If you clicked on this article, you probably have rust stains on your plastic tub. Well, let’s get rid of them.
Hard water deposits such as iron or calcium will rust the tub when exposed to oxygen. Metal products such as razor blades also facilitate the growth of oxide rings.
Using household products or recommended rust removers, you can remove rust stains from your plastic bathtub.
Wear protective gear such as rubber gloves to protect your skin. If a method doesn’t remove all the rust on the first attempt, repeat the process to clear the rust stains. Remember, patience is key.
Let’s go through the products, items needed, and the steps to follow.
How to Remove Rust Stains from Plastic Tub
Baking soda is a homemade cleanser for most stains and odors. Well, it can also remove rusts stains from your plastic tub.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Baking soda
- Water
- Microfiber cloth
- Gloves
The Steps
Step 1: Mix water and baking soda to form a thick paste. The amount of rust in your plastic tub will determine the amount of paste to make. I recommend you start small and mix more if necessary to avoid wastage.
Step 2: Apply the paste on the rusts stains making sure all the rust-stained areas are covered thoroughly
Step 3: Let the paste sit overnight to weaken the rust stains
Step 4: Gently scrub the paste away in the morning using a microfiber cloth
Step 5: Rinse with clean water to remove baking soda residues
Step 6: Repeat the process if all the rust doesn’t lift off on the first attempt.
How to Remove Rust Stains from Plastic Tub with Lemon Juice
Lemon juice works best on rust stains because it contains citric acid. The acids in the juice will break down the rust stains, making them painless to wipe away.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Abrasive sponge
- Gloves
- Lemon/lemon juice
- Microfiber cloth
- Salt
- Spray bottle
- Water
The Steps
Step 1: Cut the lemons into two halves and squeeze the juice over the rust stain. You may as well add the lemon juice into an unfilled spray bottle and spray it over the rust-stained sections. Use 2-3 lemon halves for a plastic tub. Moistening the plastic tub with lemon juice makes it easier for the salt to stick.
Step 2: Sprinkle enough salt on the affected areas after spraying the lemon juice.
Step 3: Let the tub sit for 3-4 hours as the juice and salt dissolve the rust stains.
Step 4: Use an abrasive sponge to scrub away the rust stains. Scrub gently in circular motions since too much pressure will scratch the plastic tub.
Step 5: Use a damp microfiber towel to wipe away salt and lemon juice residues
Step 6: Rinse with clean water and allow the tub to dry.
Step 7: Repeat the process if all the rust stains don’t lift off on the first attempt.
How to Remove Rust Stains from Plastic Tub with Vinegar
Dishwashing soap and vinegar form a decent combination to remove rust stains from your plastic tub successfully.
Embrace patience if you have opted to use vinegar
The Supplies You Will Need
- Distilled white vinegar (3 cups)
- Liquid dish soap (1/2 a Cup)
- Plastic kitchen scourer
- Spray bottle
- Water
- Gloves
- Towel
The Steps
Step 1: Add ½ a cup liquid dish soap to the affected areas of the bathtub. ½ a cup is just a starting point, and you can add more if you feel it’s not enough.
Step 2: Let the dish soap work on the rut stains for 4-5 hours.
Step 3: Add one cup of white vinegar into an empty spray bottle and spray over the rust stains
Step 4: Scrub the rust stains using a plastic kitchen scourer. Be gentle.
Step 5: Add another cup of white vinegar into the spray bottle and spray again on the rusted areas.
Step 6: Let the solution sit for another 2-3 hours as the rust stains weaken.
Step 7: When the 2-3 hour period elapses, spray another cup of white vinegar onto the rusted areas.
Step 8: Brush thoroughly using a plastic kitchen scourer
Step 9: Wipe with a damp towel to inspect if you have removed all the rust stains.
Step 10: Once clean, rinse with clean water and enjoy your tub again.
You can also mix the 3 cups of white vinegar with ½ a cup of dishwashing soap, add it to the rusted areas and leave it to soak for 4-6 hours before scrubbing with a plastic kitchen scrubber. Rinse with clean water once you are satisfied.
If this method fails, repeat the process but add baking soda or borax to remove all the rust stains.
How to Remove Rust Stains from Plastic Tub with Bar Keepers Friend
Bar Keepers Friend has oxalic acid, which erases rust stains, making it the easiest technique to remove rust stains from plastic tubs.
Once you spot those unsightly rust stains, drop by the store nearby and grab Bar Keepers Friend.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Bar Keepers Friend
- Dish
- Gloves
- Plastic kitchen scourer
- Water
The Steps
Step 1: Wear gloves to protect your skin. Bar Keepers Friend causes skin irritation in close contact.
Step 2: Run water over the plastic tub to moisten it.
Step 3: Mix 1 cup of Bar Keepers Friend and water in a dish to form a paste.
Step 4: Spread the paste over the plastic tub, thoroughly covering all the rusted areas.
Step 5: Let the Bar Keepers Friend paste work on the rust stains for 2 hours.
Step 6: Once the waiting period has elapsed, scrub the tub using a plastic kitchen scourer. Avoid scrubbing aggressively since the Bar Keepers Friend works magically. Pressure scrubbing will also leave the tub with unsightly scratches.
Step 7: Rinse with clean water and allow to dry.
You may repeat the process if the stains don’t lift off on the first attempt.
You can also sprinkle Bar Keepers Friend on the moistened plastic tub surface instead of mixing separately before applying.
How to Remove Rust Stains from Plastic Tub with Cream of Tartar
As a byproduct of wine, most people use Cream of Tartar for baking purposes. However, the DIY community has discovered that Cream of Tartar has some cleaning properties.
Cream of Tartar contains tartaric acid making it abrasive and perfect for erasing rust stains from a plastic tub.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Water
- Cream of Tartar
- Scrubbing sponge
- Gloves
The Steps
Step 1: Wash the tub to remove dirt and moisten the surface
Step 2: Pour 1 cup of cream of tartar on the tub and make sure the cream covers all the rust-stained areas. A paste will form because the tub is damp.
Step 3: Let the paste sit for 2-4 hours as it works on the rust stains. The time provided hers is just a guideline. The amount of time will depend on the amount of rust on the tub.
Step 4: Scrub the surface using a scrubbing sponge once the paste after the waiting period has elapsed.
Step 5: Turn on the tap ad rinse the plastic tub to remove the paste residues.
Step 6: Repeat the process if you see traces of rust stains. It will help remove all the rust stains.
How to Remove Rust Stains From Plastic Tub with Magica
Magica is safer when removing rust stains from surfaces, including plastic tubs. It is specifically designed to remove rusts.
Magica is gentle compared to other abrasives in the market that may dent or damage your plastic tub.
The Steps
Step 1: Begin by protecting yourself. Wear your rubber gloves
Step 2: Spray Magica on the plastic tub. Ensure the Magica covers all the stains
Step 3: Let Magica sit for a few minutes as it penetrates the rust stains
Step 4: Rinse with clean water to remove Magica residues once the rust stains have dissolved.
Step 5: Repeat the process if the rust stains don’t clear completely.
How to Prevent Rust Stains From Your Plastic Tub
The methods listed above effectively remove rust stains from a plastic tub. However, preventing rust stains from accumulating on the tub is better.
Regular cleaning blocks rust stains from building up. To maintain a clean tub;
- Rinse the tub thoroughly with clean water after use
- Dry after rinsing and ensure the tub is always dry when not in use.
- Clean the bathtub using white vinegar soap dish solution or Magica once or twice a week.
Following the above strategies will leave you worrying less about rust stains, hard water stains, mold stains, or soap scums. Your tub will always be clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will bleach remove rust stains on plastic bathtubs?
Avoid bleach when removing rust stains from your plastic bathtub. Bleach will not remove the rust stains, but it will damage the surface, making it unsightly. Using bleach is harmful as well as expensive.
How do you get rid of rust stains on plastic surfaces?
Natural acids will remove rust from plastic surfaces. You can use lemon juice with citric acid, Bar Keepers Friend that contains oxalic acid, vinegar that has acetic acid, and a Cream of Tartar that contains tartaric acid. Avoid using bleach. It won’t get the job done.
What causes rust stains in plastic bathtubs?
Hard water stains and metallic materials in the bathtub make it rusty. It is somehow impossible to prevent hard water stains, but you can zone off metallic materials such as nail cutters, razor blades, and a can of shaving cream.
Bottom Line
A soak in the tub is therapeutic, especially on a lazy weekend or after a tiring day. However, rust stains on the plastic tub make it unattractive. If this has been your concern for several days, then as plastic improve, we are happy to have helped you mitigate the problem.
From the methods above, you can notice the process is easy and inexpensive since most of the supplies needed are household items.
Let us know which method also works so that we can include it.