To wash or not to wash - is the melamine sponge dangerous for an acrylic bath?

The fashion for home care products is the same reality as changing seasons throughout the year. Today, among housewives, disputes about whether it is possible to wash an acrylic bathtub with a melamine sponge do not subside. After all, small pieces of elastic foam material very well clean almost any surface. It is enough to gently rub the wallpaper, tile, metal plumbing with a sponge, as they begin to sparkle with cleanliness and gloss.

The cleaning agent, which is at the peak of popularity today, is a small bar with a base made of foamed polymer - melamine-formaldehyde resin. Synthetic sponges are used to clean heavily soiled surfaces. But you should not try to remove dirt from the acrylic bath in this way - the sponge can permanently ruin the glossy finish.

What is a melamine sponge?

The first material manufacturer was the German company Basotect, which for more than 20 years has been producing melanin for construction needs. It was used as a heat insulator for pipes, external and internal walls of buildings, as well as for soundproofing rooms.

About 10 years ago, Procter & Gamble began producing melamine sponges as a cleaning agent. The abrasive properties of the material make it easy to clean almost any surface, even from old pollution, including grease. The microporous foam with an open cellular structure is very hard. When used, the melamine sponge works like a very fine sandpaper. Melamine penetrates into the smallest surface bumps, cleans and polishes them.

In order to enhance the cleaning properties of melamine, manufacturers recommend wetting sponges before work. Then they capture more dirt.

A modern cleaning agent can remove traces of:

pencils;
waterproof markers;
Ink
other pollution.

You can handle tiles, furniture facades, wallpaper with a sponge, it cleans pots, pans well. But it is impossible to apply it to surfaces on which a glossy varnish coating or automobile paint is applied. Manufacturers also do not recommend eliminating stains from monitors, TV screens, and other equipment with a plastic case with a melamine sponge.

The acrylic used to make bathtubs is a very delicate material. It is strictly forbidden to clean it with fine-grained products. And melamine sponges are a powerful abrasive. Such material will not only remove dirt from the surface of the acrylic bath, but also damage its smooth surface.

Experts recommend that you try it on a small area of the product that needs to be cleaned before using a foam melamine sponge. If scrutiny and scratching are not noticeable on closer inspection, you can use a sponge.

How can I clean an acrylic bath?

Care for the acrylic bath is necessary from the very first days after its installation. After each bath, clean the bowl with warm water and a soft cloth. When water drains, wipe the surface dry - this will help to avoid the formation of limescale.

If only water and cloth are not enough, then special cleaners are recommended for the bath. The instructions should indicate that they are intended for polymer surfaces.

Acrylic bath cleaning solutions include:

Mr. Chister - effectively remove plaque from the bath, has a bactericidal and antifungal effect;
Tim Profi - removes persistent spots, yellowness;
Acrylan - removes soap, limescale, rust marks, yellow spots, mold, and after washing off acts as a protective agent;
Ravak - cleans and disinfects the acrylic surface.

But the frequent use of industrial bath creams and gels is not always a good option.

Families with young children, as well as those who do not want to use chemicals in the bathroom, can use this method of bath cleaning:

The bowl is filled with water (temperature 45–50 degrees).
Add 100 g of citric acid or 1.5 l of vinegar.
The solution is left to cool, the water is drained, the walls are rinsed, and wiped with a dry cloth.

Soft cleaners clean dirt well from acrylic surfaces:

shower gel;
liquid soap;
shampoo;
dishwashing liquid.

These fluids are used to eliminate minor contaminants.

So, a melamine sponge can ruin a smooth acrylic bath. But you can use the foam material to clean the tap, tile, to remove dirt from the joints between the tiles.