinse with running water. It is not recommended to leave the product on the surface of the bowl for more than 10 minutes, as it contains acids.

Tool #4 - Cif brand products

Under the Cif brand they produce several effective products specializing in cleaning tiles, pipes and plumbing.

For the enamel coating of cast iron bathtubs, anti-plaque bath spray, Active Fresh universal cream, Power&Shine bath spray, Ultra White cream with a whitening effect are suitable. You can buy cream for an average of 100-150 rubles, spray – 150-200 rubles. The volume of the plastic container is 0.5 l.

All solutions and creams from SIF eliminate unpleasant odors well and aromatize the room thanks to the various fragrances that are included in their composition. Depending on the form of release, there are lemon, pine, eucalyptus, and sea flavors

The products can be used to remove grease and lime deposits. To clean the surface from mold and stubborn rust, it is better to take a reinforced cream with a whitening effect.

The drug is applied to the coating for up to 15 minutes. Its active substances instantly penetrate deep layers of contaminants and damage their structure.

As a result, the stubborn stain turns into a trickle of liquid, which can be easily removed with a sponge. After all manipulations, you should thoroughly rinse the bath bowl with running water.

Product #5 – Sanox cleaner

Sanox is called the “heavy artillery” among all similar products. The powerful composition of the mixture and the high concentration of active components allows you to easily deal with even very complex stains. A 0.5 liter product specially designed for cleaning bathtubs costs about 50 rubles.

Sanox quickly eliminates unpleasant odors, removes 99% of bacteria and infectious agents from the surface of the bowl, corrodes grease, limescale, and rust. The method of using the drug is practically no different from the previous ones. It is applied to the contaminated area, left for 10 minutes, rubbed with a sponge and washed off with water.

It is worth considering that the liquid contains acids, so it must be used with extreme caution and in extreme cases when stubborn stains do not respond to other drugs.

If the enamel does not have an acid-resistant coating or is too thin, it is better to choose other, more gentle means.

Remedy #6 – safe eco-product Frosch

Products from the Frosch line are an ideal option for regular cleaning of enamel and preventing the formation of difficult-to-remove plaque.

They are easy to apply and wash off, have an absolutely safe composition, a convenient spray form, and a pleasant aroma. The average cost of a 0.5 liter spray bottle is 250-300 rubles.

Frosch spray helps maintain the enamel coating of a cast iron bathtub in excellent condition, without resorting to emergency and harsh methods of surface resuscitation

Using an eco-friendly product, you can remove shallow stains from rust and limescale, but it is not suitable for heavily soiled areas.

Method 5 – vinegar

How to clean a bathtub when you don’t have any specialized products for enamel coating on hand? You can use vinegar for a similar purpose. Proceed like this:

To begin, you will need to draw a full bath of water.
Then you should add at least 200 grams of ordinary salt vinegar to the water. Care must be taken to ensure that the vinegar and water are mixed evenly.
After this, you should leave the bath to soak for at least three hours. During this time, all contaminants will move away from the walls of the bath.

After this, you just need to drain the vinegar solution and rinse the bathtub with regular cool water. You will see that all dirt will quickly move away from the walls of the font.

Have you already read how to clean yellow stains from a bathtub?

After renovation

After renovation, the bathtub has to be cleaned of traces of various finishing materials. If we are talking about tile adhesive, stains of primer, whitewash or water-based paint, then they need to be soaked with water, placed on a wet rag for a few minutes, and then wiped with a sponge. If the contamination cannot be removed the first time, the operation is repeated.

Traces of assembly adhesive, sealant, and tape can be removed with acetone. To remove oil paint and alkyd enamel, use white spirit or other solvents

Proceed with caution to ensure that exposure to aggressive substances is limited to a small area

You can also clean the enamel surface from paint, cement and some other types of contaminants mechanically, using a scraper or a stationery knife. The main thing is not to cause mechanical damage to the enamel.

Regular proper care of your bathroom will ensure its radiant appearance for many years.

Method 6 - ammonia

Ammonia with peroxide can save you from yellowness, as well as rust. Use these tools like this:

To begin, take a half-liter container and pour 100 grams of ammonia into it. After this, carefully pour 50 ml of peroxide into this mixture. Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
Take a clean sponge, scoop the resulting mixture onto it and carefully distribute it over the walls of your font. Leave it all to sit for a quarter of an hour.
After this, simply rinse off the remaining product. The rusty coating will go away along with it.

Advice:

This product is also best used when rust has just appeared. If you are trying to remove old stains in this way, you will have to process the bath several times.

Prevention

Clean is not where they clean, but where they don’t litter, said A.P. Chekhov. The same applies to your bath. By following the simple rules described below, you can prevent dirt, rust and deposits from appearing in your bathtub.

Be sure to rinse the bathtub after taking water procedures. Wipe it dry so as not to increase the level of humidity in the bathroom. This will reduce the risk of mold and mildew.
If water drips from a faucet, faucet or shower into the bathtub, it will cause plaque to form. If water accumulates at the bottom of the tub, spots and rings of rust will appear. High humidity will lead to the development of mold and mildew. To prevent this from happening, turn off the valves after water procedures. Better yet, call a plumber.
Make it a habit to clean your bathtub with detergent once a week. This will prevent it from getting dirty.
If you use essential oils and other additives, wash the tub thoroughly with detergent or soap. Unwashed fats and oils will form a residue over time, and the remains of bath foam will turn into a “soap ring.”

Method 7 – nitroenamel and oxalic acid

How to clean a bathtub quickly and effectively so that it becomes snow-white again? Try using oxalic acid for this purpose, followed by nitroenamel. Do this:

First, you should dilute the acid with water to a liquid slurry. You need to carefully treat the entire font with this slurry and leave the mixture on the walls for 40 minutes. After this, the product can be removed with sandpaper.
After this, you will need to cover all problem areas with nitro enamel. The first layer will need to be applied for half an hour. After this, repeat this procedure.
Then wait until the nitro enamel sets on the surface of the font.

This method will allow you to update even a very neglected bathtub. You can use it even if your product even has scratches or chips.

Bathroom care rules

You need to take 2 tips as a basis:

Every day, wash the walls of the bowl with soapy water; instead, use liquid soap; use a sponge for application;
at the end of the day, and best of all, after each use, the bath should be wiped dry, this will prevent the formation of limescale and the appearance of yellowness.

If colored stains appear (from hair dye, brilliant green, etc.), they must be removed immediately. If you leave complex contaminants on the surface of the bowl and continue to use it, the substance will penetrate deep into the lining structure. As a result, it will be difficult to remove such a stain.

What to do if none of the remedies helped?

If you don’t know how to clean an old and neglected bathtub, having tried various methods, contact a specialist. They will carry out a comprehensive treatment of the font with special means, get rid of rust, and then cover it with a new layer of enamel. Within a couple of days after this treatment, the enamel will completely harden, and you will again be able to use your own bathroom.

Important:

Trust such work only to professionals. Be sure to study reviews of teams performing such work so as not to encounter ammators. Non-professionals can completely ruin your bath.

How to prevent a cast iron bathtub from getting too dirty

As you can see, it’s not difficult to figure out how to quickly clean a cast-iron bathtub. But it’s more important to make sure that this plumbing doesn’t get too dirty, then you’ll have to clean it less often. To do this you need:

Avoid washing metal objects in the bathroom: bicycles, strollers, scooters. All these items leave subtle chips and scratches on the enamel, which become covered with rust in just a few weeks.
Make sure that the bathtub remains dry when no one is using it. The fact is that even a small amount of water that may remain at the bottom of such a bathtub will lead to the appearance of dark spots on the enamel that will be difficult to remove.
Pour only water at a temperature of up to 75 degrees into the bath. Otherwise, microcracks will appear on the enamel.
Collect more than 180 liters of water. Otherwise, an increased load will be created on the font, and it will collapse over time.
Clean the hot tub only with soft sponges. Under no circumstances should metal objects, such as pipe cleaners, be used for this purpose.

If you use these simple methods of maintaining the ideal condition of a cast-iron bathtub, you will be able to forget for a long time about how to clean such plumbing fixtures and how to do it correctly. The font itself will constantly delight you with its impeccable appearance.

Video: how to clean a cast iron bathtub?

Features of cleaning and chemicals for bathtubs made of various materials

Acrylic does not tolerate aggressive chemicals. When cleaning, it is not recommended to use products containing ammonia, alcohol and acids. Washing powder is also prohibited, otherwise the coating will acquire a yellow tint and lose its shine.

The best way out of the situation would be to purchase special products, among them are: Acrilan, Frosch “green grapes”, Tim Profi, Domestos without chlorine, O.S., CillitBang, Pemolux, Chister, Ravak Desifenctant, HG.

If you have a bathtub with a hydromassage, the following products will help in cleaning it: BAS, MELLERUD.

They can be replaced with dishwashing detergent and liquid soap. To extend the life of the bathtub, it should be regularly treated with wax polish. I do not recommend caring for an acrylic product using a brush or hard cloth. The damage resulting from such cleaning is almost impossible to get rid of.

Enamel is characterized by higher wear resistance. If you clean regularly, the bathtub will retain its presentable appearance for a long time. Detergents should not contain chlorine and acids. You will have to give up iron brushes, abrasives, and dry powders. This is due to the thinness of the top layer. The list of special formulations includes gels from the San Klin, Comet, Sanoks, Cif, Mister Muscle series.

Modern cast iron bathtubs require the same care as enameled ones. Yellow spots form on the surface of old containers after contact with water, which cannot be avoided in the bathroom. You can get rid of them by using table vinegar, a mixture of liquid soap and baking soda, and ammonia.

Cast marble is also resistant to abrasives, aggressive detergents and mechanical stress. To make product care easier, manufacturers have launched safe formulations such as HG, MELLERUD, Akemi and VEGA.