What Causes Yellow Stains In Bathtub? (How To Remove)

What causes yellow stains in bathtub? And more importantly, do you know how to get rid of or remove yellow stains in bathtub? You might have seen yellow stains appearing in your bathtub, toilet bowl, or your sink.

It’s really disgusting and may prevent you from using the fixtures in your bathroom altogether. However, you should know that these stains are generally caused due to a simple chemical reaction.

It’s the mineral residue left by hard water on your sanitary fixtures. The thought of jumping into a bathtub that has yellow streaks all over it is absolutely disgusting. That’s not all, but you might feel a bit shy letting other people use your bathroom too.

It’s really not a good idea to let these stains stick around for very long. But what options do you have? Should you consider throwing out the tub altogether and replacing it with a new one?

That’s obviously not a wise move because unless you fix the root of the problem; it won’t be long before your new bathtub is covered in yellow stains as well.

It’s obviously not a very sustainable option so it’s important that you address the root cause of the problem.

What Causes Yellow Stains in Bathtub?

Most people often get shocked when they see such stains, primarily because the bathtub gets cleaned so frequently.

However, what you have to understand is that regular cleaning isn’t the actual solution; unless you address the root cause, the yellowing will continue to return. These are the main causes of yellow stains in your sanitary fixtures.

Hard Water

As already mentioned in the article, one of the major reasons why you might notice yellow stains on your sink or toilet is due to hard water flowing through the pipes.

If you live in an area that receives hard water, dealing with the yellow stains is quite difficult. The yellow stains are caused due to the presence of different minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium.

In case you live in an area that has a higher concentration of ferrous iron in the water, these stains will take on a slightly red shade.

More importantly, getting rid of the stains is also a bit more difficult than most people think. For starters, you will need the right products to get them out; you can’t just continue scrubbing on them to remove the stains.

Oil Deposits

This might come as a surprise to most people, but it’s very common. You don’t use oils in the bathroom, but the products that you use commonly, such as hair gel or shampoo, do contain oils.

When these products mix in the sink or bathtub over time and accumulate over time, they cause staining.

If you are going to use any products that contain oil (you can just check the ingredients on the back), it would be a wise idea to clean the bathtub or sink after you are done. Make it a habit if you want to avoid these problems later on.

The Presence of Tannins

Tannins aren’t really going to cause any issues, but they can leave behind stains on the surfaces. Tannins are just organic matter that has decayed over time.

The water turns yellow and gives off a terrible odor. You don’t want tannins in the water because they aren’t just going to leave stains on the surface; they can also cause discoloration on your laundry.

More importantly, you will not want to take a bath with water that has tannins in it. If you are confused about the presence of tannins, you may want to pour some water into a glass and keep it overnight.

You will immediately know if the water in the glass has tannins in it or not. The color intensity will not fade away, and there won’t be anything to fall to the bottom either.

Ferrous Iron

Rusting inside the water systems is another problem. Most plumbing systems have pipes in them that are made of iron. If the pipes start to rust, some of it may even mix with the water.

This is going to change the way the water looks as well. In some cases, the water may take on a dark red appearance. You really won’t like this kind of water coming out of your sink or your bathtub.

How to Get Rid of Yellow Stains in Bathtub (Acrylic, Plastic, Fiberglass and Porcelain)

There are several ways to get rid of the yellow stains from plastic, acrylic, fiberglass and even porcelain bathtubs. However, the first thing you need to do is figure out the kind of mineral that’s causing the stains.

The best thing about cleaning these stains is that you don’t have to worry about spending a lot of money on cleaners in general. There are quite a few household materials that you can use to get rid of these stubborn stains.

White Vinegar removes yellow stains

White vinegar is a hand household item which is effective at removing yellow stains without using harsh cleaners, which is very useful for an acrylic tub. By spraying white vinegar on yellow bathtub stains and leaving it for a few hours will help loosen yellow stains before scrubbing it with a cloth or brush to remove them. Repeat the process until the stains are removed.

White vinegar is a potent acid and you can use it to get rid of these stains. All you have to do is mix it with a bit of water and then add it in a spray bottle. If you don’t dilute it, that’s not a problem either; you can use it with its full strength.

Spray it on the stains, and then let it soak for a bit. Give it a few hours to loosen the stains before you decide to wipe it off with a rag or a cloth. You can also use a brush that has soft bristles to get rid of the stains.

There are likely to be a few stains that have hardened considerably over time and are difficult to remove. In that situation, your only option will be to repeat the process until the stain loosens up.

White vinegar is an excellent choice for use on delicate sanitary fixtures. If you have an acrylic tub, there’s no reason to opt for harsh cleaners; just clean them out using white vinegar.

Baking Soda

Another excellent option available to you is to use baking soda. It’s one of the most versatile ingredients in your kitchen, and you can use it for a lot more than just cooking!

Baking soda can be mixed with materials such as hydrogen peroxide. If you are going to dilute the substance with water, it’s important that you mix one part baking soda with three parts water.

Once you have made a paste of sorts, just apply it on the stain and leave it be for a half hour. This is more than enough time to let the stain loosen up. Once the appropriate time has elapsed, just use a rag and clean it up again.

Use a Bit of Lemon and Salt

A mixture of lemon and salt is another great way to get rid of these stains. These are acidic substances that can cut through the stains caused by magnesium or calcium, both of which are bases.

Use a sponge for this to get the desired effect. It’s going to take a bit of time for the stains to loosen up when you use this, but it will happen. Give it several minutes before you decide to scrub the stains off. Then, just use some clean water to rinse it off.

Commercial Cleaners

There are a bunch of commercial cleaners that you can buy from the markets and use for cleaning up the stains. It’s an excellent choice for people who don’t want to use any of the natural ingredients that are mentioned above.

These cleaners contain a variety of substances that are designed to loosen even the toughest stains up. All you have to do is read the instructions given on the back of the bottle and use the cleaner in an appropriate manner.

Before you know it, these stains are going to come loose!

How to Prevent Yellow Stains on the Bathtub

There are several steps that you can take to prevent these yellow stains on the bathtub. Here are some simple tips to help you out.

Clean Your Tub

Make sure you clean the tub thoroughly every time you are done using it. This is a highly effective strategy that’s going to prevent any kind of stains from building up on the surface of your tub or your sink in the long run.

Add Some Water Softener

If you know that these stains are caused by hard water, you may want to invest in some high-quality water softener. Water softeners are readily available and just need to be mixed in the appropriate amounts depending on the volume of water that you have.

They can save you a great deal of time and money when used correctly, and all of your hard water issues will be resolved.

These are some of the most effective solutions that you can use for treating hard water problems and getting rid of yellowing stains from the surface of your sanitary fixtures.