Removing scale from enamel bath
Nodge
traces of scale forming around the plughole. I checked on the instructions
for both Viakal and Cillit Bang, both of which say not to be used on enamel.
Can anyone recommend something safe? I thought vinegar possibly? - or would
this attack the metal plughole?
John
Andrew Gabriel
It might attack the enamel same as the commercial descalers.
Enamel may be hard, but its surface is easily attacked by acids,
which takes off the shine which in turn makes it harder to
clean. Use a bathroom cleaner designed for the job which
claims to be safe on enamel.
--
Andrew Gabriel
Old Bill
Ian Middleton
news:37utgcF...@individual.net...
Diet coke works well on enamel baths (phosphoric acid) and as it doesn't
attack drinking glasses (I hope) it won't attack the enamel.
doozer
Whether or not acid attacks the bath depends entirely on the composition
of the enamel not the acid.
Old enamels (pre 1970) were designed to be resistant to alkali (such as
the sodium hydroxide found in bleach) but not to acids (Viakal contains
hydrochloric acid IIRC) and as such _any_ acid (source of hydroxonium
ions) will damage it. The rate of damage will depend on the
concentration of the acid and a sufficiently weak acid may not produce
visible damage for quite some time. Old enamels were very good at high
temperatures which is why they were so extensively used.
Modern enamel coatings for things like baths aren't as good at high
temperature but are much more resistant to acids. After all no one cooks
in a bath so why make it good to 250 deg C? My guess would be that if it
is a modern enamel coating it will probably be ok to use mild acids such
as lemon juice and coke but _check a small area first_. If it does take
the shine off the enamel it is expensive to put it back.
The safest way to clean it is just using some elbow grease. It's slow
but it does give good results.
Note: Acids will also attack metal plug holes and generally give them a
dull look over time.
Graham
raden
<ia...@tcp.co.uk> writes
job. Why anyone would want to piss about pouring diet coke around a bath
is beyond me.
--
geoff
bof
writes
>Scale remover (available all over the place) is the correct tool for
>the job. Why anyone would want to piss about pouring diet coke around a
>bath is beyond me.
Hmm, don't know how the % of active chemicals compares in the two but:
Tesco value cola 9.5p/litre
Viakal (limescale remover) £5.36/litre
that's knocking on 60x as expensive vol for vol, maybe I'll give the
cola a go.
--
bof at bof dot me dot uk
No Spam
>Why anyone would want to piss about pouring diet coke around a bath
>is beyond me.
Its better than drinking the stuff
--
doozer
The acids are different in the two, hydrochloric in Viakal and
Phosphoric in cola. So it is comparing apples and oranges somewhat. They
have different "strengths" and therefore will differ in their
effectiveness at removing lime scale.
There are a number of reasons Viakal will probably be better than cola.
The acid in Viakal is much more concentrated. I would expect a pH of
probably 1 or maybe 2 where as cola would probably be more like 6 (maybe
5) since the pH scale is logarithmic this means that Viakal has at worst
(2 and 5) 1000 times more free ions and hence 1000 times more limescale
removing "strength".
The fizzing of the limescale (and perhaps you bath enamel) is the acid
attacking it. The reaction is:
2HCl + CaCO3 --> CaCl2 + H20 + CO2
The resulting salt when using Viakal is CaCl2 which is very soluble in
water and therefore easily washes away. CaPO4 (Calcium Phosphate) which
is the result of using cola is not as soluble and therefore not so
easily removed.
bof
<gra...@crazysquirrel.removethisbit.com> writes
>bof wrote:
>> In message <7KFFuoNU...@ntlworld.com>, raden <ra...@kateda.org> writes
>>
>>> Scale remover (available all over the place) is the correct tool for
>>>the job. Why anyone would want to piss about pouring diet coke around
>>>a bath is beyond me.
>> Hmm, don't know how the % of active chemicals compares in the two
>>but:
>> Tesco value cola 9.5p/litre
>> that's knocking on 60x as expensive vol for vol, maybe I'll give the
>>cola a go.
>>
>
>The acids are different in the two, hydrochloric in Viakal
AIUI Viakal is a mix of Maleic and Sulphamic acids, hydrochloric is
common in brick cleaner.
> and Phosphoric in cola. So it is comparing apples and oranges
>somewhat. They have different "strengths" and therefore will differ in
>their effectiveness at removing lime scale.
>
>There are a number of reasons Viakal will probably be better than cola.
>
>The acid in Viakal is much more concentrated. I would expect a pH of
>probably 1 or maybe 2 where as cola would probably be more like 6
>(maybe 5) since the pH scale is logarithmic this means that Viakal has
>at worst (2 and 5) 1000 times more free ions and hence 1000 times more
>limescale removing "strength".
>
>The fizzing of the limescale (and perhaps you bath enamel) is the acid
>attacking it. The reaction is:
>
>2HCl + CaCO3 --> CaCl2 + H20 + CO2
>
>The resulting salt when using Viakal is CaCl2 which is very soluble in
>water and therefore easily washes away. CaPO4 (Calcium Phosphate) which
>is the result of using cola is not as soluble and therefore not so
>easily removed.
--
doozer
> In message <n_-dnbCeCvo...@eclipse.net.uk>, doozer
> <gra...@crazysquirrel.removethisbit.com> writes
>
>> bof wrote:
>>
>>> In message <7KFFuoNU...@ntlworld.com>, raden <ra...@kateda.org>
>>> writes
>>>
>>>> Scale remover (available all over the place) is the correct tool for
>>>> the job. Why anyone would want to piss about pouring diet coke
>>>> around a bath is beyond me.
>>>
>>> Hmm, don't know how the % of active chemicals compares in the two but:
>>> Tesco value cola 9.5p/litre
>>> that's knocking on 60x as expensive vol for vol, maybe I'll give the
>>> cola a go.
>>>
>>
>> The acids are different in the two, hydrochloric in Viakal
>
>
> AIUI Viakal is a mix of Maleic and Sulphamic acids, hydrochloric is
> common in brick cleaner.
>
Could well be. I've got some downstairs but it felt like such a long way
to walk just to check I thought I would try relying on the brain. Either
way, Viakal will still be much better at removing limescale.
Any strong acid will remove limescale (such as old battery acid - but
you are on your own if you try that as you will need to dilute it a bit
:o)). Weak acids will work they will just take a really long time.
Keith G. Powell
"doozer" <gra...@crazysquirrel.removethisbit.com> wrote in message
news:O72dnYa8abl...@eclipse.net.uk...
>> AIUI Viakal is a mix of Maleic and Sulphamic acids, hydrochloric is
>> common in brick cleaner.
>>
>
> Could well be. I've got some downstairs but it felt like such a long way
> to walk just to check I thought I would try relying on the brain. Either
> way, Viakal will still be much better at removing limescale.
>
> Any strong acid will remove limescale (such as old battery acid - but you
> are on your own if you try that as you will need to dilute it a bit :o)).
> Weak acids will work they will just take a really long time.
Battery acid is sulphuric acid? When it reacts with the calcium scale, it
will produce calcium sulphate, which is insoluble. So I don't recommend it.
Buy a lemon and rub it over the surface.The juice contains citric acid. Or
buy citric acid crystals from the chemist and make up a dilute solution
inwater.
Keith G. Powell
Dave Plowman (News)
raden <ra...@kateda.org> wrote:
> Scale remover (available all over the place) is the correct tool for the
> job. Why anyone would want to piss about pouring diet coke around a bath
> is beyond me.
Dunno - but most heavily advertised cleaning products are a ridiculous
price considering the chemicals they contain?
--
*How do they get the deer to cross at that yellow road sign?
Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
raden
>> In message <7KFFuoNU...@ntlworld.com>, raden <ra...@kateda.org> writes
>>
>>> Scale remover (available all over the place) is the correct tool for
>>>the job. Why anyone would want to piss about pouring diet coke around
>>>a bath is beyond me.
>> Hmm, don't know how the % of active chemicals compares in the two
>>but:
>> Tesco value cola 9.5p/litre
>> that's knocking on 60x as expensive vol for vol, maybe I'll give the
>>cola a go.
>>
>
>The acids are different in the two, hydrochloric in Viakal and
>Phosphoric in cola. So it is comparing apples and oranges somewhat.
>They have different "strengths" and therefore will differ in their
>effectiveness at removing lime scale.
>
>There are a number of reasons Viakal will probably be better than cola.
>
surface of the enamel on an old bath with HCl (although I might have
been a bit enthusiastic with the concentration
--
geoff
raden
<nos...@dial.pipex.com> writes
--
geoff
raden
<nothi...@hotmail.com> writes
concentrated enough to do some good
A fiver sounds a lot for a litre of limescale remover - 5 litres of conc
phosphoric acid costs less than 20 quid
--
geoff
bof
Rob Morley
nothi...@hotmail.com says...
raden
>In message <9Nk0$ECXEP...@ntlworld.com>, raden <ra...@kateda.org>
>writes
>>In message <WBSf1hC7...@invalid.domain>, bof
>><nothi...@hotmail.com> writes
>>>In message <7KFFuoNU...@ntlworld.com>, raden <ra...@kateda.org>
>>>writes
>>>>Scale remover (available all over the place) is the correct tool for
>>>>the job. Why anyone would want to piss about pouring diet coke
>>>>around a bath is beyond me.
>>>
>>>Hmm, don't know how the % of active chemicals compares in the two but:
>>>
>>>Tesco value cola 9.5p/litre
>>>Viakal (limescale remover) £5.36/litre
>>>
>>>that's knocking on 60x as expensive vol for vol, maybe I'll give the
>>>cola a go.
>>>
>>Except that lime scale remover will stick to the surface and is
>>concentrated enough to do some good
>>
>>A fiver sounds a lot for a litre of limescale remover - 5 litres of
>>conc phosphoric acid costs less than 20 quid
>
>Which aisle at Tesco?
>
--
geoff
bof
>In message <iYTCjJ48GvHCFw$4...@invalid.domain>, bof
><nothi...@hotmail.com> writes
>>In message <9Nk0$ECXEP...@ntlworld.com>, raden <ra...@kateda.org>
>>writes
>>>In message <WBSf1hC7...@invalid.domain>, bof
>>><nothi...@hotmail.com> writes
>>>>In message <7KFFuoNU...@ntlworld.com>, raden <ra...@kateda.org>
>>>>writes
>>>>>Scale remover (available all over the place) is the correct tool
>>>>>for the job. Why anyone would want to piss about pouring diet coke
>>>>>around a bath is beyond me.
>>>>
>>>>Hmm, don't know how the % of active chemicals compares in the two but:
>>>>
>>>>Tesco value cola 9.5p/litre
>>>>Viakal (limescale remover) £5.36/litre
>>>>
>>>>that's knocking on 60x as expensive vol for vol, maybe I'll give the
>>>>cola a go.
>>>>
>>>Except that lime scale remover will stick to the surface and is
>>>concentrated enough to do some good
>>>
>>>A fiver sounds a lot for a litre of limescale remover - 5 litres of
>>>conc phosphoric acid costs less than 20 quid
>>
>>Which aisle at Tesco?
>>
>Just next to the hard spirits
Ta, that explains it, not familiar with that aisle.
davefennell2
--
For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/removing-scale-from-enamel-bath-155312-.htm
Clive Arthur
> What are they and where can I buy them ?????
>
--
Cheers
Clive
Pamela
> On 27/10/2021 14:31, davefennell2 wrote:
>>
>>
>> What are they and where can I buy them ?????
>>
> All your base are belong to us.
Brian Gaff (Sofa)
posting.
I think if anyone really has any doubt there comes a time with all
enamelled baths where the glaze goes an once its gone the surface will
always be quite dull and rough, since the minute pits are where the
limescale goes and eventually the actual paint itself then wears away. There
do seem to be products to claim they can fix it, but at best its very short
duration as the underlying issue is there and you cannot stove it while its
in the bathroom!
Brian
--
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
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