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The history of the existence of cast-iron bathtubs has been more than a dozen years. Although today they are globally replaced by modern materials, the issue of care remains relevant. Cast iron is recognized as the most durable, wear-resistant material that is not afraid of mechanical and chemical influences. But, since we are talking about a bathtub, it must bear in mind that it is covered with additional enamel, which, unfortunately, cannot boast of such strength characteristics and often suffers from improper care or use. If you inherited just such plumbing, there is no need to rush to throw it away. Do not forget that cast iron, by itself, keeps heat well, and defects that appear can be eliminated in various ways, which we will talk about in this article.
The Benefits of Cast-Iron Bathtubs
Cast-iron bathtubs are a favorite of many because of their durability and easy care. Here are some tips on how to clean a cast-iron bathtub:
- Start by rinsing the tub with warm water and soap. Make sure to get all of the soap off the surface of the tub.
- Grate a bit of ginger or garlic and add it to the rinse water. This will help to keep the tub clean and remove any odors.
- Pour a pot of hot water into the tub and add a teaspoon of white vinegar. Swirl the water around to make sure that it is well mixed.
- Scrub the tub with a soft cloth or sponge, using a circular motion. Be sure to use gentle pressure so as not to scratch the surface of the tub.
- Rinse the cloth or sponge off in fresh water and wring it out completely. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the tub is clean.
How to season a Cast-Iron Bathtub
Cast iron is a durable metal that can last a long time if taken care of. Seasoning your cast iron bathtub will help it last longer and make it easier to clean. Here are the steps:
- Preheat your bathtub using hot water. Cast iron doesn’t like cold water, so be sure to heat up the tub before starting this process.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to the bottom of the bathtub. This will help protect the metal from rusting and make it easier to clean.
- Pour 1 cup of boiling hot water into the bathtub. This will help loosen any built-up soap residue and scum on the surface of the tub.
- Use a scrub brush to clean the entire surface of the tub with a mild soap solution. Be sure to work around any cracks or crevices in the metal so you don’t end up scrubbing them clean.
- Rinse off the tub with clean water and dry it off completely before applying any kind of coating or sealant, if desired.
When to Clean a Cast-Iron Bathtub
Cast-iron bathtubs are heavy and difficult to move, so it is important to clean them regularly. Here is a guide on how to clean a cast-iron bathtub:
- First, scrub the tub with a stiff brush. Then use a bucket of hot water and a sponge to scrub the surface.
- Next, pour a bucket of cold water into the tub and turn on the hot water. Submerge the sponge in the cold water and scrub the surface again.
- Finally, rinse the tub with clear water.
How to Clean a Cast-Iron Bathtub
Cast iron bathtubs can be difficult to clean, but with the right materials and techniques, they can be cleaned with ease. Here are some tips for cleaning a cast-iron bathtub:
- Wash the tub with hot water and soap. Scrub the entire surface with a soft brush. Rinse the tub and scrub it again.
- If there is rust on the tub, use a rust cleaner such as CLR or a homemade solution of 1 cup vinegar to 3 cups water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spritz the surface of the tub. Let it sit for several minutes, then scrub it off.
- If there is calcium build-up on the surface of the tub, using a scouring pad will remove it. Be sure to rinse well after using the pad.
How to get rid of Limescale
Of course, for the lime film to cover your bath, the easiest way is to care for it during operation to keep it constantly dry. But since this has happened, we suggest using one of the following recipes:
1. It is necessary to mix 100 g of salt and soda (it is not necessary to take food, you can use soda ash, which gives a much greater effect). We apply the resulting powder to the area of the cast-iron bath that needs care and leaves it for a couple of hours, after which it is enough to rub it a little with a damp, hard cloth.
2. Oxalic acid effectively helps cope with an unpleasant situation, which must be diluted to a semi-liquid consistency and smeared with a stain, leaving it in this form for 1.5–2 hours. After the specified time, it is necessary to lightly treat the bath area with a brush and only then rinse thoroughly with water.
3. Dust soap can cope with limescale – lather a sponge with it, cover the contaminated areas, let the bath stand in this form for half an hour, and rinse.
4. Use a commercially available bath cleaner. For example, “Mister Muscle” will help effectively cope with limescale, which is also effective for disinfection, removing any contamination. Its composition can penetrate deeply into the structure of the polluted spot and destroy it from the inside.
Rust Removal Methods
It is quite difficult to remove the rust that has appeared on the surface of the cast-iron bath since it eats into the top layer quite strongly. Nevertheless, with a fraction of the effort, you can get rid of it in the following ways:
- Mix in equal proportions the most common hydrogen peroxide, sold in any pharmacy, with ammonia. Apply the resulting solution with a hard sponge on the spots and three.
- Make a pasty mass of salt and vinegar and grease the cast-iron bath’s problem area with it. To make it easier to achieve the desired effect, you can leave it for several hours – this will not damage the coating in any way, but it will also allow you to get rid of yellowness.
- A more aggressive agent is turpentine (50 ml) with salt (100 g). It must be applied to the surface and thoroughly rubbed against heavily rusted areas.
- A mixture of dry mustard with soda (3: 1) will help not only remove rust but also remove plaque along the way;
- Oxygen bleach helps to clean the cast iron bath effectively. The bath is filled with water, one packet of bleach is added, mixed, and left in this state overnight. The next morning the bathtub will shine with a snow-white color. If you have difficulty purchasing bleach, replace it with two glasses of vinegar.
- In stores, you can buy modern cleaning products used for any baths, including cast iron. Cif can effectively remove even old rust. If you want a whitening effect in parallel, you can use Cif Ultra White or Comet, which will remove all microbes.
What not to do when Cleaning your Bathtub
When cleaning a cast iron bath, it is important not to cause further damage to it by damaging the surface enamel, so we have prepared several recommendations on what to avoid in such work, namely:
- Try not to use chlorine-containing products (except for the fight against mold).
- Apply agents with aggressive acids only pointwise, especially for hydrochloric acid concentrate.
- Do not use brushes with metal bristles, which will easily scratch the bath enamel. The same applies to knives, blades, and similar sharp instruments.
You can use a regular soft brush to clean your cast iron bath without harming it effectively. Nowadays, melamine sponges have gained popularity among homemakers. Still, the issue of the safety of their use to this day remains controversial since melamine, getting into the human body, can cause harm.
Prevention of Contamination
You can extend the service life of a cast-iron bath by postponing its replacement for a long time with the help of simple periodic surface maintenance. It is advisable to rinse the surface and wipe it with a dry cloth every evening when the family’s bathing procedures are over to avoid the formation of rust. Once a week, you need to clean the bathtub with more serious products sold at any hardware store. For example, you can purchase for this purpose the fragrant “Frosch,” “Sun Wedge,” which does not contain harsh abrasives but has an effective cleansing effect on the enamel.
Try to control the temperature of the water – it should not exceed 65 degrees, since otherwise, cracks may appear on the enamel (of course, you will not wash under such a hot pressure, but one can use it for any household purposes).
Check the serviceability of all taps – the slightest systematic leakage of water and a dripping tap will not make it possible to get rid of rusty deposits.
Although cast iron is recognized as the most durable material in the plumbing industry, its enamel cannot withstand serious mechanical damage. Therefore, there is no need to wash large, heavy objects, metal buckets in it – all this will lead to the destruction of the surface layer. If small chips or cracks appear, it is better to eliminate them immediately using a putty specially designed for this. You can also make it yourself by mixing zinc-containing whitewash and BF-2 adhesive in equal proportions.
You can regularly clean a cast iron bath with the most common soda – you need to apply it to a sponge and treat the entire surface. Performing this procedure at least once a week will keep your bathtub immaculately clean at all times.
Adhering to all of the listed preventive measures, you will successfully extend the life of your cast-iron bath for another couple of decades.
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