Care
& Maintenance and Life Expectancy
of Bathtub is Relative to Use
Whether New or Refinished Bathtubs in general are regarded as
a permanent fixture. This, we know is not true as the life of
the bathtub is directly related to water quality and the way
it is cleaned & maintained.
Research, manufacture cleaning procedures plus many years
experience has shown that the life of a bathtub, whether new
or resurfaced, can be extended by many years if specific care
is taken during cleaning and maintenance.
Incorrect cleaning procedures
The greatest
area of bathtub abuse occurs in the cleaning process. Never
use steel wool, abrasive pads or applicators on the bathtub.
These will cause immediate damage to most bathtub surfaces.
Never use abrasive substances on sanitary ware. It is very
tempting to try to remove marks with these substances but
greater damage is always the end result. The most important
substances to avoid are abrasive powders and creams.
Considerable damage can also be done to the bathtub by using
acids or other chemical substances such as drain cleaners. Of
these, chlorine, pool acid, bleach, vinegar, toilet cleaner
and lemon juice must strictly be avoided. Most of these
substances will remove stains from a bathtub, but the surface
glaze layer of the bathtub will also be permanently damaged in
the process. The damage that these products do can be
described as follows. They clean the surface by "scratch"
cleaning the dirt off. This leaves tiny scratches on the
surface which gets filled with dirt each time the bathtub is
used, so you scrub harder to clean them off creating more
scratch marks. Each time you clean the bathtub it will become
harder to clean. This cycle eventually leads to a complete
breakdown of the surface of the bathtub. In effect you are
gradually removing the enamel from the bathtub and the
ultimate solution, if this cycle continues, is that the tub
will need to be resurfaced.
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Water quality
In
some areas, domestic water contains unacceptably high
proportions of "foreign objects" which, in time, may either
stain or scratch most surfaces. Contaminants, such as
vegetable colloids and iron oxide, will stain the surface.
Even new bathtub surfaces are often stained as well. In areas
where the water contains a lot of lime, a sediment often
builds up around the waste and below the faucets. It is
important to ensure that dripping faucets are attended to and
water is not allowed to remain in the bathtub
.
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Dripping Faucets.
Damage caused by dripping faucets over a
period of time causes considerable damage to surfaces. Not
only does it waste water but it eventually breaks down the
surface. We have seen many bathtubs worn right through the
enamel, especially below the dripping faucets. The first sign
of damage is the staining of the enamel surface. This stain is
usually green or a faint brown.
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Rusty Outlets
Often dripping faucets eventually cause
rust around the outlet. Whether a metal bathtub is resurfaced
or new and the faucets continue to leak, rust will re-occur.
Always maintain faucets for
long term care
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Chipping.
Most bathtubs
are susceptible to chipping. Below are a few causes:
-
Damage during installation.
-
Heavy metal plugs.
-
Hand showers.
-
Loose faucets.
-
Objects dropping off shelves or window sills above the
bathtub or basin.
-
Repair
damage as soon as possible to prevent further damage.
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Water
temperature.
Extremely hot water causes any bathtub
to expand and contract. Sudden changes in temperature can
cause cracks and other damage. It is advisable to periodically
check the temperature of the hot water.
A temperature not
exceeding 65 degrees centigrade / 149 degrees Fahrenheit is
recommended
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Initial installation.
Poor installation of a bathtub can lead
to pooling of water on the top and bottom edges of the
bathtub. Water left to stand on surfaces for a long period of
time will eventually cause damage. This is often the same
damage caused by a dripping faucet. High levels of chemicals
in the water supply will only add to this problem. Another
reason for rust appearing around outlet is that water is
unable to drain away because the outlet is sometimes higher
than the bathtub surface. This causes a "pooling" effect.
Correct installation of acrylic, fiberglass and cultured
marble bathtubs is critical, as severe flexing may result in
the bathtub cracking
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Non-slip strips or
mats.
It is unhygienic to leave rubber bath
mats in the bathtub. Always remove the mat from the bathtub
after use. Mats left on the bottom of a bathtub trap water,
becoming stained and unhygienic from mildew and soap deposits.
Water left to stand on bare surfaces for a long period of time
will eventually cause damage. Stick-on non-slip strips can
cause problems when the edges start to lift off and depending
on the method of removal, can cause damage to the surface.
Once the edges have lifted, they are also unhygienic.
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Cigarette burns
Cigarettes can seriously damage many
types of bathtubs, especially acrylic, fiberglass, and
cultured marble surfaces. Although most surfaces can be
repaired economically, some damage is costly. Porcelain)
surfaces are not easily damaged by cigarette burns.
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Drainage
Poorly installed wastes can lead to
water lying around the waste and not draining properly. Water
left unattended will eventually lead to corrosion. In acrylic
and fiberglass bathtubs, the effect of water will often stain
the surface, requiring severe cleaning methods which often
remove the shine and can damage the surface.
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Soaking of washing.
The dyes and residues from clothing left
to soak in a bathtub can stain the surface of all types of
bathtubs. This can be difficult to remove with acrylic and
fiberglass bathtubs as the stains impregnate the surface.
Strong detergents in washing powders will eventually cause
damage. Soaking washing in a bathtub will eventually stain a
bathtub and could also remove the shine.
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Hair dyes
Hair dyes contain very powerful
chemicals which will stain most bathtub surfaces. It is
advisable not to use hair dyes in any bathtub
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Nail varnish
Nail varnish often leaves marks on
bathtub surfaces. Nail varnish remover contains chemicals
which cause damage to fiberglass and acrylic bathtubs.
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Soap
Many soaps contain caustic soda which,
in time, bleach many enamel pigments. Soap should not be
allowed to stand on a bare enamel surface for a protracted
period of time. Use of a soap dish is strongly recommended.
Body washes also rinse more easily and over time means less
scrubbing.
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Other reasons.
The frequent use of deeply colored
substances such as bubble baths and oils could also
permanently discolor most surfaces. The constant use of
colored disinfectants and soaps in bathtub water can result in
stains which can only be removed with a specialized polishing
process. In some cases the stain penetrates the surface and
cannot be removed.
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Unavoidable causes
There are a few unavoidable causes of
surface deterioration. The most common of these is the supply
of discolored water which often leaves a yellowish brown
stain. Unfortunately, bathtubs in these areas will show rapid
signs of staining and discoloring, especially below dripping
faucets. A second unavoidable factor is the effects of a cast
iron or mild steel hot water system. These systems also tend
to produce discolored water which eventually stain the
sanitary ware.
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