What's the most effective and quicket agent for removing hard water deposits and soap scum

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saz1

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Aug 8, 2017
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Location
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I got 2 years worth of heavy soap scum and hard water stains to remove from a public restroom. These sissy vinegar and bio homemade solutions aren't working. I need a chemical solution that would melt this sh*t off on contact. I don't care if i'll have to wear a hazmat suit for it...i'll get all suited up, no problems.

Appreciate any advice folks!

P.s I already tried citric acid. Its not working. Oxalic acid i already got but i hear it's caustic on bathroom fixtures so i haven't used it.

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Do you have

Viakal or limelite ?
If you have a catering company that does their own descaler get some as its the best you can buy? I got a gallon from a UK company and I have descaled heating elements what are white with scale and it fizzes them back to normal metal in minutes.

Austin
 
I've used .....

"phosphoric acid" grout cleaner in the past with great success. Melts hard water deposits and scale away. It also will remove rust if allowed to remain on it longer to work.

There is a stronger phosphoric acid cleaner that would work but may dull metal parts if left on too long. The phosphoric acid grout cleaner version is less caustic and less likely to harm any metal parts if left too long. When done simply flush away with plenty of water and you see a dramatic difference.

 
Phosphoric acid and phosphorus-----comes from the PCS phosphate mine near me-trains carry the acid and phosphorus from the open pit mine up northward.Then trains carrying fill dirt come back southward to fill the mined out areas.Knew someone that worked there-he repaired the giant electric mining shovel-excavators used in the mine.
 
This is just anecdotal evidence, but here it goes.

I have a friend who grew up in New Mexico. I forgot if this happened in Santa Fe or Albuquerque, but in any case, she tells the story of her family needing a larger home, they found one and bought it.

The day after they moved in, her mom decided to clean the bathroom -- she describes the scene as her mom gushing about how she loved this new home while she sprayed the tiles in the bath tub/shower which were this absolutely lovely bluish gray with Scrubbing Bubbles... then her mom started cleaning the toilet while my friend watched as the lovely bluish-gray tiles turned into the most vivid cobalt blue tiles she's ever seen. Her mom nearly fainted when she finally got thru with the "Mom. Mom! Mom!!!"

Anyway, we don't usually have hard water here in the Boston area, so I can't attest to that level, but I've had good luck with Scrubbing Bubbles -- I wet the surfaces, spray the foam, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe/rinse it. An additional advantage is that it is supposedly safer for bathroom surfaces like chrome/metals than phosphoric acid might be.

Good luck!
 
Alright. I'll get some phosphoric acid from the chemical store. I see 85 online, is that what i should get?

I've just used oxalic acid on a tile...if anything, it made it worst.

This is what i've tried so far on the tile...

1) Citric acid left on for 10 mins, then rinse off with hot water.

2) Citric acid left on for 15 mins, then scrub with dish soap and rinse with hot water.

3) Oxalic acid dissolved in hot water and applied with spray bottle, wait for 5 mins and rinse off with hot water.

4) Scrub hard with dish soap and rinse.

5) Mix oxalic acid and dish soap and scrub, then rinse.

Is phosphoric acid similar to oxalic acid (same family)? Because if it is, i don't see how it's going to work since oxalic acid did diddly squat.

Also, how do you tell the difference between soap scum and hard water deposits?

This is just the tile...i cant even imagine how difficult (or impossible) of a task tackling the fixtures will be.

Desperately need advice on this guys, because im about to knock everything down and completely renovate the bathrooms. I've been on Google for days trying to find a solution and i think this is the only time it let me down. The only info i can find is vinegar. I cant be the only one with this problem!
 
Is phosphoric acid similar to oxalic acid (same family)?

NO. And oxalic acid reacts well with ferrous metal. That is why it works so well on rust stains. Phosphoric acid reacts with calcium and lime to break down the bonds that cause them to link together.

How about ordering the stuff in the youtube video? It will be worth your time. But I must say that is one grody bathroom. Glad I don't have to go in there.
 
Thanks for your input sfh074!

I'm not in the US so ordering will not be economical. Making it myself is what im looking to do, by visiting the chemical store and getting the phosphoric acid.

Is it safe on the bathroom fixtures? What are they made of anyway...brass?
 
ozzie908,

Looking at the datasheet, The only ingredient in it is phosphoric acid. What kind of stains and surfaces have you used it on? Did it work equally as well on all surfaces and stains?

Soclean Multi Purpose Descaler 5 Litre 2 Pack - Gompels | Care & Education Supplies

Soclean Multi Purpose Descaler 2 x 5 litre. Ideal for use in a wide range of scenarios, kitchen equipment, sinks and dishwashers.
www.gompels.co.uk www.gompels.co.uk
 
@saz1

Hello I have used it to clean and restore stainless steel in a kettle and a wash tub its great for cleaning and descaling my coffee percolator and I use it in a spray bottle to remove all the water marks in the bathroom, I bought it primarily to clean lime scale out of old washing machines and it works superbly, if you sprayed it on taps etc leave for a few minutes and rinse it would do the job I would have thought!

Austin
 
In an attempt to stop all the questions ..... lol

https://plumbingtoday.biz/blog/how-to-remove-hard-white-mineral-deposits-from-faucets-showerheads

.... but skip the Lemon juice, White vinegar, or CLR cleaner per the link above.

Phosphoric acid also does a great job on grout stains making them look new if the grout is still in good condition. If you buy the undiluted PA, mix up a 20% by volume mixture with water and add to a squirt bottle or pump-up sprayer and go to town. Let it set for 10 mins and rinse. Problem areas probably will take multiple attempts and a stiff brush.

I could have had this bath cleaned by now! But I don't know where to purchase a moon suit to cover up with to get into that place.
 
Really bad calcium deposits

I recall buying from a hardware store a product called " Spirits of salts " it was tipped into badly calcified toilet bowls and it was like adding a bottle of cola it fizzed instantly and when the fizzing subsided it had removed 98% of the build up with no poking or scrubbing now that stuff should have been issued with a hazmat suit it was lethal stuff but have no idea if its still available ?

Austin
 
Looking at these pictures I would say that trying to clean off the hardwater deposits from the plumbing fixtures would be an exercise in futility and a waste of time. There appears to be a great deal of corrosion and rust that when cleaned off will leave the appearance of damaged fixtures. I would recommend replacing the faucet, drain pipes and P trap, the estacions that cover the openings in the walls and the supply lines. There look to be several areas that are leaking in the drain pipe and supply line, just cut your losses and start out fresh with new parts. It should be a quick job that could be finished in about 1 to 1 1/2 hrs, maybe less.

The soap scum on the tile and sink are another matter, and should be able to be removed with some elbow grease and something like CLR or Limeaway using a Scotch Brite green scrubbing pad.

This is a great big mess that could have been avoided if proper maintanance was being done on a regular basis.

Eddie
 
hydrochloric/muriatic acid & phosphoric acid not working!

So i got both hydrochloric/muriatic acid and phosphoric acid!

First i tried with the phosphoric acid. 1 part to 10 parts water. Sprayed on. Let sit for 10 mins. Scrubbed with sponge and dish soap. Rinsed with hot water. Nothing happened! So i tried again with 5 parts water this time. Same result.

So now it was time to bring out the big gun...HCI.

This stuff is scary. Fuming even when diluted. Suited up, i mixed 1 part to 10 parts. Same procedure as the phosphoric acid. And to my shock...it made absolutely no difference. So i tried 5 parts water. Praying!
When the dust settled, things where just like they were before the battle started.

I tried it on tile and the mirror. They look the same as the pictures above!

What am i doing wrong?!

HELP!!!
 
OK. I think this might be more of a soap scum issue. But i could be wrong. I just tried scraping the title. And this is what i am seeing...
Considering this development, how do i tackle this?

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