Your plumbing fixtures will have to deal with water on a daily basis. The water may be contaminated with acid, sulphur bacteria, and dissolved iron, which may create abrasive corrosion streaks on your plumbing fixtures.
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While you cannot stop the water from reaching your plumbing fixtures, there are certain steps that you can take in order to remove stains. Here, our focus will be on how you can get rid of rust stains on your plumbing fixtures.
Causes of Rust Stains
Red-brown rust stains may be created due to the presence of iron in your water. Left untreated, such stains will become permanent over time. They are hard to remove, and can leave your plumbing fixtures looking tarnished.
A degraded or rusted pipeline, fixture, and/or water heater may cause rust particles to reach your water supply. Health issues may thus develop if you do not fix the issue as soon as possible.
Your plumbing fittings may also develop rust stains if the water that enters your home has excess iron. If you are currently dealing with excess iron deposits, then you can try a filter or softener in order to solve the problem.
How to Remove Rust Stains
The length of the discolouration and the material’s surface will determine how difficult it is to remove the rust stains. If persistent stains are an issue, then you may notice that the colour has actually etched itself into the porcelain in a permanent manner.
Persistent staining is a serious problem, and can be very difficult to eliminate. We would recommend that you nip the problem in the bud before it becomes a very serious issue.
How do you remove rust from plumbing fixtures?
There are literally dozens of different solutions that you can use in order to get rid of rust on your plumbing fixtures. Below are some of our favourite solutions.
- Mix one-part vinegar and one-part water into a spray bottle, and then spray the mixture onto the surface. Proceed to scrub the surface using a hard-bristled brush.
- Mix one-part vinegar and three-part baking soda in order to form a paste. Proceed to scrub the bowl with the paste.
- Dust a quarter cup of borax onto the desired surface. Proceed to scrub vigorously with a brush in order to get rid of the stains.
- Buy a pumice stick at your local grocery store or hardware store. Wet the pumice stick with water and proceed to rub it directly on the stained surface or area.
- Purchase a few Shaw’s Pads. Shaw’s Pads consist of a scouring cloth and a handy handle. Some elbow grease should be sufficient to eliminate your rust and stains.
- Barkeeper’s Friend is a tried and true commercial cleaner that is remarkably effective at removing rust stains.
Other solutions that may also help eliminate bacteria, odours, stains, and rust include lemon and salt mixtures, pumice stones, hydrogen peroxide, carbonated coke or soda, as well as other commercial cleaning products.
Expert Rust-Resistance Methods
In order to prevent the accumulation of deposits and iron from taking hold of your sink, tub, and toilet, you should clean them at least once per week. By doing so, your surfaces will remain smooth for years to come.
You should also improve your plumbing repair, and you can save headaches down the line by upgrading your plumbing. Older domiciles may have iron pipes that will rapidly break down. You may thus have to deal with rust deposits in perpetuity unless you upgrade your pipes as soon as possible.
A water softener or an iron filter may help. Water purification systems are designed to get rid of the problem at the source. Mineral deposits and iron in your water will be removed in order to prevent stains from forming in the future.
You should also keep an eye out for metal products, such as air fresheners and shaving cream cans. Cans that have metal bottoms can contribute to rust stains. You should store your metal-bottomed cans in a cupboard instead of on the sink and bath ledges.
Eliminate Rust for Good
Rust from a metal-scouring pad or drain fitting can cause your beautiful porcelain plumbing fixtures to become discoloured over time. Once this happens, they will probably need to be replaced, which can cost quite a bit of money.
We hope the tips that we have provided will help you get rid of rust stress on all of your plumbing fixtures.
If all else fails, we would recommend that you call a local plumbing professional. They will have the tools and the know-how needed to get rid of the toughest corrosion stains on your plumbing fixtures. Ask trusted friends and family members if they can recommend a licensed and bonded plumber in your neighbourhood.