No one likes dealing with the stains that show up in your toilet, sink and bathtub. If you’re like most people with this problem, you are wondering how to get rid of these unsightly and annoying rust stains; to begin, let’s discuss what is causing the staining.
What Causes Those Unsightly Stains
The stains in your toilet, sink, and tub are caused by what is in your water. The following are the most common culprits:
- Reddish-brown stains: These types of stains are usually caused by dissolved iron in your water. Once this iron is exposed to oxygen, it forms iron oxide, which gives it the reddish-brown color. Iron in your water doesn’t just leave stains on your bathroom fixtures; it can also cause “yellowing” of your laundry.
Reddish slime stains are usually caused by what is living in your toilet tank or bowl and where there is reduced water flow. This staining appears when your water has iron bacteria. The bacteria feed off the iron in the water and the reddish slime eventually hardens onto your fixtures. - Rust-colored and blue-green stains: Rust-colored and blue-green stains can be caused by low pH water or acid water, which is often caused by a high concentration of carbon dioxide in your water. The acidic water causes the pipe to corrode. If your water is moving through galvanized or iron pipes, the corrosive process on the metal pipes causes a rust-colored staining. This may also cause red or reddish-brown staining to your laundry.
- Black stains: Black stains on your plumbing fixtures are typically caused by sulfur bacteria, which also cause a rotten egg odor (because they produce hydrogen sulfide gas). In addition to your plumbing fixtures, black stains may appear on your laundry. You may also notice black particles in your water.
Black stains may also be caused by Manganese in your water. Manganese often appears in water with iron. Manganese may cause your water to feel slimy and it may contribute to dark, blackish laundry stains.
What To Do About the Stains
What most people do is spend hours each month scrubbing the stains from their plumbing fixtures. Most people facing these staining problems are often unaware that their laundry is slowly staining as well. Scrubbing your fixtures with a pumice stone or treating them with toxic chemicals may get rid of the stains on your bathtub, sinks and toilets, but your laundry will continue to suffer. You and your family are also ingesting the “things” that cause the staining each time you drink or cook with the water.
The best solution for dealing with your water staining problems and those unpleasant odors is to go directly to the source—your water. The best water for you and your family is water that has a neutral or slightly alkaline pH. The best way to eliminate those pesky stains is by using clean, soft water. If you want your water to be the best it can be you will need to take care of your water by using a water treatment system that is designed for your specific needs.
Costs of Untreated Water
Many people want to avoid the expense of a water treatment system, but in the end, they pay more than the cost of the system itself. Consider the following costs before ruling out a water treatment system.
If you choose not to use a water treatment system, the only way to achieve clean and soft water is to bring it in from a different source. An obvious choice is to buy bottled water for drinking and cooking. This will be an ongoing financial expense and will add up quickly.
Another consequence of untreated water is continual laundry staining. This can be a hidden expense that you may not even be aware of because you didn’t understand it was happening. But, you’ll eventually notice when your clothes don’t look good anymore. At this point you’ll probably just get rid of the old dingy clothes and buy new clothes. This is an avoidable expense achieved through installing a water treatment system.
Finally, not treating your water costs time. You’ll have to invest precious time cleaning the stains from your toilets, sinks and bathtubs. Your time is valuable. Do you really want to spend your priceless free time scrubbing and scouring?
Consider treating your water and save your time, your money and your health.
